Embracing equality, diversity and inclusivity
At ICMP, we’ve long championed equal opportunities, respecting differences and creating a welcoming environment for all. We work hard every day to advocate for equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI), ensuring the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected.
This commitment to our values is upheld by ICMP’s EDI ecosystem and overseen by our EDI Committee. We support and nurture our community, empowering each individual to strive for greatness and diversity of all kinds, promoting authenticity and a sense of belonging.
Antisemitism | Gender Pay Gap Report | EDI Committee | EDI Charter
Our six EDI objectives
Our EDI Committee is committed to achieving the following six key EDI objectives:
- Everyone working for and studying at ICMP will have an awareness and understanding of our EDI goals and help us ensure they underpin everything we do.
- Our staff population should be reflective of the student body, the local and wider community, and the needs of the industry.
- Our student body should be reflective of the local and wider community and the needs of the industry.
- ICMP’s approach to the values of equality, diversity and inclusivity will be communicated to and understood by all relevant stakeholders.
- We will monitor data to access the impact and effectiveness of the committee activities; eliminating discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity, and fostering good relations between different groups.
- Staff and students will be supported with training and development to understand and advance our ICMP values.
Antisemitism
ICMP abhors antisemitism in all its forms and is committed to tackling antisemitism in Higher Education. In this regard, we have agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism as follows:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
Further information on the IHRA and this working definition of antisemitism can be found here.
Gender Pay Gap 2023 Report
This is the second year the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) has published Gender Pay Gap data. The gender pay gap is calculated as the difference between average hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of men and women as a proportion of men’s average hourly earnings (excluding overtime). It is a measure across all jobs in the UK, not of the difference in pay between men and women for doing the same job.
Themes and events
Each year the Committee chooses to recognise and support various awareness days, weeks and months. This is done through a variety of events, initiatives and the publication of related content through ICMP's key channels.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee
Daniel Green
I am pleased to serve as ICMP’s Chair of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. As a proud gay man working in academic leadership, I have seen first-hand the power of effective institutional change when spearheading the rights of underrepresented groups. It is with great humility to work alongside committee colleagues to ensure the rights of all staff and students, fostering an environment of belonging, and being unafraid to directly confront all forms of systemic prejudice.
Barbara Amoakohene Pursey
Barbara is a vocalist and educator with ten years’ experience teaching and singing professionally. As a session singer, choir leader, and studio manager, Barbara has a unique and personal approach, with a keen interest in personal and professional development. Barbara graduated with honours from the BMus degree in Popular Music Performance in 2007.
Since then, she has worked with a wide variety of performers, songwriters, and producers, from the double platinum-selling English pop star Paloma Faith to the Perrier Award-winning American comedian Rich Hall. She runs a busy private studio with an extensive client list but still finds time to contribute to a variety of community music projects and choirs, alongside her active teaching and singing career. Barbara performs regularly with the Sense of Sound choir as well as jazz quintet, The Stowaways. She is a firm believer in focusing one’s energy on being the best you can be, and supports anyone who is on the quest of lifelong personal development.
Olivia Besly
EDI is important to me as I believe everyone should be able to reach their full potential. I have experience in making the necessary changes in practices to support underrepresented groups and I look forward to sharing these with committee members.
Lisa Satchell
As Gender Equality Champion, I advocate for women, non-binary and trans identities. I am committed to breaking down gender stereotypes within the music industry and to work with our talented body of students to create a diverse pool of role models for future generations. I work closely with the LGBTQIA+ Equality Champions, as whilst I believe that lesbian, gay and bi-sexual support needs and transgender support needs are nuanced, there’s certainly more shared, for example discrimination, mental health issues and homelessness.
Therefore, forming a united front is more powerful when creating solutions. As part of an alternative family, wife to a trans man and mother to our IVF-conceived son, we have had to fight for the same baseline rights as typical heteronormative families are automatically afforded. I’m proud to be part of the ICMP EDI Committee that is committed to eliminating discrimination and advancing equity of opportunity.
Emanuela Ciminna
I am honored to be part of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion committee at ICMP as representative of the Student Voice, and to be a link between the Student Body and the Faculty. I am incredibly passionate about EDI and all the nuances that it embraces, and I am constantly trying to educate myself to empower the students at the best of my possibilities.
Bringing attention on the issues and concerns of the students from any background will always be at the top of my priorities. I firmly believe that open mindedness, curiosity, and dialogue are the keys to help the students build the community that they truly want to see at ICMP.
Amar Trivedi
As a second-generation British Asian born in the UK with family roots in India, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are not just professional priorities for me—they are deeply ingrained in my personal journey. My lived experiences have shaped my understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with diversity, and they fuel my commitment to creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels empowered to succeed.
In my role as Director of Student Recruitment & Admissions at ADE, overseeing SAE and ICMP, I am uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change by embedding EDI into every aspect of student recruitment and admissions. From championing alternative entry routes that recognize diverse talents and experiences to ensuring our processes are free from bias and accessible to all, I strive to create pathways that reflect the richness of the communities we serve.
Diversity is not just about representation; it is about creating environments where every individual can thrive and contribute fully. I am committed to building partnerships and programs that support underrepresented groups, dismantle systemic barriers, and foster a sense of belonging.
Ultimately, I believe that higher education has the power to transform lives and society. By prioritizing EDI, we can ensure that this transformation is inclusive, equitable, and far-reaching, preparing our students to lead in an interconnected and diverse world.