Nurturing inclusive work cultures with Amraze Khan
As economic, societal and environmental conditions deteriorate, social tensions are escalating. Some politicians use fear to fuel their own extreme agendas and it’s increasingly popular to blame others for the ills of the world. Nationalism and discrimination are at their worst in decades. This has significant negative impact on workplace cohesion as many feel increasingly marginalised.
Yet in contrast, scientific research shows the extent to which successful innovation – much needed in most organisations today – comes from diversity of thought. And different perspectives come, of course, from a rich diversity of lived experience. In this episode, Amraze Khan shares his experience of working in EDI and examines the increasingly urgent need for inclusion at work.
Amraze Khan (He/Him)
Amraze is the Head of EDI at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he leads the vision, supporting the University to become intentionally inclusive for its 4,500 staff members and around 40,000 students.
He has worked in EDI for nearly a decade, with experience in senior leadership roles across various industries comprising of the NHS, within Charities and Local Government. Prior to this, Amraze worked in senior communication roles in the NHS and Civil Service.
Outside of work, Amraze is a proud Yorkshireman, a carer, father to two cats, a Trustee at Rochdale Mind, an avid blogger, and podcaster.
Find Amraze on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amraze-khan-mcipd-miepd-94a1a56b/
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Knowledge sharing in the age of AI with Zoe Colosimo
With a significant proportion of the UK already struggling to access basic online tools and services, digital accessibility is a key issue too few business or political leaders are addressing. Without urgent attention to educate and inform, already disadvantaged and vulnerable people and communities will continue to fall behind and miss out on the benefits AI has to offer, not least in addressing social and societal inequality.
In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Zoe Colosimo, COO of award-winning giving platform Neighbourly. They discuss what socially-minded organisations can do to address AI inequality and the opportunity for internal communication to help make a difference.
About Zoe Colosimo
Zoe is a founding member and the Chief Operating Officer at Neighbourly, an organisation dedicated to helping companies bring their brand purpose to life. Since its launch in 2014, Neighbourly has enabled businesses to make meaningful contributions to local communities through volunteer time, grants, and surplus products and built a network of over 45,000 local causes and 9000+ company offices and branches, creating nearly £1 billion in social value across the UK and Ireland.
Zoe’s motivation is rooted in the belief that sustainable communities are built through local relationships, and good corporate citizenship is essential to any company’s success.
Find Zoe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoecolosimo/
Neighbourly website: https://www.neighbourly.com/
Ai123 resource hub: https://hub.neighbourly.com/ai123-resource-hub
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Exploring the future of leadership communication with Professor John Amaechi OBE
As multiple factors converge to create accelerating operating complexity and ambiguity for most organisations, leadership is under the microscope like never before. For his latest book, organisational psychologist and founder of APS Intelligence John Amaechi OBE explored a range of leadership techniques and found them to be eminently teachable skills, when thoughtfulness, integrity and effort are applied.
Amongst the most crucial skills identified for improved organisational culture and performance are listening and verbal communication.
Jen and Cat welcome John to this episode to examine the art of leadership communication and what it must now entail if organisations are to successfully navigate the ongoing disruption of the modern age.
Professor John Amaechi OBE: A Catalyst for Leadership Transformation
John Amaechi OBE is a world-renowned organisational psychologist, bestselling author, and Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School. As the founder of APS Intelligence Ltd., John leads a global team that transforms leaders and cultures by combining cutting-edge behavioural science with psychological insight. His bespoke programmes aren’t about quick fixes—they drive sustainable growth, ethical leadership, and organisational well-being.
From his roots in Stockport, near Manchester, to becoming the first Briton to play professional basketball in the NBA, John’s personal journey exemplifies resilience and ambition. Inspired by his mother’s words—“The most unlikely of people in the most improbable of circumstances can become extraordinary”—John has spent his career challenging expectations and helping others unlock their potential.
An adviser to FTSE 100 boards, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and the recipient of the Sport Industry Integrity and Impact Award, John is recognised as one of the most influential voices in leadership and organisational culture. His bestselling book, The Promises of Giants, inspires leaders worldwide to embrace authenticity, drive ethical change, and create lasting legacies.
Find John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaechi/
APS Intelligence website: https://www.apsintel.com/
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Creating safer communication at work with Shaun Keep and Paul Adams
As late-stage capitalism continues to prioritise profit over people and planet, we are never far from a breaking news event about corporate corruption, greed or misconduct causing turmoil for those impacted. But more often than not, internal wrongdoing will have taken place for months and years before whistles are blown and affairs are made public.
In this episode, Cat and Jen chat with former police detectives Shaun Keep and Paul Adams. They set up Say-So after joining forces on a safeguarding assignment to review the public protection around vulnerable children and adults. They are passionate advocators for the need to create spaces where concerned colleagues can safely voice their concerns about mismanagement without fear of retribution.
Say-So’s website: www.say-so.co.uk
Shaun Keep is a public protection professional who served as a police detective for over 30 years. He specialised in child protection, anti-corruption and homicide investigations and has worked for four law enforcement agencies, the Church of England and a national Sports Organisation advising on and reviewing their policies and investigations into offences against the vulnerable.
He has been a 'subject matter expert' on a major transformation and development project in a large public service focusing upon attitudes towards vulnerable persons. He has been working to transform organisations in the 'speak up' space since 2017.
In 2015 Shaun was contracted to Surrey Police to assist build their investigation performance in the area of 'Public Protection' cases and this opened his eyes on a regional and national level to the extent of allegations of neglect and abuse against vulnerable adults.
Shaun's personal experience of the care sector has been entirely positive with his mother receiving almost 10 years of good quality domiciliary care, sheltered accommodation care and finally nursing home care. Shaun believes this should be the norm.
His work in creating a safe and trustworthy means for staff to speak up has led to an ever growing understanding of how important it is, in any business sector, to hear from and listen to employees concerns.
impacted. But more often than not, internal wrongdoing will have taken place for months and years before whistles are blown and affairs are made public.
In this episode, Cat and Jen chat with former police detectives Shaun Keep and Paul Adams. They set up Say-So after joining forces on a safeguarding assignment to review the public protection around vulnerable children and adults. They are passionate advocators for the need to create spaces where concerned colleagues can safely voice their concerns about mismanagement without fear of retribution.
Find Shaun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-keep-b9554828/
Paul Adams is a safeguarding professional having spent 30 years in the police Service as a detective specialising in major crime investigation. Specialist skills include interview techniques around suspects, victims, survivors, vulnerable adults and children. The managements and tasking of sensitive information has also been a consistent part of his detective career. Since retirement he has worked for National Crime Agency under CEOP (Child Exploitation & online Protection) and Surrey Police reviewing safeguarding and public protection around vulnerable children and adults.
Paul has also been an approved foster carer to young children in Berkshire, whilst running his own children's fostering charity to try and improve the outcomes and development of children who find themselves in care. Paul is passionate about people being able to "speak up" particularly foster children and foster carers having a voice and being heard, within children's social care. This was one of the main reasons he started Say So.
Find Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-adams-pop-charity/
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The power of imagination for achieving coliberation with Dr. Christopher Owen
Since the start of 2025, DEI initiatives across the board have been deprioritised. This has left many people, most acutely those in already vulnerable groups, feeling marginalised and anxious. This level of anxiety undermines organisational performance and fuels the already spiralling mental health crisis.
In this episode, Dr. Christopher Owen draws on his decade of experience in LGBTQ+ inclusivity consulting and his research into systemic oppression to share with internal communicators stories can be used to create more inclusive, connective and engaging work environments that boost organisational performance.
About Dr. Christopher Owen
"If we want to make a difference, then we need to do things differently - I’m here to show you how."
As the founder of Coliberate, Christopher Owen (he/they) offers inclusivity and liberation coaching, consulting, speaking and training to individuals, groups and organisations seeking to improve their impact for positive social change.
A 2024 Northern Gamechanger, Christopher has a PhD in intersectional systemic oppression and Black feminisms, with over a decade of experience in LGBTQ+ inclusivity and consulting. They have presented to thousands internationally and published on intersectionality, identity, social change, queer resistance, and inclusive practice, with his second book now forthcoming from Routledge Education.
For more, please visit: coliberate.co.uk
Find Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecjowen/
The Future of Internal Communication podcast is a series commissioned by The Institute of Internal Communication.
Organisations today face widespread and continuous disruption. The way communication takes place within and across teams, departments and business units is more critical than ever.
The podcast hosts subject matter experts from within and outside internal communication, each sharing their insights on the future of work and the role of communication as an essential driver of workplace trust, connection, culture, innovation, resilience and performance.
Hosts Jennifer Sproul, Dominic Walters and Cat Barnard explore opportunity for internal communicators. In increasingly digital, data driven, distributed and on-demand work landscapes, their conversations with thought-leaders examine the human side of work.
Listen to The Future of Internal Communication, The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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