William Pitt Seminar 2020 - Equality of Opportunity

Fri 16 October 2020

George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm that "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”. Recently the coronavirus pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements have brought into sharp focus how inequalities in society persist. Against the background of other global risks such as climate change and geopolitical instability that appear to reinforce inequality – will we ever achieve a society where everyone is valued equally?

Our Chair this year is David Isaac CBE. David recently stepped down as Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the public body that promotes equality and protects human rights in England, Scotland and Wales. He is the Provost elect at Worcester College, Oxford, Chair of the University of the Arts London and a partner at international law firm Pinsent Masons. David has worked in the equality and human rights field for over 25 years in his roles as Chair of Stonewall and as a Trustee of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. During his term as Chair of Stonewall, huge progress was made in delivering legal equality for LGB people including the abolition of Section 28 and the introduction of Civil Partnerships. David was awarded a CBE in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to equality and diversity.

Confirmed speakers are:

- Jason Okundaye - recent Pembroke alumnus and writer on LGBT and race issues for publications such as The Guardian and Vice

- Pauline Rose, Professor of International Education at the University of Cambridge – her research examines inequalities in educational policy and practice, in particular in countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, in relation to poverty and gender, and with respect to financing and governance

- Hannah Minghella – President of Film at Bad Robot Productions Inc.

The seminar will start with presentations from the speakers followed by a panel discussion based on questions from the audience.
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An approximate schedule for the event is as follows:

4:30pm Welcome from the Master of Pembroke College, Lord Chris Smith

4:35pm Introduction from the Chair, David Isaac CBE

4:45pm Presentations from the speakers: Jason Okundaye, Professor Pauline Rose, and Hannah Minghella

5:15pm Questions and answers with the panel

6:00pm End of Seminar

Cost: Free to attend