The SEED network celebrated it’s relaunch event on campus on 27th June 2022.
Meeting members in person was a big step forward for SEED to discuss what more actions we could make to bring everyone together.
A member said “The launch event demonstrated the importance of the group for all staff and how the group has helped in the past. Everyone was talking about how to overcome the challenges […] How very true even if it was a hard concept to actually bring to fruition when you are part of a minority. Looking forward to continuing to be a part of this wonderful group of colleagues working at the University”
The event opened with speech from Professor Osama Khan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic.
Professor Osama said “Let’s try to bring ourselves closer together. The more we do, the better it will be for us. Let’s share our own diversity, our culture, and our feelings who we really are.” He closed his speech with the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley.
“The poem Osama recited in his insightful speech became one of my fondest poems” Dai Zong said, “and William Ernest Henley’s life brought the spiritual power to keep me going. I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul (from “Invictus”)”
You can watch Professor Osama’s speech https://youtu.be/6ZDp3xH8oiY
SEED members shared the following thoughts after the event:
| “For me, SEED is the safe place to share my ideas, fear, joy, concerns, and issues without worrying about how they would judge me. I am grateful to find this network. Today, I could feel all individual passions and dreams. Meeting my role model, Prof Osama Khan, was inspirational. Do I think race issues will change suddenly tomorrow? No, but I believe we could at least try together. I think building up anti-racism allyship (White allyship) is one of our targets to move forward. Positive collaboration is important” -Namy Yu |
| “It was great to connect with everyone and I enjoyed having such engaging conversations. I am so glad to be part of SEED network. I enjoyed meeting everyone and I am so excited to be part of this group. Looking forward to supporting with any future activities”. – Mani Talwar |
| “It was a fantastic event to meet everyone in person, to share our common interests and concerns. Just like the name of the SEED, it will grow into a big tree when we put this SEED firmly on the ground, and keep watering it. The re-launching event symbolised that we were doing the planting, and may we keep watering it, and let it grow. I did my first promotion for SEED in this week’s library bookmark. I will forward it to you to have a look. “ – Dai Zong |
| “A wonderful opportunity to enhance inclusivity in the university and for support of staff from minority backgrounds. The steering committee have done a wonderful job and as a fist time visitor to the SEED group, I felt so very welcome.” “The launch event demonstrated the importance of the group for all staff and how the group has helped in the past. Everyone was talking about how to overcome the challenges and a common phrase used was “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul”. How very true even if it was a hard concept to actually bring to fruition when you are part of a minority. Looking forward to continuing to be a part of this wonderful group of colleagues working at the University.” – Anonymous |
