Lord Simon Woolley delivers 2026 Craft Lecture

“We are what we do,” stated Simon Wolley, The Lord Woolley of Woodford, as he delivered the fourth annual Craft Lecture at Bayes Business School titled ‘Performative or permanent? The real test for university EDI in an age of backlash’.

Launched in 2023, the Craft Lecture celebrates the achievements of Ellen and William Craft, two freedom fighters and refugees from slavery who became campaigners for its abolition. The lecture series is intended as a space to reflect on topics of inequality and social justice, exploring different historical power dynamics to consider how we engage in initiatives towards a sustainable future.

In his talk, Lord Woolley, Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge and founder of Operation Black Vote, encouraged institutions to show boldness in the face of social and professional inequality.

Citing the recent passing of Professor Jason Arday as an illustration of the prejudices successful black people face in public life, Lord Woolley reflected on the disproportionately high COVID death rate of black citizens and murder of George Floyd in Minnesota that followed as a missed opportunity to address systemic race inequality – with public interest and demand for action quickly diminished by successive ministerial appointments in the UK and the election of Donald Trump in the United States. Black Lives Matter, he said, had “removed the curtains of talent to the world” and was the culmination of 25 years of work, but that Trump’s re-election had once again “opened the anti-EDI floodgates”.

Following his talk, Lord Woolley spoke with Professor Barbara Casu, Deputy Dean of Bayes Business School, and discussed the role of universities in fostering a more even playing field for black students and scholars, his vision for a successful institution with an “honest curriculum”, and his current level of optimism for what can be achieved in future.

An audience Q&A followed, which included questions on addressing the power imbalance, his message for black academics, equality as a structural rather than leadership issue, and his thoughts on uniting parties in the EDI debate.

Professor Sam Kamiruwo, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Bayes, said:

“The Craft Lecture series has addressed several key discussion points since its inception three years ago – from corporate social responsibility and slavery to the impact of AI on equity.

“We are very grateful to Lord Woolley for delivering this year’s lecture with reflections on the role and responsibilities of universities in leading the fight for equality in their hiring, promotion, student recruitment and teaching curricula.

“Lord Woolley reminded us that "we are what we do, not simply what think or aspire to be". The true measure of a university's commitment to equity is not found in its statements or intentions, but in the choices it makes every day and the actions it is willing to sustain over time.

For Bayes, this is both a challenge and a call to action. Progress is ultimately defined by what we do, and Lord Woolley's lecture was a powerful reminder that meaningful change requires courage, consistency and action."

Find out more about the Craft Lecture Series.

Read more about Bayes Business School’s 2021 name change and the reasons behind it.