Diversity & Inclusion Network Event: 21 January 2026

Written by Dr Laura Harvey, Co-Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Network

On Wednesday 21 January, Equity Diversity and Inclusion strategic partner, Frontier Economics hosted a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Network event on embedding inclusivity in the workplace. The event brought together professional and academic economists to explore practical steps for embedding inclusive practices and improving the climate across the economics profession. Representatives from both Frontier and the D&I Network collaborated to facilitate discussion on how organisations can collectively drive positive change.

Andrew Leicester, Executive Director at Frontier Economics, said: “There was a real sense of shared energy throughout the event. A key theme was the power of collaboration and shared ideas, and the need for us all to lean in and create space for connection in the workplace. Together, we can open doors, challenge assumptions, and help more people see themselves thriving in a career in economics.”

We were welcomed by Lucy Tobin – Chief People Officer & Board Member (Frontier Economics) and Professor Tony Venables – RES President Elect (Oxford), followed by the key­note address from Dr Stefania Paredes Fuentes, former RES Diversity Champion. Her talk reinforced why diversity and inclusion matter in economics, highlighting findings from the Royal Economic Society’s Culture Survey and Who Studies Economics report on access to economics degrees. Beyond presenting the evidence, she issued a clear challenge: the data already exists, and now action must follow. As she put it, “Data without action is an autopsy.”

Breakout sessions followed. These sessions explored what inclusion looks like in practice and how D&I can be meaningfully embedded within organisations, even amid a challenging political and economic climate. Other topics covered understanding allyship and building confidence in prac­tising it; balancing D&I commit­ments with business growth, particularly when business pressures present challenges, and how to foster open conversations. Participants also engaged in practical discussions about what an inclusive workplace looks like.

The final session, Chaired by Maureen Paul (Jacobs), was a panel discussion featuring represent­atives from the public sector (Jacques Le Vene, HM Treasury), private sector (Andrew Leicester, Frontier Economics) and aca­demia (Professor Denise Hawkes, King’s College London). Jacques emphasised the power of embedding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into everyday processes and policies rather than treating it as a separate initiative. In the public sector, where decisions affect whole communities, inclusion must be designed into delivery from the outset. Andrew reflected on the private sector journey, highlighting how demonstrating the business value of D&I; better talent, richer client experiences and stronger outcomes has helped sustain commitment. He stressed that lasting change comes through reflection and shared responsibility, not directives from the top. Denise focused on personal agency in leadership, arguing that D&I depends as much on individual belief and action as on formal policy, particularly in challenging narrow definitions of “excellence”.

Overall, the event ended with a call to action, if you can make structural changes, do it. If not, even small changes in everyday interactions can have a huge impact on improving culture and creating inclusive workplaces.