Challenging Perceptions Summit 2017
The Challenging Perceptions Summit 2017 brought together key organisations, stakeholder partners and community groups to explore and share how we challenge perceptions and, in doing so, counteract the growing prevalence of hate crime.
The Summit, organised by the University of Lincoln in partnership with JUST Lincolnshire and the Lincoln Students' Union, aimed to encourage us all to explore our unconscious bias and address a range of topics to challenge perceptions and the stereotypes that often underpin hate crime. It was organised to coincide with National Hate Crime Awareness Week (14–21 October 2017).
Speakers 2017
Prof Toby Wilkinson
Deputy Vice Chancellor for External Relations
Prof Wilkinson joined the University in 2017. His responsibilities as Deputy Vice Chancellor include internationalisation, partnerships and transnational education (TNE); communications, development and marketing; the Lincolnshire Educational Trust; faith on campus; and engagement with a wide variety of local, regional, national and international partners.
Laurence Harvey
Unconscious bias trainer
Laurence has over 30 year's experience in training. He has advised and trained senior level executives in both the public and private sector. Laurence has 10 years’ experience at board level and brings this insight to the table when advising and supporting other business leaders. Laurence has delivered thought provoking, exciting and enlightening workshops to over 7,000 Senior People in the last 18 months.
Sylvia Lancaster OBE
Chief Executive, The Sophie Lancaster Foundation
Sylvia’s daughter, Sophie, was murdered in August 2007 — targeted solely because of her alternative appearance. Sylvia and her family established The Sophie Lancaster Foundation to ensure a lasting legacy to their beautiful bright creative daughter.
The Charity has three clear aims:
- To create a lasting legacy to Sophie
- To provide educational group-works that will challenge the prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures
- To campaign to have the UK Hate Crime legislation extended to include people from alternative subcultures or lifestyle and dress
In 2014, Sylvia was awarded an OBE for 'community cohesion - especially in reduction of hate crime'.
Lord John Bird
Social entrepreneur and life peer
Lord Bird is the force and mastermind behind The Big Issue, the world’s most successful street magazine. He is an award winning entrepreneur and an inspirational leader with an impressive reputation of using business as a tool for social change. Through sharing his own life experiences Lord Bird is able to inspire others to challenge their perceptions about how we judge others.
