Who we are

If you want more information about equal opportunity & diversity at the British Council you can contact us

• Telephone:

  +44 (0)207 389 4484

• Post:

  Diversity Unit, British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London, SW1A 2BN, UK

Who we are

Dr Fiona Bartels-Ellis OBE

Fiona is Head of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at the British Council where she sets and drives the strategic direction of the organisation's work across its offices in 110 countries in support of its cultural relations activities.

Fiona has a background in social work and social work education, with a particular emphasis on equality and diversity, in addition to a background in consultancy in equality and diversity. Her qualifications include an Advanced Diploma in Social Work, a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, an M.Phil in Social Policy and a Doctorate in Professional Studies. Memberships include the Higher Education Academy, the Professional Mediators Association, the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, Amnesty International and Enfiled Race Equality Council.

In 2002 Fiona received a Mainstreaming Diversity Award from the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners and in June 2005 was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her equality and diversity work. In July 2008 she won the Ghana Professional Achievers (GPA) Award for humanitarian services to the UK and Ghana and in 2009 the Peter Robertson Award for Equality and Diversity Champions by ORC Worldwide.

Fiona was born in Ghana and settled in the UK at the age of fourteen. She lives in England.

Jane Franklin

Jane is Deputy Head of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at the British Council.  She has worked in a range of teams within the British Council since 1995, joining the Diversity Unit in 2001. She has an MA in Promoting Equality and Managing Diversity and is based in the British Council office in Manchester.  Jane lives in Manchester, where she is also involved in youth and community work.

Global Diversity Network

Our Global Diversity Network comprises, on average, two members from each of the 12 British Council regions. They support management teams across all British Council offices to build equal opportunity & diversity into all aspects of our work. They have the expertise and understanding of their own cultures to help reflect the issues of our staff around the world, yet at the same time they understand and are committed to the way the British Council approaches equal opportunity & diversity, to make our work more relevant across different cultures and contexts.