Equality and Diversity in the Workplace Wales Conference

​Star Moyo is a Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse with 23 years of experience. Some of her qualifications include:
– BSC in Mental Health Practice
– MSC in Leadership for Health Care
– Executive Coaching
– Different Therapy Modalities and her main interest being on Trauma and the impact it has on services and individuals.
For the past 23 years, Star has worked within inpatients, Secure Units, Children Services, Community Services for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health, Primary Care and Community Division.
Star’s highlights in her career have been within her previous role as the Senior nurse for Health Inclusion Service, the team’s main role was bridging health inequalities within socially vulnerable groups supporting Asylum Seekers, Refugees, Sex workers, Homeless, ROMA and Traveller Communities. Star is currently the Head of Equality, Diversity within Aneurin Bevan Health Board and Chairs the national Global Ethnic Majority advisory group. Outside work, Star is the founder of an organisation called WeNpower and provides Personal and Executive Coaching, Mental Health and Wellbeing support and Trauma therapy.
Star is passionate about inclusion, firmly believing that everyone deserves a place at the table—to be seen, heard, and valued. Her work is driven by a vision of equitable healthcare where diversity is embraced and systemic barriers are dismantled.​
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​​​​​​​​​Dr Catherine Purcell is a Reader in the School of Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff University, with over 15 years’ experience in neurodiversity research and its implications for health, education and employment.​ Her work focuses on advancing inclusive systems, with particular emphasis on equitable access to services, meaningful participation and improved quality of life for neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan.​

​Catherine plays an active role in shaping policy and practice at national and international levels. For example, she is Director and Vice Chair of the International Society of Research and Advocacy for Developmental Coordination Disorder (ISRA-DCD). She is also contributing to the next revision of the International Clinical Practice Recommendations for DCD.​

​Catherine’s research explores inclusive design, workforce participation and service delivery models, with a growing focus on how organisations can move beyond compliance to create genuinely equitable work environments. Drawing on this expertise, Catherine brings a strong evidence-based perspective to understanding how equality strategies can translate into measurable outcomes, inform employer expectations and drive meaningful, sustainable inclusion in the workplace.​​​​​​​​

Juliette joined Acuity Law as a Legal Director in February 2022, having spent 20 years heading up a successful Employment team with Slater & Gordon (previously Russell Jones and Walker).

Juliette has practiced in employment and discrimination law for over two decades. She has notable expertise in dealing with complex discrimination cases under all strands of anti-discrimination legislation, with a particular interest in disability, sex and maternity discrimination matters and whistleblowing. Juliette has a keen interest in cases arising out of so-called hidden disabilities as well as associative and perceived discrimination.

She represented the Claimant in what was understood to the first perceived disability discrimination claim considered by the Tribunals, among several high-profile and ground-breaking cases she has handled.

Juliette is very experienced in collective labour law issues and, in particular, in advising in redundancy situations. She has developed expertise in cases where employment law overlaps with civil claims, including claims for professional negligence arising from alleged sub-standard employment advice. Juliette has also developed a sound understanding of claims where there is an overlap between employment law and other areas relevant to the employment relationship – for example, advising on data protection issues within the employment relationship.

Juliette is a regular contributor to both the local and national press and delivers training to clients and fellow practitioners. She is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Wales and is often sought out to provide a legal insight on topical matters.

Juliette has been ranked by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 for over 14 years.

Juliette is also a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and is a Working group participant for EHRC Wales.

I am a proud Welsh woman who has spent all of my career studying and working within Wales. After having achieved a BA Hons in Welsh Language, followed a PGCE and an MA in Sociolinguistics, I have enjoyed 15yrs experience working within NHS Wales. I first joined the Welsh Language Unit for the former Local Health Boards across South East Wales before moving into the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. Since then, I have continued to develop my passion for achieving fairness for all within the healthcare sector and have enjoyed working for Powys Teaching, Health Board and Hywel Dda University Health Board before joining Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust this year as their Head of Inclusion and Engagement. A true people person, I enjoy listening to others share their lived experiences and helping those who face challenges to break down barriers and eliminate discrimination.

​Kathryn Jellings is a strategic, values led Director with over 20 years’ experience across employability, justice, neurodiversity and social impact. As Director of 3SC, she has led significant organisational growth, built high performing national partnerships and maintained exceptional outcomes across major public sector contracts. Kathryn is a Fellow of the Institute of Employability Professionals, an award winning social enterprise leader, and a regular national speaker on inclusive practice, neurodiversity, wellbeing and organisational culture.​​

Amari Smith-Samuel is the Regional Lead for Inclusion, Culture and Engagement at Network Rail Wales and Western. As the lead for these workstreams within the Wales and Western People Plan, his objective is to ensure the region engages, motivates, and reconnects with all employees. Amari has held various roles within EDI over the past decade including being a youth worker, equality representative (University of Leicester) and the EDI lead for several of Network Rail’s departments. Most notably he was the reciprocal mentor to Andrew Haines (Network Rail’s CEO) in race equality, which increased his understanding and appreciation of data when influencing change within an organisation.

Rema A Begum is a mental health counsellor, the Founder and Owner of Belonging
Counselling, with a background in counselling, psychology, community engagement and
inclusive practice. Drawing on her experience as an ethnically diverse practitioner, Rema
brings a strong focus on cultural responsiveness, equity and belonging, supporting
individuals and organisations to create more inclusive environments. She in particular
individuals from underrepresented and underserved communities. Her work centres on
reducing barriers to access, improving wellbeing outcomes and fostering cultures where
people feel seen, valued and included.
Alongside leading Belonging Counselling, Rema serves as Lead Counsellor for TalkingZone
at University of South Wales and works therapeutically with children and young people.
Rema also contributes to community and governance work as a trustee for Young Muslim
and Community Organisation, a school governor, and as an ambassador for People’s
Collection Wales.
In recognition of her impact supporting children and young people from displaced, refugee
and asylum seeker backgrounds, Rema was awarded Silver for Outstanding Impact in
Education in 2023 and ADHD Therapy Clinic of the Year 2025/26 . Through her professional
and community work, she remains committed to embedding inclusive practices that
strengthen participation, representation and belonging across organisations and
communities.

I am currently the Cultural Competence Certification Scheme Manager at Diverse Cymru. I am responsible for supporting the development and delivery of the training and assessment programme.

My aspiration is to support organisations to develop inclusive and responsive workplaces in spaces that reflect our Nations inherent and ever-changing diversity.

I have worked in the community and equality sectors for over just over 25 years.

Anna Brown is Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Equality Network (WEN) Wales, the national feminist membership organisation working to advance gender equality across Wales. She has over 20 years’ experience across charity leadership, financial services and international development.

Before joining WEN Wales, Anna was Co-Chief Executive of Talking Money, a Bristol-based money advice charity, leading work on financial inclusion, poverty, and systems change. Earlier in her career, she worked in corporate banking at Citibank before moving into international development leadership roles, leading social microfinance programmes focused on women’s economic empowerment and community resilience.

She is particularly passionate about workplace equality, economic justice and ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded in decision-making and organisational culture across Wales

Alex joined CTMUHB in June 2024. They are an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion specialist with a Masters in Politics and Gender, with a focus on cultural change, structural inequity, and social models of inequality. Alex has a long background in consultancy and ED&I specialist work, as well as data analytics and statistics, which is utilised throughout their work in ED&I. They are passionate about tackling and exposing structures of inequity and confidence building, encouraging people to embed ED&I into their work.

Professor Robert Moore is a retired academic who has worked in ‘race’, and community relations since the 1960s. He has written extensively on equality and social policy. He was a founder of the Grampian Community Relations Council, worked on the Merseyside Third European Poverty Programme and the Flintshire SHARP project. He is currently company secretary of NWREN and serves on a number of committees advising the public sector on equality issues, locally and nationally.

​Sally-ann is responsible for leading and delivering the HR function and service at the University, developing the institution’s people strategy and performance culture and championing the wellbeing, diversity and working lives of our staff. A member of the University Executive Board, she is actively involved in strategic decision making as part of the senior leadership team for the institution. Sally-ann previously held leadership roles within the Civil Service, including in HR strategy, planning and delivery at Welsh Government. She is experienced in organisational development and design, enabling business and behaviour change and employee engagement. A former alum at Cardiff University, Sally-ann has a degree in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting. She has an advanced diploma in Communication and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development. She lives with a chronic illness, is a carer for a disabled parent and is passionate about removing barriers to inclusivity and equity.​

Frances Rees is a Senior National Neurodivergence Development Officer with the National Neurodivergence Team, where she works to strengthen understanding, inclusion and outcomes for neurodivergent people across Wales. Since joining the team in 2017, Frances has brought together her experience in education, children’s services, training and policy to support practical, meaningful change.

She leads on training for the team, helping professionals and organisations build confidence in neuroinclusive practice. Her work includes a strong focus on workforce development, as well as leading updates to the employment section of the website so that information is clear, accessible and relevant.

Frances is passionate about advancing neuroinclusion in employment, improving equity and understanding, and helping create workplaces where neurodivergent people can thrive, not just survive.

​Professor John Williams is Emeritus Professor of Law at Aberystwyth University and an authority on the rights, protection, and lived experience of older people. His work has helped shape major legislation, including the Social Services and Well‑being (Wales) Act 2014, and he has advised governments and public bodies across the UK and internationally on safeguarding, mental capacity, and human rights. He was an early researcher in the field of law and older persons, exploring topics such as criminal law, domestic abuse, social care, health, and justice. Throughout his work, he consistently aimed to reveal and confront ageism and promote the human rights of older persons. He co‑founded the Dewis Choice Project, one of the first initiatives in the UK dedicated to supporting older survivors of domestic abuse and has served on expert panels and provided advice for the UN, the Senedd, the Westminster Parliament and the Older People’s Commissioners for Wales and Northern Ireland. His latest book, Older Persons and the Law (2025), brings together five decades of scholarship, advocacy, and reform.​

​Star Moyo is a Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse with 23 years of experience. Some of her qualifications include:
– BSC in Mental Health Practice
– MSC in Leadership for Health Care
– Executive Coaching
– Different Therapy Modalities and her main interest being on Trauma and the impact it has on services and individuals.
For the past 23 years, Star has worked within inpatients, Secure Units, Children Services, Community Services for Learning Disabilities and Mental Health, Primary Care and Community Division.
Star’s highlights in her career have been within her previous role as the Senior nurse for Health Inclusion Service, the team’s main role was bridging health inequalities within socially vulnerable groups supporting Asylum Seekers, Refugees, Sex workers, Homeless, ROMA and Traveller Communities. Star is currently the Head of Equality, Diversity within Aneurin Bevan Health Board and Chairs the national Global Ethnic Majority advisory group. Outside work, Star is the founder of an organisation called WeNpower and provides Personal and Executive Coaching, Mental Health and Wellbeing support and Trauma therapy.
Star is passionate about inclusion, firmly believing that everyone deserves a place at the table—to be seen, heard, and valued. Her work is driven by a vision of equitable healthcare where diversity is embraced and systemic barriers are dismantled.​
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