In 1987, I was given just five years to live. My consultant sent me home with the solemn advice to enjoy whatever time I had left. In that life-altering moment, I made a choice, rather than sink into despair, I vowed to live in a way that honoured one simple yet powerful epitaph: “At least she tried.” That vow marked the beginning of a transformative chapter in my life’s journey. I pledged to dedicate whatever time I had left to becoming an Educator, an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expert, and a lifelong campaigner for social justice. My mission was, and remains, to inspire cultural awareness and foster deep understanding across differences. I set out to create spaces where diverse learners could not only coexist but thrive together. Where learning environments, workplace cultures, and communities could genuinely feel like home for everyone. It has now been thirty-eight extraordinary years since I made that pledge. I am still here, and still fighting, for fairness, inclusion, and equity for all, regardless of race, faith, ability, or background. This passion runs through me, rooted deeply in my own lived experience as a second-generation Briton born to parents who arrived in the UK during the Windrush era of the 1950s. I carry with me the memory of a nun at my Catholic school who once told me that, because I was Black and left-handed, the only place I was going was “to hell!” Her words cut deep. But instead of allowing them to break me, I let them shape my resolve. I knew then that I would one day become the kind of educator she could never be, one who sees, respects, and uplifts those who are different. One who nurtures a sense of belonging, promotes self-worth, and ignites belief in every student’s potential. That painful moment became the fuel for my purpose. I truly believe that my commitment to this path, and the mindset of hope, resilience, and positivity it required, is what has kept my illness in remission. This is more than a career. It is my calling. I stand in the third chapter of this journey, proud of the impact, the insights, and the lives touched along the way. But know this, I am far from finished. For the remainder of this narrative, I adopt the third person writing style, to share insight to how my EDI journey progressed over the years, those who benefited from my insights and practice, the wider implications and my achievements in context.
Today Dr Doirean Wilson BEM (British Empire Medal), is an Associate Professor in Sustainability Management at the Royal Docks School of Business & Law |(RDSBL), at the University of East London where she is also a RDSBL Sustainability Champion and Co-Director of the Noon Centre (of equity and social justice). She possesses 32 years’ experience in Higher
Education and during her tenure at Middlesex University, she led twenty-eight postgraduate and undergraduate modules such as, the final-year Business Consulting module, the final-year
Coaching & Mentoring module, and the final-year Equality, Diversity & Inclusion module that she created from her doctoral research, delivered in the UK and Dubai. She also led nine
postgraduate programmes including the MA HRM Work Based Learning programme and, the Executive MBA Programme reputedly becoming the first black female academic to lead this
programme in a UK university. She is a Visiting Professor of Religion & Multiculturalism, a Public Inquiry Panel Member (Classified), and a Stakeholder board member of the Police Race Action
Plan, which is “the biggest coordinated effort ever across all 44 police forces in England and Wales, to improve trust and confidence in policing among Black communities.” Doirean was
also awarded a British Empire Medal for her EDI in education work, in the King’s Honours List 2025, and in June 2024 she was included in the esteemed HR Most Influential Top Thinkers List
for 2024 ranking 7th of 81,524 HR Professionals (in 2023 she was ranked 13th). This was due to her “valuable contributions and profound insights” which has “truly distinguished” her “as an
influential thought leader in the field of HR”. Doirean is a multiple award-winning internationally recognised diversity expert and leadership exponent, who was commissioned by the
Metropolitan Police Service to promote their cultural awareness and aid their approach to stop-and-search. She is a former Journalist, TV Presenter, Lyricist, Business consultant,
Projects manager, Business Training Coordinator and a commissioned artist, whose paintings were exhibited in e.g., the Bank of England when Canadian Premier Mark Carney (who she met),
was Governor) and in the Maria Azumpta Centre, Kensington, West London. Doirean is Chair of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, a blue plaque commemorative community organisation, and
patron of the WEST Scholarship Trust. She is a qualified Coach and Mentor and a member of EMCC UK and Global. Her qualifications and other professional status include: A Doctorate in
Professional Practice.
Dr Doirean Wilson | London, UK
