Ginai’s (pictured) experience of working in research spans more than 17 years. She is a member of the MRS D&I Council, co-founder of the WIRe accelerate programme, a volunteer for Endometriosis UK and has been a notable thought leader in the D&I space for years.

Commenting on the appointment, CORe co-founder and director Theo Francis said: “With an ever-expanding vision as big and important as ours it can be hard to see the wood for the trees, so bringing Shazia on-board was a no brainer.

“She’s a shrewd, strategic and driven powerhouse with the ability to see the big picture, while keeping on top of the finer details. Her track record of delivering results speaks for itself. She was banging the drum for equality, equity and representation long before CORe was even an idea. We’re thrilled to have her with us, helping to shape our success in the coming years.”

Ginai added: “The mission that CORe set out with a couple of years ago struck a chord with me, so when I was asked to take on the role of chair I jumped at the chance. The research industry still has a long way to go when it comes to racial equality. 

“It’s time to change the way people of colour are represented in our industry… to make space to bring in and hear diverse voices… those who have been under-represented for so long. The team at CORe are overflowing with passion and have a mammoth vision. I am looking forward to watching the progress unfold and am grateful for this opportunity to drive meaningful and necessary change.”