Reflecting on a Year of Collective Anti-Racist Work

As we come to the close of another year, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you.2025 has been a year of profound learning, courageous leadership, and generous collaboration. I’m deeply grateful to every educator, leader, partner, and practitioner I’ve had the privilege of working alongside.

A Year Rooted in Learning and Leadership

This year took me into action research groups, Early Years settings, and ongoing reviews of the updated qualifications aligned with the Curriculum for Wales. I’ve supported leaders in DARPL, communications teams, and senior leaders across corporate organisations—all committed to understanding what anti-racist leadership looks like in systems that are complex, demanding, and deeply human.

I was honoured to be featured in Women in Leadership Magazine, and to collaborate with colleges developing resources for their internal platforms. Within Apex Educate, we continued to build practical tools to strengthen anti-racist practice:

• The Curriculum Toolkit

• Handling Racist Incidents scripted conversations

• Learn, Challenge, Apply, a programme exploring the fundamental concepts of racism

Across all of these spaces, one theme has remained consistent: meaningful anti-racist work requires care, courage, and commitment - the 3 Cs that continue to anchor everything we build.

Highlight of the Year: The Betty Campbell Resource

We closed the year with something incredibly special: the launch of the Betty Campbell teaching and learning resource. Creating this resource has been challenging, long, and full of joy. As a former educator and third-generation Black female senior leader, it has been an honour to develop materials that support meaningful learning about my grandmother—her life, her leadership, and her legacy.

I’m deeply grateful to Domingos Studios, who understood the vision from the start and handled the work with care and integrity. My thanks also go to Taylor Edmonds and Nigel Clarke, who graciously granted permission for their poem and video to be included. Their contributions enrich the resource in ways words can hardly capture.

But even in this beautiful process, there were moments that revealed how colonialism still shows up in modern forms. Some elements of the statue made in my grandmother’s image were restricted due to copyright—something that left a bitter taste. This is my grandmother. And as her granddaughter—someone committed to advancing equitable leadership and curriculum—being limited in how her story can be shared felt like a contemporary echo of an old pattern.

Her story—herstory—was shaped by Betty Campbell herself, her family, and her Tiger Bay community. And while I believe she would be disappointed by some of these limitations, I also know she would be determined. Determined to keep telling the story in the ways that honour the truth. Determined to make sure young people see, hear, and feel the power of her example.

Because this work is bigger than any one person, including me.It is about ensuring her light continues to guide others.

A Reflection on Colonialism, Racism, and Story Ownership

This experience reminded me of something essential: colonialism and racism do not always arrive loudly. Sometimes they show up quietly—in who has the right to tell a story, who is given permission to share it, and who benefits from it.

One of the subtler yet deeply harmful forms of racism is when people are viewed not as human beings, but as stories to be curated, packaged, or controlled. It is a reminder that storytelling—especially when tied to real lives and real legacies—must be approached with respect, humility, and care.

As educators, leaders, and practitioners, we hold responsibility not just for what we teach, but how we honour the people at the centre of the learning.

Looking Forward: Building Spaces for Courageous Conversation

In the new year, my hope is to deepen this work by:

• Creating spaces where leaders, teachers, and organisations can share their experiences,

• Offering opportunities for people to seek guidance on difficult situations, and

• Expanding our partnerships with those committed to anti-racist leadership rooted in the 3 Cs: care, courage, and commitment.

I look forward to working with more schools, leaders, and organisations—supporting conversations that help us navigate challenges with honesty and integrity, while strengthening our collective capacity to lead change.

Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your commitment to meaningful change.I’m excited for the work we will continue together in 2026.

Wishing you rest, grounding, and joy this season.