The members of Oxfordshire Employers Race Equality Network are HR professionals, line managers and advisory partners who support their own organisations in delivering improved practices with regard to equality in both the workplace and service provision. Primarily established in 2000 following amendments to the Race Relations Act, the Network has achieved success and recognition as a self-managed, non-funded body.

It is well documented that leading edge companies are increasingly those who invest in the communities they serve. Therefore, achieving equality means having the competitive advantage. If a company excels in delivering on equality the benefits it accrues mark it out as the most cutting edge organisation in its sector. Such benefits include enhanced corporate reputation, customer satisfaction, and ability to attract and retain high calibre staff and greater profit margins.

Achieving this knowledge and understanding is an ongoing challenge – OEREN membership can support this through

Chair, OEREN
Chair, OEREN
Louisa Weeks is Director and General Manager of the Oxford Bus Company. She has worked in Oxford for more than twelve years, working in operations and HR where she has worked to improve the diversity of the workforce of the Bus Company. She was responsible for the graduate recruitment for the Go Ahead Group plc (Oxford Bus Company's parent Company) until taking on her current role. She is a Chartered member of the CIPD and her qualifications include a University Diploma in Personnel Management. Since becoming a Director, Louisa is still responsible for recruitment and selection, training and development and overall standards with a small team to address these important issues for the Company, as well as running the buses. Louisa has been an active member of OEREN since its inception and previously held the Secretary's post for three years.
Vice Chair, OEREN
Vice Chair, OEREN
Michelle Montgomery is Co-Director of the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University. The broad aim of the Centre is to bring together academic and practitioner expertise to carry out research into equality and diversity issues in employment. Michelle is also the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Manager at the University with responsibility for developing, promoting and implementing the University’s equal opportunities and diversity strategy and related policies, and for devising, leading and implementing equal opportunities and diversity staff training provision across Oxford Brookes. She has just completed a Masters in Human Resource Management focusing on disability and inclusive practice and is a chartered member of the CIPD. During her 6 years at Brookes Michelle has worked closely with a number of community groups and currently sits on the oversight committee of Street Dreams, a social enterprise organisation that focuses on community participation and youth projects.
Secretary, OEREN
Secretary, OEREN
Sarah Moran is Business Development Officer for the Oxfordshire Racial Equality Council. The broad aims of her role are to help small businesses (with an emphasis on businesses from ethnic minority communities) to access best employment practices. She has endeavoured to help business owners to create and then adopt Equal Opportunity and Diversity Policies for their businesses. As Secretary for OEREN, Sarah has successfully facilitated the group and continues to compile best practice documents on subjects such as Work Experience and Monitoring to Make a Difference. Sarah holds a Masters degree in History and was made Events Manager for the recent Symposium to celebrate Bicentenary of Abolition of Slavery. Sarah has a personal interest in equality and diversity best practices and is an active member of the group Object, which aims to end objectification of women.