A trailblazer with a passion for challenging injustice and helping everyone become the best they can be has joined Bradford College as its new Vice Principal for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Alina joins the college from Yorkshire Ambulance Service, where she was Head of Diversity and Inclusion.
The new role is unique within further education. In this role, Alina will champion EDI at Bradford College and help break down barriers. The college aims to ensure every single student and staff member can reach their full potential.
A beacon of good practice
Alina said: “The college has taken a bold move in creating my post. I intend for us to be trailblazers in becoming a beacon of good practice for equality, diversity and inclusion, working to truly transform lives.”
Born and raised in Bradford, Alina, a mother of three children, studied for three A levels at Bradford College. She then went on to study IT at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Alina came back to Bradford College to study for a post-graduation certificate in education. She said: “I decided to pursue a career in education. I’m passionate about making a difference to young people, particularly in the community in which I live in.”
Raising aspirations
She began her career as an ICT teacher at a secondary school before moving into the local authority in Bradford. There, she worked within children’s services, where she advised schools on all things inclusion. As part of this, she developed resources for schools. They addressed issues relating to equality, diversity, human rights, safeguarding, raising attainment and aspirations and challenging prejudice and discrimination. She later managed the Education Safeguarding team for the same organisation, still having strategic responsibility for Diversity and Inclusion.
Alina was proud to work with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, particularly during the pandemic and supporting staff who saved lives every day. She said: “I felt so humbled to be working for the NHS, ensuring employee experience improved in order to achieve the best outcomes for patients.”
Investors in Diversity
Alina joins Bradford College at a very exciting time. As well as having recently achieved Investors in Diversity, it has officially been rated Good by Ofsted.
She said: “I’m extremely grateful to be able to be working at the college at this time, on the next phase of our journey to becoming outstanding. I also feel really privileged to be able to work in the community in which I live and was raised.”
Challenging injustice
“My passion centres around challenging injustice and ensuring that we, in our gifted positions strive to remove the barriers that students and staff may face, which prevent us from being the best we can be.
“I feel very strongly about raising aspirations among young people. I hope that EDI becomes an intrinsic thread that runs through everything we do, evidenced at every level.
“Diversity brings so much enrichment and we’re so blessed to be gifted with such a diverse community.”
