The University of Brighton has announced the appointment of Professor Arun Verma as its first Executive Director of the Office for Zero Inequities, marking a significant new chapter in the university’s commitment to creating opportunities for all and delivering positive change for students, staff and communities across the region.
Professor Verma, a nationally recognised expert in inclusion, intersectionality, impact and organisational change, will join the university on 1 February 2027. His appointment represents a major investment in the university’s long-term strategy and reinforces its ambition to become the UK’s leading university for enterprise and equity.
The newly established Office for Zero Inequities will bring together evidence, insight and expertise to help the university understand and address barriers to success, improve outcomes for students and staff, and ensure that equity is embedded in decision-making, teaching, research, employment practices and the wider student experience.
Professor Verma joins Brighton from the University of London, where he is Professor of Practice in Inclusion, Intersectionality and Impact and Head of the Office for Equality and Inclusion. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Dundee, he has built a distinguished career spanning higher education, healthcare and public policy, working with organisations to tackle systemic inequities and create lasting change.
The appointment builds on a strong foundation of equity-focused work already under way across the University of Brighton. In recent years, the university has strengthened its commitment to creating an inclusive environment through initiatives linked to Athena Swan, the Race Equality Charter, Disability Confident and Stonewall’s LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer programme, alongside a sustained focus on widening participation, student success and social mobility.
The Office for Zero Inequities will bring greater coordination, insight and accountability to this work, ensuring that progress is accelerated and that equity is embedded across the institution. It will support the university’s wider ambition to eliminate differential outcomes and inequities by 2035, helping ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Professor Donna Whitehead, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, said:
“Equity is fundamental to who we are as a university and to the future we want to help create. We are ambitious not only for our students and staff, but for the communities we serve across Sussex and beyond.
“Arun’s appointment is a landmark moment for Brighton. His expertise, vision and track record of delivering meaningful change will help us accelerate our ambition to become the UK’s leading university for enterprise and equity.
“We are building on significant work already taking place across our university community, but we know there is more to do. Arun will help us bring together that activity with renewed focus and pace so that equity becomes ever more deeply embedded in the experience of everyone who studies, works and partners with Brighton.
“This is about creating an environment where every member of our community has the opportunity to thrive, succeed and realise their potential. It is also about ensuring that the positive impact we create extends beyond our campuses and contributes to a fairer and more inclusive society.”
Professor Arun Verma said:
“I am honoured to be joining the University of Brighton at such an important moment in its journey.
“What attracted me to Brighton is the boldness of its ambition and its determination to transform its values into meaningful action. The creation of the Office for Zero Inequities sends a powerful signal about the university’s commitment to creating opportunities for everyone to succeed.
“Universities have a critical role to play in driving social mobility, supporting our communities and tackling inequities. I look forward to working with staff, students and partners across the region to build on the excellent work already taking place and help create a lasting and meaningful change.”
About the Office for Zero Inequities Â
The newly established Office for Zero Inequities reflects Brighton’s distinctive approach to equity, recognising that universities have a critical role to play not only in transforming individual lives through education, but also in helping create stronger, fairer and more prosperous communities.
Through its Distinctively Brighton 2035 strategy, the university has set out an ambition to become the first-choice university for enterprise and equity. The creation of the Office for Zero Inequities, and the appointment of Professor Verma to lead it, represents a significant step towards delivering that vision and ensuring that equity is embedded in every aspect of university life.
The University of Brighton has a long-standing commitment to widening participation, supporting social mobility and working in partnership with employers, public services and community organisations to address local and regional challenges.
Professor Verma’s arrival will strengthen those efforts further, helping position Brighton as a national leader in creating opportunity, reducing inequities and ensuring that success is accessible to all.
