– Inclusive communications through story-telling –

How do we put our best intentions for equality, diversity and inclusion into practice in our communications work every day?

Elma is an award-winning inclusive engagement and communications expert offering consultancy and coaching in inclusive communications, including communications strategy, community engagement and authentic storytelling.

She’s the founder of and advisor for the award-winning community interest company, Aspire Black Suffolk, which was born out of the 2021 Power of Stories exhibition. Produced by Ipswich Museums and co-curated with the Black community, the exhibition featured original costumes from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther 1 movie.

Power of Stories won multiple national and regional awards for its excellent practices in co-curation and engagement with the Black community.

In 2022, Elma won the Museums Association’s national award for the Museums Change Lives ‘Radical Changemaker’ for her engagement work and local exhibition tour. This followed the original Ipswich exhibition and shared more previously untold Black stories, engaging thousands of additional visitors.

Elma’s career includes PR for major brands including Comic Relief, the British Red Cross, Land Rover, BT, Sony Music, and Warner Bros.

Her session at CU23 will explore how we can weave diverse and inclusive stories into our communications in a way which connects, engages and inspires.

Photo credit: John Ferguson