Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Dignity and Respect Advisors
Dignity and respect advisors act as a first point of contact for colleagues who may be experiencing bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct, or be ‘accused’ of behaviours that are negatively impacting others in the workplace.
Advisors are independent from the Human Resources (HR) department and are trained to support and empower colleagues to choose from the options available to them – including informal and formal resolutions and extra support from other specialist services.
If you are a student, please refer to Student Advice for help and support.
How can a Dignity and Respect Advisor support you?
- Offer confidential support on issues relating to our Preventing and Addressing Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy (pdf)
- Listen without making any judgments about what is said
- Help you to reflect on a situation that you are unhappy about at work
- Help you to clarify your thoughts and feelings
- Explain the informal and formal procedures available to colleagues
- Help you to explore your options and make a choice about what you want to do
- Signpost to further support
- Help you to make a report on the Support Report Respect platform
What can’t a dignity and respect advisor help with?
- They cannot tell you what to do or give specialist advice
- They cannot represent you or advocate on your behalf
- They cannot mediate or investigate
- They cannot speak to other people on your behalf
How can I arrange to speak with a dignity and respect advisor?
- You can select an advisor from the index here and contact them by email
- You can contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team at equality@leedsbeckett.ac.uk and request to be matched with an advisor
Joy Ogbemudia
Angela Lally
Cate Querin
I work in the People and Organisational Development team, designing and delivering development sessions across LBU. I enjoy working with a wide range of colleagues in schools and services, and have also delivered training to our students, which reminds me of my previous career as a teacher! I am a qualified coach and hope to bring my coaching skills to the role of Dignity and Respect Advisor.
Babita Bhogal
Annette Dadds
Hi, I’m Annette and I work for Leeds Beckett Students’ Union Advice Service. I started as an Adviser in March 2013 (I’m in my 10th year!). Prior to this, I worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau and in various HR roles in local government and the university sector. Please do contact me if you’d like support.
Eivet Sargon
Hi, I am Eivet, an Office and Project Manager in the School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality at Leeds Beckett University. I have worked here since 2021 but also graduated from the school myself in 2006. My background is events, project management in various establishments and also a passion of performing arts. Outside of my current role, I also teach performing arts and trained in this field myself. I am a great listener and value everyone as individuals with the focus on the right to be accepted, valued and respected. If I can be of any support, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sharon Swales
Sana Waliyat
Hi, my name is Sana Waliyat. My role as a Dignity and Respect Advisor is to provide confidential and impartial support to colleagues across the university. Please remember you are not alone and I can provide a listening ear and will support you in any way I can.
Ian Lamond
Hi, I am Ian (Lamond), a senior lecturer in the School of Events, Tourism, and Hospitality Management, at Leeds Beckett University, where I have worked since 2012. My background is a curious mix of performing arts, philosophy, and social justice activism. Valuing colleagues as people, deserving of dignity and respect, is very important to me. If a listening pair of ears is what you are after, offering some support and impartial advice, then please get in touch.
Tahira Hamid
Sam Birkby
Hi, my name is Sam Birkby and I am School Secretary for the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing based in Northern Terrace at City Campus. My role as a Dignity and Respect Advisor is to offer confidential and impartial support to colleagues so please contact me if you would like to discuss any issues that you may have.
Gurm Bacchus
I have been at Leeds Beckett since 2009 initially as a Senior Lecturer and am currently an Online Course Designer in the Distance Learning Unit. I believe our university environment for all staff and students should be one in which we are able to work and study without fear of being subjected to bullying, physical or mental harassment, discrimination, or sexual harassment. I am therefore passionate about contributing to making the environment at Leeds Beckett an inclusive, empowering, respectful, and supportive one.
In addition to being part of the University’s staff mentoring programmes, I am also a BACP registered psychotherapist and work to their ethical guidelines. This involves working pro-actively, confidentially, sensitively, non-judgementally and empathetically with someone that is to their benefit and empowering for them.
Lina Chhina
Hi, I am a dignity and respect advisor, I am a good listener, I’m patient and always willing to help and support. Please do contact me if you’d like to talk confidentially.
