Bakare Barley

Ayo set up the business in 2021 after almost two decades of working in equality, diversity and inclusion. The idea came from an awakening in society of structural barriers facing minoritized groups, and the need to provide support for organisations to take trusted and sensitive approaches to improve the experiences and outcomes for their staff, service users and customers. ​ Specialist in EDI and business development ​ Ayo has worked in race equality and gender equality organisations since the early 2000s when she started her career at Race Equality West Midlands (REWM) founded by Dr Frank Reeves. ​ She went on to working in a number of grass roots community organisations, and government funded initiatives supporting women in STEM careers, refugee, asylum seeker and migrant communities, and young people at risk of anti-social behaviour. ​ Alongside a successful career in Business Development within Higher Education, between 2011-2019 she also led the charity New Leaders Network, providing training and development to equipt marginalised communities to move into leadership positions. In 2021 Ayo was approached by members of her network to provide bespoke EDI interventions following the impacts of COVID19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. She registered Bakare Barley Ltd as the go to person-centred consultancy service to provide positive, evidence-based and sustainable EDI business solutions.