Sii Athena Swan Silver Award Renewed
Published: 5 February 2026
The School of Infection & Immunity is proud to announce that our Athena Swan Silver Award has been successfully renewed, extending the status until January 2031 and reflecting a commitment to advancing gender equality and an inclusive working environment.
The School of Infection & Immunity is proud to announce that our Athena Swan Silver Award has been successfully renewed, extending the status until January 2031.
The Athena Swan Charter was established to recognise and promote equality and diversity within higher education, particularly across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM).
Managed by Advance HE, Athena Swan awards acknowledge continued progress in tackling structural and cultural barriers within academic institutions.
We first achieved Athena Swan Bronze in 2016 followed by the award of Silver status in 2020, and now, in response to our most recent submission in November 2025, Advance HE has confirmed that our Silver status has been retained.
The renewal reflects the school’s sustained commitment to advancing gender equality and fostering an inclusive working environment.
Credit for this accomplishment must go to the ongoing work of the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT), as well as the wider Sii community in embedding positive practices across research, teaching, and professional services.
Head of School Professor Julia Edgar welcomed the news: “This is a tremendous achievement and reflects the collective commitment, effort, and openness of our whole school community.
"I would like to express my sincere thanks to our Athena Swan Co‑Chairs, Parini Mankad and Kevin Maloy, for being the driving force behind this work.
"I also want to thank all those who contributed directly to the application, colleagues who shared experiences, data, and ideas, and everyone who supports equality, diversity, and inclusion in their everyday work. This award truly belongs to all of us.”
Dr Parini Mankad, Sii Athena Swan SAT co-chair, said: “I am extremely pleased that our Silver Award has been renewed.
"This outcome reflects the considerable time, care and collaboration that went into developing the application, and I would like to thank everyone who supported that process.
"We look forward to reflecting on the feedback and continuing to build on this work in the years ahead.”
Fellow co-chair Professor Kevin Maloy added: “This is excellent news for the school, and a real testament to the dedication and collective effort of the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team and everyone who contributed to the application.
"The renewal of our Silver Award recognises the progress we continue to make and our shared commitment to equality and inclusion.”
First published: 5 February 2026
