Diane and Ngozi sat in a quiet room at the BCMR offices in Birmingham City University on a cloudy Friday afternoon. It is the start of Autumn 2026, and Diane was dressed for the weather in a beautiful colourful gown like autumn leaves. She wears a smile as is characteristic of her and settles herself into a chair, enthusiastic about the discussion that is to follow having led the Centre for 5 years through many different exciting moments. We chatted about how the Centre came about, the people involved from the beginning, what the Centre was set up to solve and achieve, and the Centre’s ongoing works.
The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) was established in March 2020 with a clear mission: to help drive change in the UK media industry and, by extension, British society. As an independent research centre, it exists to hold the media accountable and advocate for greater diversity and inclusive representation, using robust evidence and research to inform debate and action.
Among those present from the very beginning was the Centre's founding Director, Professor Diane Kemp, who now serves on its Advisory Board. In a conversation with Dr Ngozi Emmanuel, Diane reflected on the Centre's origins, taking listeners back to 2019 when the idea first began to take shape.
Diane describes the Centre as having "several starts", each representing a different stage in a journey driven by vision, commitment, and collaboration. She pays tribute to the people whose determination helped bring the Centre into existence, including Sir Lenny Henry, Marcus Ryder, and Marverine Cole, whose collective efforts laid the foundations for what has become a leading voice in media diversity.
Founded through a strong spirit of partnership and purpose, the LHC has continued to push boundaries in ways that reflect the ambitions of Birmingham City University. While the Centre's goals are outlined on its website, including presenting the latest research on diversity in British media and monitoring industry progress, Diane believes its role extends even further.
A key part of the Centre's work, she explains, is creating meaningful connections between academia and industry, while also fostering collaboration among organisations working across the media diversity landscape. Such partnerships are essential if lasting change is to be achieved.
Since opening its doors in 2020, the Centre has continued to evolve and innovate. Now six years on, it remains at the forefront of conversations about representation in UK media, championing initiatives designed to address persistent inequalities. One recent example is the Sir Lenny Henry Lecture, launched last year to stimulate discussion and inspire action across the industry.
Reflecting on the Centre's achievements, Diane highlights the importance of working alongside others who share a commitment to a more inclusive media landscape. For her, the Centre's success is rooted not only in its research but also in its willingness to act as a partner and advocate.
"It's about being good allies," she says, noting the value of collaboration with organisations and individuals working toward the same goals.
Looking to the future, Diane hopes for a media industry that genuinely reflects the diversity of contemporary Britain, both on-screen and behind the scenes. Achieving that vision, she argues, requires the industry to acknowledge and respond to the social changes that have shaped, and continue to shape, British society.
As she puts it, "there must be proper representation of this country in the media."
For Diane, the Sir Lenny Henry Centre remains one of the important platforms through which that vision can be realised. While significant challenges remain, she sees enormous potential in the Centre's future and its continued role in influencing debate, shaping policy, and supporting meaningful industry change.
As the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity continues to challenge dominant narratives, expose patterns of underrepresentation and misrepresentation, and champion evidence-based solutions, its commitment to a more equitable media landscape remains as strong as ever. For Diane, the Centre's greatest achievement may not simply be what it has accomplished so far, but the possibilities that still lie ahead.