I grew up in a family of 5, my mother was the main parent. We did not have a great deal but we pulled together as a family and we did our best to create a positive environment in which to thrive. Society at the time behaved negatively toward Black people. Bias and discrimination were rife. There were many barriers to overcome to even exist. Unfair treatment at school was something I became used to. Teachers who made me feel like I was not good enough to do well in society and those who took delight in intimidating me. There were some good teachers who were supportive and I am grateful to them.

When you recognise the unfairness of society it makes you realise that change has to happen to ensure that people can be the best that they can be. People should be able to do all that they aspire to do without being discriminated against. I recognised regardless of my negative experiences I wanted to support others.  Supporting others was instilled in me by my mother who encouraged me to support people in my community.  The saying “If not me, then who” really resonates with me.

I have used my desire to support others to found the Ethnicity Pay Gap Campaign to address the issue of pay disparity for Black, Asian and other Global Majority individuals.

I have used my desire to support others to found the Ethnicity Pay Gap Campaign to address the issue of pay disparity for Black, Asian and other Global Majority individuals. Since 2018, we have managed to raise awareness of the Ethnicity Pay Gap and we have lobbied the previous Government to take action. We are very pleased to see that the current Government plan to introduce legislation covering the Ethnicity Pay Gap, which will form part of the Employment Rights Bill.

Advocating for change has been challenging at times. Going out on your own, without any support is not for the faint-hearted.  I was not well known, I was a lone Black woman using my voice to get the previous Government and organisations to recognise my presence and take action on the Ethnicity Pay Gap.  This was one of the toughest challenges I had to deal with during the early stages of my campaign. I persevered regardless and worked towards my goals. 

Dianne Greyson

Collaborating with organisations keen to make change was a positive move for me allowing me to proactively grow my campaign.  There have been a lot of ups and downs on my journey but I am very pleased I did not give up. 

It would be helpful to have better support for those wanting to campaign or provide services to help people improve their lives. Often there is a lot of red tape to get things up and running.  More action to support the community would also be of benefit to help raise awareness and give support to those affected by the  Ethnicity Pay Gap. It takes a village to make change, working together can only improve the outcome. 

There are several milestones I am proud to have achieved. I believe the #EthnicityPayGap Campaign’s activities may have had some influence on the government’s consideration to legislate on the Ethnicity Pay Gap. I am also proud of the research we produced on the Impact of the Ethnicity Pay Gap on Black Women, the launch of Ethnicity Pay Gap Day and the first-ever Ethnicity Pay Gap Summit in 2024. Additionally, I  worked with an organisation to design billboards to reach out to the community, which were displayed across London. These were pivotal periods that further enhanced the credibility of the Campaign.

I am a Disruptor because I do not allow unfair treatment to go unchallenged. It is important to me to use my voice to improve the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves.

I am a Disruptor because I do not allow unfair treatment to go unchallenged.  It is important to me to use my voice to improve the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves. In this current climate, more Disruptors are needed to challenge the negative behaviours in society that create separation of communities and poor working environments, particularly for the Black, Asian and other Global Majority individuals. 

Dianne Greyson is the Founder of the #EthnicityPayGap Campaign and Non-Executive Director of Spktral.

Dianne established the #EthnicityPayGap Campaign in 2018. She was motivated to make a difference and challenge the inequalities that have been in existence in the workplace for many years. The main aim and purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of the issues relating to the Ethnicity Pay Gap and to encourage the government to make Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting mandatory, ensuring businesses deliver on their strategic plan to address the issue. It also calls for clear guidelines on reporting to help organisations understand how to produce pay gap analysis that is meaningful and actionable. 

Dianne has been instrumental in putting the Ethnicity Pay Gap on the radar and has worked with businesses and taken part in roundtable discussions at the Houses of Parliament to help bring lived experience to the fore to engender a broader scope for action. She has also produced research on the Impact of the Ethnicity Pay Gap on Black Women.