The eighth annual lecture is delivered by Kalwant Bhopal, Professor of Education and Social Justice, University of Birmingham. The lecture examines recent evidence on the representation of BME staff and students in higher education to explore how racism, exclusion and marginalisation continue to disadvantage these groups.Professor Kalwant Bhopal uses empirical research which explores BME academic flight from higher education to suggest ways forward for the inclusion of BME focusing on issues of equity and social justice. She examines how white privilege works to disadvantage those from BME backgrounds and will explore how universities can develop good practice for the inclusion of BME groups in higher education.