The VOICES COST Action is proud to extend its warmest congratulations to Professor Victoria Showunmi, who has recently been recognised as the 80th Black woman professor in the United Kingdom — a significant and long-overdue milestone in the history of British academia.

Professor Showunmi’s appointment is not only a personal achievement, but also a profound marker of progress in the ongoing effort to address systemic inequalities within higher education. It is both a moment of celebration and a call to action — highlighting how far we have come, and how far we still must go.

In her role as leader of Working Group 5 on Intersectionality within the VOICES, Professor Showunmi has brought extraordinary insight, academic rigour, and deep ethical commitment to our shared work. Her scholarship and leadership have consistently emphasised the importance of recognising the ways in which systems of oppression intersect to shape the lived experiences of marginalised communities, particularly Black women and girls.

Throughout her distinguished career, Professor Showunmi has:

  • Advocated tirelessly for the representation and empowerment of Black women in education and leadership,
  • Challenged and exposed structural racism and sexism across institutions,
  • Mentored and supported countless students, early career researchers, and fellow academics,
  • Played a pivotal role in shaping the 100 Black Women Professors NOW programme,
  • And fundamentally influenced the principles and practices of organisations such as WHEN (Women’s Higher Education Network) — insisting from the outset that gender equity must include a sustained and explicit focus on racial justice.

Her work is not performative; it is foundational. It does not merely respond to injustice — it seeks to transform the structures that sustain it.

Professor Showunmi’s contribution to VOICES COST Action has been nothing short of essential. She has helped ground our exploration of youth participation, democracy, and inclusion within a robust intersectional framework, ensuring that the voices and experiences of those most often marginalised are not only heard but centred.

This recognition of her professorship is richly deserved, not just as a personal honour, but as an affirmation of a career dedicated to truth-telling, justice, and transformation.

We celebrate this moment with you, and we look forward to continuing to learn from your leadership.