Ethical D.E.I. in an Era of Compromise

At a time when Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is being co-opted, commodified, and hollowed out, this session creates space for a vital dialogue: Can centering ethical frameworks—truly rooted in justice and accountability—restore DEI's purpose, or must we reimagine it entirely?

As a Practitioner, I examine how mainstream Diversity, Equity and Inclusion replicates colonial patterns—from ethics boards prioritizing institutional risk over community sovereignty, to NGOs accepting corporate funding while performing critique. Moving beyond analysis, the session surfaces transformative alternatives: collective consent models, participatory accountability, and governance structures that return power to marginalized communities rather than perform inclusion. Grounded in concrete cases, this discussion bridges critique with actionable pathways forward.

In this conversation I invited my fellow Dr Anjam Chaudhary, to share her experience in decolonizing DEI and remaining committed to her work while under scrutiny from the federal US government.