Meet Denise: RGU's Equality Champion for Pregnancy & Maternity

RGU appoints Equality Champions for each of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Denise Penny, Principal Lecturer, is the Equality Champion for Pregnancy and Maternity. Learn more about her and her work supporting our community at RGU.

Hi everyone! I’m Denise Penny, a Principal Lecturer in Public Health and Health Promotion, and I’ve had the pleasure of being a Pregnancy and Maternity Equality Champion at RGU for just over a year now. With a professional interest in Maternal and Infant Nutrition, and as a mum of three, this role is close to my heart.

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is facilitating the Pregnancy and Maternity Action Group (PMAG) within the University. This group focuses on issues related to pregnancy and maternity equality, and it is really fulfilling to see how our efforts can make a difference in the lives of our staff. We meet monthly and it's been fantastic getting to know individuals from various teams and services across RGU who I might not have met otherwise. Our group is open to all, and we’d love to see more members join, whether you’re a parent or not, have grown-up children, or don’t identify as female. You can join our Teams channel online.

Another highlight of my role is organising awareness raising information and events, such as when RGU became part of the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme. The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme aims to ensure breastfeeding mums that if they see the sticker in the environment, they will be made to feel welcome and supportive of their feeding choice. These events are wonderful opportunities to bring the community together, raise awareness and celebrate our diversity.

Being part of the PMAG has also provided the opportunity to contribute to University policy. It’s great knowing that our input is valued and that we can put forward suggestions to shape policies to better support pregnant individuals and new parents. Our work in the PMAG is supported by our HR Equality Champion, and it’s a team effort to make positive changes.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) should be embedded in everything we do, and the Equality Action groups are a fantastic way for staff to advocate for enhancements to make RGU an even more inclusive community. If you’re interested in finding out more about PMAG or want to share anything regarding Pregnancy and Maternity Equality, feel free to contact me directly.

I look forward to connecting with more of you!