Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture at the University of Exeter
The Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) team is part of the Human Resources, Culture and Assurance division. We provide support, advice and guidance on all aspects of:
- Colleague wellbeing and experience
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) for colleagues, students and regional partners
- The work of the University’s Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Committee
You can explore the different areas of our work through our dedicated webpages below.
Meet the team
| Shraddha Chaudhary (Shades) | Assistant Director (Wellbeing, Culture and Inclusion) |
| Leanne Heath | Strategic Portfolio Partner (Wellbeing, People and Culture) |
| Rae Preston | Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Manager |
| Lewis Nurton | Learning and Development Manager |
| Terri Watkins | Accreditations Manager (Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture) |
| Charlotte Juggins | Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Project Manager |
| Jasper Privett | Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Projects Officer |
| Lena Worwood | Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Projects Officer |
| Beth Hall | Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Projects Officer |
Shraddha Chaudhary (Shades) (she/her)
Assistant Director (Wellbeing, Culture and Inclusion)
Shraddha Chaudhary is a senior leader in the University of Exeter's HR, Culture and Assurance division, where she holds strategic responsibility for equality, diversity and inclusion, colleague wellbeing, employee engagement and organisational culture across a community of more than 30,000 students and 7,000 staff. She also works across the domains of Student Experience and Support, Community Partnerships and External engagement.
Shraddha is a member of the HRCA Senior Leadership Team and previously served as an elected member of the University Governing Body. She actively contributed to the field of EDI and contributed to advisory panels for the Natural Environment Research Council, UUK and the GW4 Alliance.
She holds a Distinction-level MSc in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership from Bayes Business School, City University of London, and a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from the University of Exeter.
Ask Shades about:
Complex EDI Cases; EDI within the Built Environment; Colleague Wellbeing Support; Sectoral and National EDI trends; Equality Impact Assessments; Freedom of Expression and Protest Management.
Rae Preston (she/her)
Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Manager
As Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Manager, Rae plays a key role in driving evidence-based improvements to policies, practices and culture across the university. Managing delivery of the university’s WIC priorities aligned to Strategy 2030, Rae supports colleagues, students and external partners with advice and expertise across the breadth of the university’s EDI portfolio.
Rae has a degree in Arabic and the History of Art/Archaeology from SOAS and is currently studying part-time for a master’s degree in Global Human Resource Management. Before joining the university in 2019, she worked in community mental health, interpreter and refugee support roles in the voluntary sector. She is currently Vice-Chair of the No Hate Partnership (Safer Cornwall) and trustee of a charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Cornwall.
Ask Rae about:
Team management; EDI training; Policy support; Hate crime; Support and Report for staff; EDI and research; Accreditations; Governance
Lewis Nurton (he/him)
Learning and Development Manager
Lewis operates at the intersection of People Development and WIC, leading strategic initiatives that support and empower both students and staff. His work centres on driving cultural change through awareness-building, preventative education, and community-led approaches to tackling harmful behaviour, harassment, and discrimination. Aligned with the university’s Strategy 2030 and WIC priorities, Lewis plays a key role in embedding a culture where colleagues and students are empowered to speak up and actively challenge all forms of discrimination.
With over 15 years of experience in education, Lewis brings a strong foundation from his time as a teacher, alongside leadership roles within secondary education and students’ unions. He has also advised universities nationally on effective strategies to raise awareness and challenge harmful ideologies, and has delivered outreach across the South West—equipping individuals and organisations with the skills and confidence to lead impactful training and drive change within their own contexts.
Ask Lewis about:
OfS Harassment and Sexual Misconduct (Condition E6); Preventative education addressing harassment and discrimination (Bystander Intervention, consent, domestic violence); Culture change and early resolution; Incel Ideology and the Manosphere
Terri Watkins (she/her)
Accreditations Manager (Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture)
In her role as Accreditations Manager in the team, Terri oversees work towards our 6 wellbeing, inclusion and culture accreditations - Athena Swan, Disability Confident, Disabled Students Commitment, Proud Employers, Race Equality Charter and the University Mental Health Charter. This includes progressing the associated action plans for each and leading on reaccreditation requirements.
Terri has a degree and master’s degree in Theology and Religious Studies. She has worked in the Higher Education sector for over a decade, in roles including undergraduate admissions, pastoral student support and management of Faculty student support before joining the University of Exeter.
Ask Terri about:
Athena Swan; Disability Confident; Disabled Students Commitment; Proud Employers; Race Equality Charter; University Mental Health Charter
Lena Worwood (she/her)
Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Projects Officer
Lena is responsible for Neurodiversity, Disability and Wellbeing work within the University. She has worked at the University since 2016 and runs twice-weekly body-doubling sessions for staff.
Ask Lena about:
Accessibility; Disability; Disabled Student Commitment; Neurodiversity; Transport; Reasonable Adjustments; Body Doubling; Staff networks