ABOUT US

The Power of EPOC

In addition to helping numerous members secure FTSE 350 Non-Executive roles, we have also seen others go on to join social enterprises, charity and sporting boards. Our collaborations span across the breadth of UK institutions, from Barclays, Aviva and British Business Bank to the RHS, V&A, the Royal College of Art, Barnardo's and more.
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Through combining our knowledge, contacts and resources with the passion of over 600 members and more than 300 FTSE 350 Chairs and NEDs, we've been able to prove that together we can open doors that have previously been closed.

600+

Members

300+

FTSE 350 chairs,
SIDs and NEDs at events

55+

In-person and online events

45+

Secured board appointments

How

We Work

Through Board's Eye View knowledge enhancement talks with leading practitioners, in-person events with Senior Board Members and search firms, Board NED CV programmes and our Board Fellowship Programme, we facilitate tailored knowledge exchange and introductions.

Our journey so far

EPOC has seen incredible growth and achievements in the short time we've been active. We've hit some of our key milestones at a rapid pace with the help of our members, partners and supporters. Building on this momentum, we are excited to continue innovating and expanding our impact in the years to come.

Letter from

Our founder

Dear reader,
Thank you for taking an interest in EPOC. Since I founded our network in January 2021, it has been a joy to connect with some of the UK’s most brilliant executives of colour — and, in turn, connect them not only with their peers but also with leaders of some of the UK's biggest and most influential organisations.
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Our aim is simple: To change the future face of leadership at the top of all UK institutions, whether commercial, public sector, voluntary, creative or sporting — to ensure Boards inclusively reflect the society that they serve and in which we all live. The talent pool of people of colour does not need to be created. It already exists.

But please, allow me to give you the background on how EPOC came to be.

Read Less

While our vision has always been about enlightenment, EPOC was born of a rather dark time. It was not long after the killing of George Floyd and publication of the Parker Review on Ethnicity on Boards that I found myself inundated with opportunities from search firms. Though I was already an established NED then, even my ego didn’t allow me to believe it was a sudden appreciation of my sheer brilliance that had prompted these conversations.

Understandably, with greater awareness of issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement, many Boards were having deeper conversations about race and ethnicity in their own organisations. Businesses, charities and public sector organisations were starting to look for talented and capable executives of colour to join their Boards. After personally introducing many highly capable individuals for those opportunities, I had to accept that something was systemically amiss.
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Too often, I heard, “the talent just isn’t there” or “where do we look?”. The issue was not the calibre of the people of colour, their capability or their potential. Rather, despite demand from both sides, the two worlds in which I operated didn’t seem to know each other. More worryingly, if an executive’s career or experience didn’t obviously fit a traditional Board profile, individuals were quickly dismissed or overlooked.
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A more effective way forward was urgently needed. And thus, EPOC was born.
By choosing to be part of our community, whether as a member, Board, Ally or sponsor you can join us in shifting the conversation; building networks; facilitating access and creating real opportunities.
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The Boards of tomorrow need greater diversity. That journey starts today.
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Thank you for your support.

Moni Mannings OBE

Frequently

Asked Questions

How do I become a Member

Please send us and email at membership@epocnetwork.com or let us know you're interested via our contact form.

Who can become a Member?

We work with any senior executives who identify as a person of colour and are seeking, or already holding, a role as a non-executive director, Charity Trustee or equivalent Board Member.

Do Members need to pay to access any of the events or resources EPOC offer?

No, as a not-for-profit organisation we do not charge our Members for use of any of the resources we offer.

Does EPOC share NED roles?

Yes, we share NED roles via our weekly mailouts.

How can EPOC support me in building my NED portfolio?

We provide support in building your portfolio through our online and in-person events, by facilitating introductions for specific roles, through our specialised NED CV Programme and through our Board Fellowship Programme.

How do I recommend a friend to become a Member?

Please ask them to send us and email at membership@epocnetwork.com or let us know they're interested via our contact form.

Can I see a list of all the current Members?

To protect the privacy of our 600+ Membership, we do not post a full list anywhere on our site, however our Membership Secretary is happy to facilitate any introductions at any of our events or by email.

As a Sponsor or Search Firm, how do I share a role with EPOC Members?

Please contact our Membership Secretary with the details of role through an email at membership@epocnetwork.com or via our contact form.