Equity, diversity and inclusion in management mathematics: from policy to practice, with urgency

Abstract Accepted by: Prof. Aris Syntetos In May 2025 a panel discussion took place at the 5th Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) and Operational Research (OR) Society Conference on Mathematics of Operational Research. The panel catalysed a vital conversation on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within management mathematics. While policies proliferate, lived experiences reveal persistent gaps: ethnic-minority researchers face lower funding odds, minoritized students encounter higher dropout rates and many initiatives risk performativity. While this editorial focuses primarily on UK-based challenges and responses, it also draws on parallel experiences from international mathematical communities—in the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe—to situate national efforts within a broader global discourse. These comparisons highlight shared structural barriers and offer transferable models of policy and practice.