Ratha Perumal is an academic manager and PhD researcher. Her doctoral work examines factors that contribute to the degree-award gap experienced by racially minoritised students in higher education (HE). Through working at a post-1992 university and a Russell Group institution, Ratha has witnessed how policy discourses in the HE sector produce different implementation strategies in individual institutional contexts – with varied outcomes. Such insights inform her doctoral study and other research and scholarly activity.