About Us
We would love to hear from you.
Our Story
Ayo founded the business in 2021, building on nearly twenty years of experience in the field of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). With a strong foundation in this work, Ayo brought both deep understanding and practical insight into the challenges that individuals and organisations face when striving for equity and fairness.
The inspiration to start the business was sparked by a growing awareness in society of the structural barriers that continue to affect minoritized groups. As conversations around race, identity, and systemic inequality gained momentum, it became clear that many organisations needed support to navigate these complex and sensitive issues effectively.
Ayo recognised the urgent need to help organisations take trusted, informed, and compassionate approaches to EDI. The business was created to support workplaces and service providers in improving the experiences and outcomes of their staff, customers, and service users—ensuring that inclusion isn’t just a statement, but a meaningful and sustained practice.
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Our vision is to be the leading consultancy empowering organisations to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion as core drivers of sustainable success. We aim to create lasting impact by helping organisations build inclusive cultures, transform leadership practices, and foster environments where individuals and communities feel valued, respected, and able to thrive.
Our mission is to improve equity and create environments where everyone can thrive. We work with organisations and underrepresented groups to influence strategy, policy, and practice around equality, diversity, and inclusion. Our support spans areas such as staff and stakeholder experience, recruitment, retention, development, progression, and EDI strategy.
We are driven by values that guide everything we do. We bring reliability by keeping projects on track and delivering on our promises. Our adaptable, bespoke approach responds to your changing needs. With honesty, empathy, and a commitment to real change, we build trust and deliver lasting impact that aligns with your organisation’s goals and values.
Meet The Team
Get to know the experts behind our work — driven, creative, and focused on your success.
Ayo Barley (she/her)
Lead Consultant and Managing Director
Ayo has over 20 years of experience in equality-focused roles and holds an academic background in Social Policy. She has worked across science and engineering, health, higher education, social care, and the voluntary sector—supporting underrepresented groups in both community and corporate settings. Her EDI approach combines social justice, business performance, and compliance. She also brings expertise in business development, strategy, and income generation.
Ayo offers personalised, impartial support tailored to where each organisation is on its EDI journey. With a positive mindset and strong people skills, she helps uncover hidden voices and build inclusive workplaces where everyone feels valued. She is an Independent Advisor to Citizens Advice, Chair of the YCEDE External Advisory Board, and co-founder of the LSTM BAME staff network.
Our Associates Network
We are delighted to work in partnership with a network of UK based associates that specialise in equity, diversity and inclusion. All associates are endorsed by Bakare Barley Ltd and are experienced in providing training and consultancy services in a range of sectors and settings including the NHS, Higher Education, local government, the voluntary sector, and the private sector. We draw on our wider team of reputable associates for support with delivery whenever it is beneficial, and according to our clients needs.
Dr Karisha Kimone George
Associate
Karisha Kimone George began her tertiary education in Trinidad and Tobago before completing her graduate study in Psychology at the University of York.
During her time as an academic at the University of York, she has specialised in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, with a special interest in empowering minoritised individuals, educating majority-identity individuals, and fostering good relations between them.
As director of the University of York’s EDI Research Centre, Karisha has led on the development of a cultural awareness training programme and is working with the Open University to develop further resources.
Lisa Brennan
Associate
Lisa Brennan is an education and inclusion consultant with over 20 years’ experience supporting schools, universities, and organisations to create more genuinely inclusive environments for neurodivergent people. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between good intentions and real-world experience.
Lisa helps organisations identify unintended barriers, understand patterns of distress or disengagement, and make practical, prioritised changes that are realistic within everyday constraints. Lisa’s background includes teaching, teacher education, curriculum and learning design, and professional development. Her approach is evidence-informed, trauma- aware, and collaborative, shaped by both professional expertise and lived experience of neurodivergence.
She works best with organisations that want clarity, honesty, and meaningful progress – not tick-box compliance or one-size-fits-all solutions.