Dr April-Louise Pennant is a socially and politically engaged scholar-activist, speaker, writer and consultant whose work blends cutting-edge research in the social sciences and humanities with education, policy and community action.
She holds an ESRC-funded PhD in Education from the University of Birmingham, is a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow at Cardiff University, and a Research Associate at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa and Bangor University in the UK.
She previously worked at the Welsh Government, where she conceived and co-authored the award-winning Running Against the Wind: Report on Black Lives Matter & Staff Experiences of Race, Gender & Intersectionality in the Welsh Government. Leading the vision and research for the report, she helped drive meaningful organisational change and also contributed to the acclaimed Anti-racist Wales Action Plan. During this time, she worked on the expert group reviewing curriculum resources and professional training to embed Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic history, Welsh history and Cynefin into schools under the new Welsh curriculum.
She has consulted as an academic member of the GW4–National Trust community of practice, contributing to work addressing the slavery and colonial histories of Trust properties and collections, including Penrhyn Castle, which is also the focus of her current Leverhulme research project.
Her book Babygirl, You’ve Got This! Experiences of Black Girls & Women in the English Education System (Bloomsbury, 2024) is recognised for its originality, rigour and significance, offering a powerful and affirming exploration of Black British girlhood and womanhood in education while highlighting structural inequalities and pathways for transformation.
Alongside research and writing, Dr Pennant blogs about her academic journey and publishes short reviews of books, films and cultural works that centre Black people, identity and diverse global experiences. She mentors emerging scholars, supporting those exploring similar areas and nurturing the next generation of socially engaged researchers.
Through all her work, Dr Pennant drives systemic change, shapes inclusive policy and empowers future leaders. She is committed to transforming education and society by centring Black voices, dismantling erasure and opening new possibilities for equity and justice.
