Our university motto, vim promovet insitam, says that we 'promote one's innate power'.

Through research and scholarship we seek to uncover truths that will help create better futures. And in our education, we seek to empower our students to understand and consider how they can create a positive, inclusive future.

I welcome the findings of the 'Legacies of Slavery' report and am grateful to the many colleagues who have contributed to the report and to the wider work of our institution in creating an inclusive community.

Our commitment to discovery and learning means we must, as an institution, understand our own past. This initial report reflects similar work being carried out in many universities and public institutions around the world. It is a significant step forward for Bristol, helping us understand the context in which our university was formed, those who contributed to its founding, and the nuances of their historical connections to the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans. It also provides useful provocations for us to consider.

It gives us much to consider as we seek to enrich our educational mission and I strongly encourage every member of our community – students, faculty, staff, and alumni – to read the report and reflect on our history. Although our institution was founded well after the abolition of slavery, understanding, sharing, and growing from a knowledge of our institution's past will help shape our future.

This initial report is just one part of our wider reflections about our institution and the role we play in our city and the world, and we are already taking action on many fronts.

We will soon begin to seek views from our community on whether various buildings across our campus should be renamed, and how our past should be represented on our campus. This has been an important matter for many in our community for some time. This report provides us with an evidence base for that conversation.

We will continue to challenge ourselves and take on feedback from our community. Importantly, guided by the work of the Anti-Racism Steering Group, we are committed to addressing:

• how we undertake our research and education;
• how we communicate our history and educate the public;
• how we curate and display our collections, and use our estate and public art to represent the Bristol community;
• how we attract and retain students and staff from diverse communities;
• how we engage with other academic institutions around the world in this important work, and
• how we engage with, support and learn from our local community.

I look forward to the ongoing engagement of our community in the conversations and decisions that will shape our path as we collectively work towards a more equitable future.