Carlene Firmin a Senior Research Fellow and Head of the MsUnderstood project at the University was named by the internet newspaper as one of a group women who are choosing to say, " ‘no’ to the easy option and instead, are choosing to improve the lives of others."

Named alongside Doreen Lawrence, Camila Batmanghelidjh, Emma Watson and JK Rowling, Carlene is applauded for her efforts to combat gang culture.

In 2011 Carlene Firmin became the youngest black woman to ever receive an MBE. "It was certainly well-deserved," says the Huffington Post.

In 2010 she founded the Girls Against Gangs (GAG) project, supporting women affected by gang violence to become empowered and act as local advisors on gender and youth violence.

Three years later in 2013, she created the The MsUnderstood Partnership, bringing together the University of Bedfordshire, Imkaan and the Girls Against Gangs Project.

Carlene said: "It is wonderful to be named alongside such inspiring women, and it is something which I didn’t expect at all. Knowing that my research has made a difference to government policy, and as a result young people's lives, is what's most important. It's what keep me, and everyone I work with, motivated."

Prior to joining the University in August 2013, Carlene was Principal Policy Advisor to the Office of the Children's Commissioners Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups, having spent eight years researching gender-based violence, gang-related offending and child protection.