Hunter businesses are being asked to ‘walk the talk’ and enter nominations into the second annual Hunter Diversity Awards.
The Hunter Diversity Awards were introduced in 2015 as an initiative of the Equal Futures Project – a local group of business leaders dedicated to raising awareness and funds that will facilitate gender equity in the region.
While officially opening nominations for the 2016 Awards, Belinda Smith said that the Awards recognise and celebrate diversity champions among us.
Earlier this year the following organisations were honoured for their commitment to creating a fairer and more equitable place to live and work. They were:
- McCullough Robertson awarded for commitment to creating an inclusive workplace.
- The Greater was awarded for its commitment to building a flexible workplace.
- The Gender Equity workplace award went to Aurizon.
- The Diversity champion was named as Kathy Butler from the Wollotuka Institute at the University of Newcastle.
‘In 2016 we are looking to highlight those who have discovered what works. It’s about finding out what local people are putting into successful practice and then sharing these experiences across our broad community,” Belinda said.
In 2016 there are three categories for organisations and one for individual diversity champions:
- Inclusive Workplace Champion | organisation (sponsored by Sparke Helmore)
- Workplace Flexibility Champion | organisation (sponsored by ARTC)
- Gender Equity Champion | organisation
- Diversity Champion | individual (sponsored by The Sista Code)
Nominations are now open and close Friday, 11 December 2015.
Finalists will be announced on Monday, 18 January 2016 with winners announced at the International Women’s Day breakfast which is sponsored by Pacific National on Friday, 4 March 2016 at Wests New Lambton.
The Awards are being supported by gender equity champion The Sista Code, Hunter Region Chamber Alliance Partners, the local team at Endota Spa and the Newcastle Herald.
