We care about diversity at conferences and events because we want them to be better for everyone.
Sign the diversity charter to show that you care too.
All too often we see conference and event lineups full of the same or similar people, we don’t want that anymore. We want diversity.
Diversity refers to a wide range of visible and non-visible characteristics; it’s about valuing variety, welcoming a range of backgrounds, experiences and opinions and embracing the benefits that differences bring. We believe that a diverse set of people on stage and in audiences will improve events and will ultimately change the industries they represent for the better.
We know that it takes more effort to increase diversity at events and we will show our commitment to making that happen by signing this charter.
This charter is for event organisers, speakers, individuals, employers, sponsors and venues. By signing this charter, you are committing to highlighting where there is a lack of diversity at events and doing what you can to make things better.
Event organisers
You can make better events for your participants by working harder to create a more inclusive environment. By signing this charter, you are committing to seeking ways to create better events by increasing the diversity of the people on stage as well as in the audience. You can use these ideas to help you. Once you sign the charter, you’ll get a logo to add your website to show your commitment to diversity.
Event speakers, individuals, employers, sponsors and venues
Influence diversity at conferences by being mindful of who is speaking and what the conference is doing to promote diversity. By signing this charter, you are committing to encouraging event organisers to consider making events diverse, highlighting when they aren’t and helping where you can. (We encourage giving people the benefit of the doubt and working with them rather than calling them out publically)
Speakers
Choose not to speak at events that will not commit to creating diverse events.
Individuals
Choose not to attend and/or fund events that will not commit to creating diverse events.
Employers
Choose to not send employees to as audience members, speakers or panel members to events that will not commit to creating diverse events.
Sponsors
Choose not to fund events that will not commit to creating diverse events. You make sure you have a diverse range of people representing your organisation at events you sponsor.
Venues
Work with event organisers to ensure you are meeting diverse needs. Choose to not host events that will not commit to creating diverse events.
The most recent signatories
Diane O'Lone
STMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd
Nettie Williams
DfE Digital
AOTE Team
Lucia Joglar Ongay
Thanks for the initiative. This should become a must and there should be no more discussions about it. It has to become the norm and not be the exception. Thanks again
Maria Isidro
Matt Ahrens
OpenZFS
We're providing free OpenZFS Developer Summit conference tickets to under-represented groups, offering a free attendee ticket to anyone who refers a speaker from an under-represented group, will reach out to individuals to help increase our speaker diversity, and are advertising these free tickets on websites like Women in Tech Fund. We also have a code of conduct in place for the event and community.
Adelina Andreea Turcu
C4media - InfoQ and QCon
QCon is dedicated to helping software developers who strive to bring innovation into their teams. Our commitment to empowering them is reflected in our inclusion and diversity initiatives. We hope to foster an inclusive environment within the software industry where everyone feels safe to express themselves and learn while facilitating access to technologies that create change and innovation.
Some OnSite Resources include:
- Subsidized child care
- Family room, prayer room, and quiet areas
- Gender-neutral bathroom with clear signage
- Voting boxes designed with color-blindness in mind
- Labels with food allergies (deconstructed menus) and cultural food preferences (ie. Halal)
- We organize Women & Allies in Tech Breakfasts
At DfE Digital one of the ways we show our commitment to diversity and inclusion is to make sure our colleagues take part in events that represent the society we live in.