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 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
Nazlie Shahmir
CP
Pankaj Kamthan
Concordia University
John Clopton
Guy Brandon
MBA IT Ltd
Sinead Jack
Gem Cable Solutions Ltd
Sharon Vincuilla
human canine collaborative
I am committed to creating more inclusive environments by:
- providing low-cost and sliding scale options for my services
- educating myself about systemic racism in formal and informal ways
- developing services that are relevant and accessible to diverse communities
- implementing a non-tolerance policy within my services for behavior that is racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic, bullying, dominant, punitive, or otherwise hateful or harmful
- establishing an ongoing lifestyle practice of consent to reduce harm and increase accountability in how I interact with others
- designing services the include closed captioning, recording, sensory adjustments, and by creating clear and welcome procedures for requesting accommodations
- openly acknowledging the power dynamic between myself and others to empower participants to say "no" to me
- including an accountability page on my website to make it easy for people to give me feedback and address harm
- engaging in formal diversity/equity/inclusion/justice business building
- partnering with diverse professionals who share my values for public events and projects
Ross Musgrove
Bravand
We're working with local organisations - including You Make It (https://www.you-make-it.org/) and Hackney Council to help local people from varied backgrounds of all ages with employability. Our first full time permanent employee is a person that worked with us through You Make It's work placement programme. We're also in the process of starting our own digital skills development programme, working with local people that want experience in our industry to deliver a project for Hackney Empire.
Teach Topics with Motivating Examples on Diversity
Support Diversity of Members in Team Projects
Publish Papers Advocating Diversity