For several years now, I have devoted my professional energy to leading change in favour of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Diversity matters. It matters from board rooms to parliament and all the way to the factory floor.
Diversity is an exciting growth catalyst for business – and most importantly for people! But it is a challenging topic. I work with organisations to unravel its complexities and to create diversity policies and programmes for real change. And I love what I do.
Most recently I have been managing a critical project for business owners which saw the government offer funding for mental health and wellbeing support as a much-needed response to the effects of Covid on our economy and business community initially in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland), and now being rolled-out nationally. www.firststeps.nz
Having come out of our traffic light system and a harrowing term of lockdowns, I was pleasantly surprised to be awarded the APAC Business Awards; Diversity Consultant of the Year 2021. The Asia Pacific region is a rich melting pot for cultural diversity and it was incredibly humbling to receive this award.
Before this I was also honoured to be recognised as one of the world’s Top 50 Diversity Professionals in the 2017 Global Diversity List. Managed by the Global Diversity Company & founders of the European Diversity Awards.
This accolade recognises achievements of individuals who have made the practice of diversity and inclusion their career.
“Our researchers work hard to ensure that our lists represent the gold standard of equality, diversity and inclusion, and as such can be considered a well-earned accreditation”. Top50, Global Diversity List, 2017.
CEO of Diversity Works NZ (formerly the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust) from 2012-2018. Diversity Works NZ is a national body that exists to support, advise and inspire New Zealand organisations to be better-by-diversity.
During my time at DWNZ I introduced Unconscious Bias training and awareness into organisations. I also ensured the delivery of the most comprehensive diversity & inclusion education programme across New Zealand, both in-house and online. Proudly brought international best practice diversity and inclusion bench marking tools to NZ workplaces.
I have facilitated and presented more than 400 sessions on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to date, to audiences from 20 to 600 attendees, from Whangarei to Wellington, Hamilton to Hong Kong. Authenticity in nature combined with practical advice and real New Zealand business examples, and evidence-based research, have made for compelling and lively engagements. Experience that I now bring to my clients.
I have a diverse background that includes being self-employed during the Auckland power black-outs of the 80’s. I’ve worked in the public sector for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (which involved protecting and promoting New Zealand’s onshore brand, NZ Inc) and I have been fortunate to work alongside some of New Zealand’s best diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the APEC Task Force of 99. I travelled nationally with their Senior Officials & Ministers. This was both the best on-the-job training experience I will ever have and equally one of the most satisfying projects I have ever worked on.
After APEC I spent several years with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, assisting businesses to both stay in business and grow. And several years driving change at the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust to encourage growth and awareness of the benefits of inclusive workplaces, and consequently driving the brand change to Diversity Works New Zealand.
Indeed, my work and life experience has been varied, and exciting and has followed my journey in life as a wife and a mother. When I’ve needed to move to roles with more flexibility or part-time hours (as my husband and I have shared the caring responsibilities for our daughter) my career moves reflected that. As they should.
Bev’s expertise was instrumental in setting us up for our Diversity and Inclusion journey for our 1200 employees. Her judgement, pragmatic advice, personal approachability and credibility were key to getting engagement of our team and senior leaders. I would recommend her as a key resource to any business either starting out or dealing with diversity and inclusion issues.
When our organisation commenced its diversity journey in 2014 we started with a policy & a blank sheet of paper. Bev was fundamental in providing us with guidance around how we could develop a strategy and a workplan to engage with the business and create an understanding on why a focus on diversity & inclusion was critical to achieving our vision and position us to respond to fundamental changes in our industry. We believe diversity & inclusion sparks innovation and challenges traditional ways of thinking. The support Bev provided us was fundamental in not only enabling us to win awards but challenged us to recognise further gaps and maintain the momentum of our diversity & inclusion programme.
As a small business with a commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, Bev has provided us with the kind of guidance and support that can only be given by someone who is truly immersed and invested in the sector. On a personal level as a woman Bev has inspired me as a leader with her knowledge, integrity, honesty and compassion. Coffee Educators and Able Coffee Collaborative look forward to being a part of the continued impact Bev has on our communities and wider society in NZ.
As part of our organisation’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi we wanted to ensure that our policies and practices continued to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. We reached out to Bev at Diversity Consulting Ltd to continue our work in developing bi-cultural HR practice in Aotearoa, and enhancing the experience of other minority groups. The DCL team assigned to our project brought different strengths and experiences including how to demonstrate that commitment to Te Tiriti in our workplace. They helped us to understand our gaps and strengths and to understand modernised diversity, equity and inclusion practices. The work completed by the DCL team informed our future planning and investment, they were great to work with and really understood our needs.
I have had the pleasure of enjoying a long partnership with Bev on many Diversity initiatives and have found her passion, commitment and leadership in the Diversity & Inclusion space inspiring.
The issues of Diversity and Inclusion have become real issues for Business community and the Public Service over the last decade. Bev will work with your organisation in a way that ensures behaviour changes that reflect todays values and consequences that demonstrate those changes make good business and institutional sense.
Bev has been a great advisor, challenger and encourager of all our Diversity and Inclusion activity, from the work on strategy to the programmes we delivered and the support and training we needed. The real difference Bev has brought was to see the whole world of Diversity and Inclusion but also to be practical and realistic on what really counts.
