BIMA Sets New Goals for Inclusion and Diversity in Digital
(London, 9 March 2020) – BIMA, the UK’s largest digital and tech community, has announced Nancy Rowe, Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Publicis Sapient as the new chair of its I&D Council as it launches an ambitious and far-reaching programme for 2020.
n 2019, the council raised awareness of inclusion and diversity issues in the digital industry with the publication of The Voices of Our Industry report. Amongst many other insights, the study found career progression was negatively influenced by mental health (43%), gender (35%), neurodivergence (24%) and ethnicity (14%). Now the council has determined that 2020 is about taking action to improve the picture.
The council has set three goals for 2020:
- To address under-representation or lack of representation based on gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or mental health by creating toolkits and practice guides to help more organisations understand not only the changes they can make, but how to make them.
- To use BIMA events to increase understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the digital workplace. The events will explore flexible, tailored work practices, remote working and other ways of ensuring all voices are heard and preferences are met so everyone can deliver their best.
- To use a series of roundtable events to educate digital business leaders on the business imperative that underpins I&D.
Additionally, ahead of new survey planned for 2021, the council will continue its research within the digital HR community, developing its understanding of the reality of inclusion and diversity within the sector.
Nancy replaces outgoing chair Nadya Powell, founder of culture change consultancy Utopia, who has led the council – and been a driving force behind growing industry awareness of D&I issues – since its launch.
Joining Nancy are several new council members who bring lived experience of D&I issues, and/or experience as industry practitioners supporting the marginalised or driving change. They include Kate Rand, Group Employee Experience & Inclusion Director, Beyond; Simon Devereux, Head of Advertising Learning & Development at The Mill; Jamie Jefferson; Creative Director at Equator, Reeha Alder, Employee Experience Director at Kin + Carta Connect; and Siobhan Randall, Education and Engagement Manager at WhiteHat GB.
The full list can be found here.
Nancy Rowe said: “I am delighted to be joining BIMA’s Inclusion & Diversity Council. Since its launch the council has made huge steps in ensuring gender, age, ethnicity, diversity and neurodiversity are no longer fringe topics. They have helped place inclusivity at the heart of the digital industry and I’m looking forward to ensuring our work leads to real and lasting change in the workplace.” Nancy Rowe
BIMA co-president Natalie Gross added: “The Voices of our Industry report was a landmark moment for BIMA and I would like to thank former chair Nadya Powell for her work in making BIMA a champion of I&D. Now, I’m very much looking forward to seeing how Nancy and the team will use the findings of that report to inform the practical actions the council will take this year.”
