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BRINGING DEI INTO THE MAINSTREAM
Adele Garrick , manager , events and thought leadership , Mastercard , details why corporate events need to be investing in inclusivity
iversity , equity and inclusion ( DEI ) is a hot topic , not just in the events industry , but across all businesses and rightly so . Whether it ’ s a conference , exhibition or a gala dinner , it is critical that our attendees feel represented and reflected at an event .
As organisers , we must understand our role in helping to create this . I wholeheartedly believe that delivering an event that brings together different perspectives and backgrounds , will contribute to a more thoughtful event , through the selection of the likes of speakers , suppliers and content . It will also bring awareness for religious and / or cultural sensitivities as well as an
“ No matter how ‘ aware ’ you think you are , there will always be considerations you haven ’ t thought of .”
Adele Garrick
increased understanding of how you can make your event accessible for those with disabilities .
When I was a planning a holiday for friends last year , one declined to join – because the location was somewhere that wasn ’ t LGBTQ + friendly . This was something that hadn ’ t crossed my mind as we looked at options . It was the moment I realised that no matter how ‘ aware ’ you think you are , there will always be considerations you haven ’ t thought of .
Be the change In our industry , we attend lots of in-person events and we see so many through social media and online ; we ’ re in a very fortunate position that it ’ s easy to continually learn and understand what we can do better . I ’ ve always been impressed by Glastonbury ’ s approach to being more sustainable but when I was watching and reading about the festival this year , I was impressed its approach to being more accessible and inclusive – shown by its sign language interpreters , dedicated accessible campsites , viewing platforms and the Sistxrhood women-only venue .
It got me thinking , how can this be translated into making my world of corporate events more inclusive ?
Whether that ’ s ensuring there ’ s a tapered edge rather than a step up onto an exhibition booth ; making sure to create plenty of opportunities for attendees to inform us of anything that might make their experience easier ; to supporting local , ethical suppliers that will contribute to the social and cultural development of the venue ’ s local area ; the list really is endless and achievable .
These small changes make events more inclusive , but they also give attendees a better experience . Not only is creating representation in your events the right thing to do , but it will ultimately make them more impactful and memorable experiences . CN www . conference-news . co . uk