Do you think there is a lack of diversity in the exhibitions industry ? I think that what happened was the people perhaps who were able to take risks in business for whatever reason , where they ’ re able to get financial loads from the bank where they had partners , or parents or whoever to support them were able to get funds together . They were able to launch these businesses and historically , marginalised communities find it harder if they don ’ t have those means from generational wealth , or they find it difficult to get things like bank loans and investment so that ’ s probably why the exhibition industry does seem dominantly white male , that ’ s fine . The thing is now what can we do about that ? How can we change that ? It ’ s not just top down or bottom up , it needs to be everyone together . But if leadership and board members aren ’ t involved , then obviously nothing will happen .
Can being more inclusive help solve the recruitment crisis ?
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The mistake I think companies have been making is it ’ s a sticking plaster over wound and not really addressing the issue . Sort out your own house first . Look at your website , look at your language and terminology , look at your current team . Do they feel supported , do they feel like they ’ re able to be open about their own intersectional diversity ? Everyone ’ s got diversity , it ’ s not just visual diversity .
What makes a good DEI policy ? Making sure those policies come from a real authentic place . A policy should be representative your values as a company and as a team , what your future goals are . I think people see through DEI policies if they ’ re a bit cut and paste .
This about your values , and mission as a business . Maybe your values and mission need readdressing and you need to think about how you insert equity , diversity and inclusion within that . It definitely takes a bit of work and conversations to decide the importance and the relevance to the current times that
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“ The exhibition industry does seem dominantly white male , that ’ s fine . The thing is now what can we do about that ?”
we ’ re in .
It should obviously relate to your strategy and code of conduct but maybe also your supply chain , attendees , workers . To say to people this is what our DEI goals are . This is what our strategy is and we would love for you to read that and commit to working in the way that we want to work .
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These policies impact not just the internal culture and internal company but also impacts companies and supply chains that they that they work with .
Do you think there ’ s a fear of getting it wrong when it comes to tackling diversity ? It ’ s an excuse to say ‘ I don ’ t know if I can take the time to sit down and just try and learn ’. Sometimes we make mistakes and we move on from mistakes . Everyone can say the wrong thing , but there ’ s lots of resources around to help , workshops and training .
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16 — December |