Jacobs Diversity Committee produces winning results

EMBARGOED until 10.30pm, Wednesday 27 August 2014

Media release

27 August 2014

Jacobs Diversity Committee produces winning results

For the 17th year in a row the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust is once again proud to celebrate the fantastic organisations across New Zealand who are leading the way in workplace diversity.

The ANZ and EEO Trust Diversity Awards NZ 2014, included additional categories this year so that more businesses than ever before could be recognised for their workplace initiatives and programmes. There was also a measurable increase in the number and quality of entries which EEO Trust Chief Executive Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie believes is a positive reflection of how much the diversity landscape has changed in recent years.

“In a country with immigration as its backbone diversity is in New Zealand’s DNA.

Businesses are clearly learning how to make the most of a diverse workforce and the benefits of building an inclusive culture. With 213 different ethnicities, cultural differences are part of New Zealand society and our work environments need to be open to those differences.”

Inclusivity means many different things to different people; to this year’s Supreme Award Winner, Jacobs, it means welcoming and respecting the varied backgrounds, talents, skills and experience of all employees. For them it is a value that is woven through a culture of caring, enabling them to be an engaged, committed and productive company that produces positive results for staff, clients and stakeholders.

As well as taking away the Supreme Award, Jacobs were also the recipient of the Empowerment Award for their work in fostering greater gender equity across the Engineering Consulting business.

Traditionally, engineering and science professions have tended to be dominated by men and whilst this trend has shifted somewhat in recent years, with more female graduates coming through the ranks, the number of women in senior technical roles remains low.

As part of an expanding global organisation, Jacobs New Zealand has responded to this by integrating new approaches from the wider business world with a strong emphasis on networking and inclusion.

Cassidy-Mackenzie who was also a judge in the Awards process says Jacobs are a very worthy winner of both the Empowerment and Supreme Award in 2014.

“They are clearly demonstrating their commitment to diversity within their organisation and are positively influencing the landscape for female engineering and science graduates in New Zealand”

To find out more and read all the winner’s stories visit www.eeotrust.org.nz

Ends

Notes to editors

About the EEO Trust

The Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Trust is a national body mandated by government to provide support to employers around the issue of equal opportunities and diversity in the workplace.

The EEO Trust assists employers in introducing and managing proven EEO thinking and practices, encourages diversity by promoting the recruitment and development of people on the basis of merit and generates awareness of the business benefits and rewards of an inclusive workplace.

The Award categories and winners

• Tomorrow’s Workforce Award – Aurecon

• Cultural Celebration Award – Elizabeth Knox Home & Hospital with a Highly Commended Award for Computers in Homes

• Empowerment Award – Jacobs

• Skills Highway Award – Russell Group with a Highly Commended Award for Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products

• Positive Inclusion Award – Nirvana Health Group

• Divers-ability Award – Odyssey with a Highly Commended Award for BlastaCars

• Work Life Balance Award – Andrew.Stewart Ltd

• Walk the Talk Award – Ranjna Patel, NZ Asian Leaders

The Awards judges

• John Christie, Chief Executive, Otago Chamber of Commerce

• Sarah Haydon, Independent Director

• Neil Porteous, GM Northern Region, St John

• Anna Campbell, Executive GM People Support, The Warehouse

• Edwina Pio, Diversity Professor AUT

• Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie, Chief Executive EEO Trust

The Awards sponsors

• ANZ New Zealand – principal sponsor

• Air New Zealand

• Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand

• Sovereign

• Fletcher Building

• Tertiary Education Commission

• Te Puni Kōkiri

• State Services Commission

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