Launch of SUPERdiverse WOMEN
To recognize and inspire diverse women leaders throughout Australasia
Launched on February 15, 2017, SUPERdiverse WOMEN (SDW) aims to celebrates the achievements of the growing group of superdiverse women while recognizing and acknowledging their different experiences and the unique contributions they make to New Zealand.
The launch was divided into two sessions. At 4 pm, SDW organized a Foundation members only meet-up to help these powerful and diverse group of women to network and get an opportunity to meet each other. In attendance for this session were 84 of 124 Foundation Members of SDW.
The session saw Mai Chen, Chair, SDW share her vision for the organisation and asked for advisory board and foundation members to lead key initiatives for the organisation – to develop and reach to a wider network of potential diverse women.
Lots of buzz, energy and passion greeted more than 150 attendees of the 5 pm session which was the official launch of SUPERdiverse WOMEN and ‘The Diversity Matrix: Updating What Diversity Means for Discrimination Laws in the 21st Century’.
SUPERdiverse WOMEN and The Diversity Matrix was officially launched by Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff. In his speech to the audience the Mayor encouraged to build an inclusive society and said, “Every child, every person in NZ, regardless of gender, race, disability, faith, sexual orientation or income deserves equal respect as a human being and deserves most importantly genuine equal opportunities to achieve to their full potential. Our vision, our aspiration must be to be a fully inclusive society which assures that everybody can contribute to their fullest extent to our community and that no one is left behind. That is the society that I dream about.”
Sharing the vision of foundation sponsor, nib NZ and their association with SDW, nib NZ, CEO, Rob Hennin said, “At nib NZ, we want to do what is right – what’s right for our employees, our customers, our partners and those we do business with. We are really looking forward to supporting SUPERdiverse WOMEN. We hope we can support you to achieve your goals but we are also looking forward to be a part of a movement to create an environment where superdiversity is both acknowledged, appreciated and also encouraged.”
Talking about her conversation with her daughter who has hopes of bringing about change, Vivien Bridgewater, General Manager Destination & Marketing, ATEED said, “It takes special people to create that momentum of change and SUPERdiverse WOMEN is one of the building blocks on the house that we are all building together.”
Talking about the alignment of sponsors, Perpetual Guardian, SUPERdiverse WOMEN and The Diversity matrix, Sumita Paul, Investment and Philanthropy Partner, Perpetual Guardian said, “The concept of superdiversity resonates really well with Perpetual Guardian because we want to understand what New Zealand looks like today, we want to ensure we do the right thing by every segment of the population. So, we are extremely thankful to Mai Chen and the Superdiversity Centre for launching the Superdiversity Stocktake last year and the Diversity Matrix today.”
