Has the events industry moved the needle towards becoming more diverse, inclusive and accessible?
DE&I is still very much on the agenda for event planners and we are seeing organisers seeking ways to be more diverse in content and speaker line ups, with a big focus on accessibility in events since the return of in-person. There’s been a realisation that accessibility doesn’t just mean delivering a virtual or hybrid event, it also means catering for those with accessibility needs including those with physical, visual or hearing impairments, as well as people who are neurodiverse. Because of this, we are seeing planners working more closely with venues and looking at how to use tech to make events more accessible, even providing quiet spaces for the neuro diverse.
With the talent shortage still being a key issue, hiring diverse talent is being identified as an even bigger challenge than first thought. So we are starting see that addressing the talent pipeline needs a more long term strategy, with more consideration being given on how to attract the next gen of talent by making our industry more attractive and developing ways to ensure diverse talent is welcomed and developed through ambassadorships, mentorship programmes and initiatives such as the event industry REACH scholarship programme.
Inclusion is now starting to take centre stage, with event organisations looking at how they can make their workplaces more inclusive, recognising that there are a diverse range of needs that exist in the workplace and that prioritising EDI work will benefit everyone, which will in turn support best practice when it comes to inclusion at events.
Diversity Alliance is working hard to educate and share resources to provide more insight and knowledge around diversity and inclusion that is applicable to the events industry and the people that make it up.
Gabby Austen-Browne
Founder of Diversity Alliance
Gabby Austen-Browne is an award winning diversity and inclusion expert delivering consultancy, education and training to the events and hospitality sectors as founder of Diversity Alliance.
She brings her professional experience producing and delivering events, managing venue operations and developing sales strategies for hospitality venues, to inform, support and advise on D&I strategies that are relevant to the sector.
