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Top 20 Must-Attend Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Events of The Year

2022 still has an action-packed calendar of events designed to help organizations accelerate their diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts to create welcoming environments for both existing staff and new recruits, where everyone feels they belong and can make a valuable contribution regardless of their background, ability or how they identify. Here are 20 must-attend events from around the world (ordered by date) for both professionals and organizations looking to level the playing field and create inclusive workplaces for all.

 

MAY 2022

 

25 May: D&I In India Best Practice (Virtual Asia Conference) 

Ahead of its prestigious awards ceremony (on 26 May), Community Business has organised D&I In India Best Practice Virtual Conference, which provides an opportunity to learn from and build on the successes of companies leading the way in developing D&I best practice in India. Through a series of panel discussions, finalists of the key award categories will share their nominated programmes and initiatives. This provides an opportunity for business leaders and D&I professionals to gain valuable insights to what other companies are doing, learn why they have been selected as finalists and take best practice back to their own organisations. myGwork is a supporting partner.


JUNE 2022

 

6-10 June: Pride Summit

Right now, women are some of the most gifted folks in technology. Yet there are far fewer of than there should be: Women account for 1 in 5 people in STEM fields. (hat stat is even lower for queer women. Because there aren’t enough women, trans, and GNC people in tech, they are rarely quoted as experts by the mainstream media and blogs, serve on panels, and serve in high positions at top tech companies. To help fix this Lesbians Who Tech & Allies are back to host the largest LGBTQ+ event in the tech ecosystem. Additionally, the overwhelming amount of discriminatory legislation against trans and LGBTQ+ people, attacks on voting rights, reproductive rights and more, it's more important than ever to be visible and be together this Pride, confirmed the organizer. So in addition to its virtual summit, it has also organized happy hour events in select cities in the US. 


7 June: Women in Tech Global Conference 2022 (Virtual-Hybrid Europe & US event)

The largest conference for women in tech boasts uniting over 100,000 diverse women to foster innovation with purpose and impact. The hybrid conference will bring women in tech, minorities and allies from all over the world together through an interactive platform featuring live educational and training content, keynotes, engaging panels, breakout rooms, technical workshops, and networking with virtual and in-person sessions. Themes cover diversity, equity, inclusion and allyship, breaking the glass ceiling, the path/advancing to the c-suite, navigating the c-suite as a working mother, and many more.

 

16 June: Diversity & Inclusion Conference

Implementing and innovating a diversity and inclusion strategy has never been so important. The wide range of business and people benefits are widely reported and known, but businesses need to move from reactive to proactive and start making real change; let’s cut through statements of intent and make a difference. The event, organised by IHR, promises to help DE&I professionals learn everything to know about measuring diversity, inclusion strategy, racism, disability, returners, inclusivity, unbiased recruitment and culture changes. 

 

20-24 June: WorkPride 2022 Empowering the LGBTQ+ Community (Global Virtual Pride Conference)

Hosted by myGwork, this 5-day series of events is for professionals, graduates, inclusive employers, and anyone who believes in workplace equality. Each year, WorkPride welcomes thousands of virtual attendees from around the globe to network, share best practices, and learn strategies to help create workspaces that are inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. This year’s events will focus on LGBTQ+ allyship, networks, business, careers and wellbeing across all sectors and regions of the world. Check out the myGwork website link here for more information on the week's action-packed agenda, featuring careers-related training workshops, interactive panels and webinars, and speakers for both LGBTQ+ professionals and allies. 


 


25 June: Pride in Education (Hybrid event)

Pride in Education returns for its fifth conference. The hybrid-event aims to support anyone working or with an interest in making the education sector more inclusive, from primary to university with a focus on LGBTQ+ lives and issues. The conference offers a range of live panel discussions, presentations and workshops and looks at super diverse identities intersectionality. Face to face delegates will also be able to browse the stalls, buy resources for their schools or commission further training. International speakers will be present alongside UK experts, including the founders of LGBT+ History Month, Professor Sue Sanders (from the UK) and Rodney Wilson (in the US). myGwork is a supporting partner. Click here for more information.

 

June 30: Reversing Homophobia & Non-binary Discrimination at C-level

LGBTQ+ professionals on both sides of the Atlantic still experience workplace discrimination. The problem remains rampant both in hiring and in day-to-day interactions between out LGBTQ+ professionals and their colleagues, which means companies are losing out on top talent. Many industries, especially STEM, have lost viable candidates due to the cumulative effects of anti-LGBTQ biases. While a record 6% of Americans now identify as LGBTQ+, business leaders either turn their backs on the everyday struggles that these employees, or call it a day with inadequate and incomplete formal policies. The cases of meaningful LGBTQ+ inclusion are rare, and they all feature strong support of DE&I from the executive team, as well as an ongoing feedback loop. Enabling LGBTQ+ professionals to feel free in their identities creates a more open and innovative workplace and allows employees to fulfil their potential. This event will provide practical knowledge on how to reverse homophobia among C-suite executives. 

 

29-30 June: DEI as a Business Imperative

This year, the 26th Annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference, organized by The Conference Board, will center around DEI as a business imperative, and practical ways that businesses can turn strategies into actions. Topics will cover why board Board Diversity Matters; The Role of the CEO in DEI; Shifting Mindsets; Behaviors and Practices for Enduring Change; Inclusion and Purpose-Driven Organizations; and A Hybrid World and the Impact on DEI. Confirmed Speakers include U.S. Bank’s Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, Gregory Cunningham; Audible’s Chief People Officer Anne Erni; Target’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Senior Vice President, HR, Kiera Fernandez; Pfizer’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion Ramcess Jean-Louis; Cargill’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Greg Jones; and P&G’s Chief Equality & Inclusion Officer and EVP of HR, Shelly McNamara. 

 

30 June-1 July: LGBT+@Work Annual Conference (Madrid, Spain)

The IE Out & Allies Club has been proudly presenting LGBT+@Work annual conference for the past 16 years. It’s the largest, longest running, international LGBTQ+ student-led business conference in Europe. The event promotes diverse leadership through exchange of ideas and inspirational talks, creation of unique networking opportunities and building a community of LGBTQ+ students, professionals, and allies who truly care and engage with Diversity and Inclusion topics. The event welcomes inspiring LGBTQ+ professionals and leading organizations from around to world to create a truly diverse, international, and immersive experience. The LGBT+@Work 2022 conference will take place during Madrid Pride Week at new IE Tower in Spain’s capital. This year’s theme focuses on ‘the courage to be who you are’ featuring a one-of-its-kind ‘outed’ TED-like event where LGBTQ+ C-level professionals and leaders share their coming-out stories and inspire young professionals at the beginning of their journeys, reflect the diversity of our community; inclusive of all genders, BIPOC, neurodivergent and HIV+ folks. You can register for the event here. myGwork is a supporting partner.



 

JULY 2022

 

7 July: Race in the Workplace Conference (UK)

Government data reveals that there has been little change in the ethnic diversity of public sector workforces since 2014. While the NHS remains the most diverse workforce with 44.4% of staff coming from ethnic minority backgrounds, other sectors such as the police force lack diversity with 93.1% being white. Employers need to take action to address racial disparities and proactively support ethnic minority colleagues to flourish; after all race equality in the UK will potentially bring a £24 billion per year boost to the UK economy. Yet, only 1 in 16 people at senior levels in the private and public sector are from an ethnic minority background. The Race at Work Conference 2022 to explore best practice strategies for racial inclusion in a range of settings. Leading experts will deliver case studies sharing key insights into removing barriers to recruitment, retention, and progression for ethnic minority staff. Attendees will also learn how to collect and interpret race employment data to ensure your interventions to tackle race inequality are evidence-based. 

 

22-24 July: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Conference (Cape Town, South Africa)

The 15th International Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Conference will focus on Disruption. Disruptive practices, such as the #BlackLivesMatter movement or Fridays for Future, have made it less possible to ignore topics important to ‘disruptors’. They have highlighted exclusionary practices towards those who have historically been on the margins, not just in relation to race or ethnicity, but also, for example, by redefining gender from categorical to fluid. Even the Covid-19 pandemic has created the most widespread and fundamental disruption in this century yet, leading to substantial and rapid changes in almost all aspects of life for people across the world. The EDI 2022 conference aims to surface different forms of disruptions and their impact on work, employment and management practices. This hybrid event will allow attendees to attend in person or online. 

 

AUGUST 2022

 

10 August: Inclusive Marketing Solutions (Global Virtual Forum)

From exploring new markets to creating a more inclusive world, this virtual event from Global Inclusion Online Forum will provide practical knowledge on how to create a meaningfully inclusive marketing campaign and align your company’s growth with DE&I objectives. Did you know that 40% of the US population are multicultural consumers, over one billion people around the world have some sort of disability, and the LGBTQ+ people represent at least 7% of the population? Including all these people in your marketing strategy and sending across the right messages may unlock a historically closeted revenue, as shown by the case studies of successful inclusive marketing. However, while the experiences of others’ may be inspiring for new creative ideas, the material DE&I issues for your brand could be different, and thus, so could your tactics and initiatives. This event will help you to create authentic inclusive marketing campaigns; rewire your marketing strategy to account for underrepresented groups; and establish a strong brand identity of a DE&I-supportive organization. 

 

27 September: In-house Recruitment Live

Organised by IHR, this one-day exhibition and conference presents an opportunity for in-house HR/DE&I/recruiters to learn more about successful inclusive recruitment and talent strategies thanks to case studies, insights, forums, speaking sessions, industry peers; alongside 40+ highly effective suppliers to the in-house recruitment industry. 

 

27–29 September: The Dive In Festival (Global Virtual Event)

Dive In is a global movement in the insurance sector to support the development of inclusive workplace cultures. Its mission is to enable people to achieve their potential by raising awareness of the business case and promoting positive action for diversity in all its forms. Since its birth in 2015, Dive In has grown exponentially, reaching global heights with events taking place across 35 countries world-wide, attracting more than 30,000 people. It recognises that the global risk industry is facing complex challenges such as climate change and cyber crime. In order, to attract the very best talent to keep pace with the rate of change, insurance needs to focus on its reputation as a great sector to work in. This means looking beyond traditional definitions of diversity to level the playing field for talent comprehensively including gender, gender identity, age, cultural background, sexual orientation, social mobility, faith, caring responsibilities, mental health and physical impairments. Dive In promotes year-round best practice in diversity and inclusion with tools and advice that culminate in an annual three-day festival in September all around the world.

 

OCTOBER 2022

 

3-7 October: Global Inclusion 2022 (San Francisco, CA)

Since 2013 Diversity Abroad’s annual Global Inclusion conference is reported to be one of the most comprehensive forum for education professionals, students and stakeholders committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in global education and cultural exchange. In fall 2022, the tradition continues in San Francisco as Diversity Abroad celebrates its 10th annual conference. As in prior years, Global Inclusion 2022 will holistically address and accelerating systemic and equitable change in all aspects of global education and cultural exchange. Global Inclusion 2022 will provide an opportunity to share innovations, build community, and collaborate to make progress towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

 

12 October: The Future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 2022 (Global Virtual Event)

This virtual event focuses on DEI in today’s global workplace. Top organizations no longer see DEI as a “stand alone” issue related to fairness and legal compliance. Rather, they increasingly link it to organizational performance, innovation, engagement, brand, ethics, mission and leadership. This event will highlight how successful organizations succeed in this area, with best practices that show how some organizations leverage DE&I as a competitive advantage.  The event will also look at how DE&I is integrated into the organizational mission and how it is supported by the larger corporate culture. In short, this virtual event will provide a detailed snapshot of the state of DE&I today, discuss where it is headed in the future, and reveal how it can be a key driver of both organizational performance and social justice growth across the world. 

 

17-20 October: Out & Equal Workplace Summit (Las Vegas, NV)

Reported to be one the largest LGBTQ+ conference in the world, with more than 5,000 attendees every year, this event brings together executives, ERG leaders and HR/DEI professionals and experts – working to achieve LGBTQ+ equality. Over more than 20 years, the summit has grown to become the preferred place to network and share strategies that create inclusive workplaces, where everyone belongs and where LGBTQ+ employees can be out and thrive. 

 

19 October: #WorkFair (Global Virtual Career Fair)

With many more LGBTQ+ workers now looking for jobs with inclusive employers, #WorkFair is a great free virtual event from myGwork for those searching for a new opportunity; and find out which employers are in fact truly inclusive and embracing diverse talent.  Job seekers can either connect with one of the many inclusive companies participating in the event, or simply use #Workfair as an opportunity to discover new organizations and the type of job opportunities on offer.  #WorkFair will allow candidates to connect live with recruitment teams from FTSE 100 companies and household brand names (such as State Street, Booking.com, Willis Towers Watson, OmniCom Media Group, PepsiCo, Capgemini, Synechron, Clyde and Co, Pearson, Checkout.com, Reed Smith LLP, Criteo, Clifford Chance, Ab InBev, Capco, Pimco) for an informal chat, or one-on-one interviews. The free virtual event will also feature webinars and workshops to tackle career transition, job search, CV writing, virtual interviewing skills, wellbeing and much more. Check back soon for more updates on the 2022 WorkFair event here.

 

NOVEMBER 2022

 

3 November 2022: The Women in Tech Festival (London, UK)

The Women in Tech Festival will return to central London this year. The in-person day will give attendees a chance to meet and network with colleagues and peers, plus connect with mentors and our inspirational speakers. There will also be a digital Festival on Wednesday 9 November presented live from the London studio to ensure inclusivity. The digital day will broadcast even more exclusive sessions, and attendees can catch up on sessions from the live event and connect with peers on the virtual platform. The festival promises to offer inspiration of not only how to improve yourself professionally and personally, but how to help others too. With a focus on addressing diversity, this festival is for anyone within the tech industry. 

  

8-9 November: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Global Conference (Brooklyn, NY)

This Diversity, Equity & Inclusion global event, organized by the Conference Board, provides a platform for DE&I/HR practitioners worldwide to share their work and discuss race, social justice, neurodiversity, women's health, disability, allyship, and other related topics that are increasing in importance for today’s workforce. This event promises a truly global conference with additional live conversations (scheduled specifically for audiences based in European and Asian time zones) that address their most current challenges and celebrates their achievements. 

 

 

 Check out the Top 5 Must Attend LGBTQ+ Inclusion Events here.

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