Event description
A one-day gathering to ‘shift’ the dial on Allyship, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (stuff beyond 101 👀)
We've had enough of the "business case for DEI" and “Why DEI is important” chatter - snooze! That's why we're bringing together educators, facilitators, contractors, and DEI champions for a one-day unconference. Our goal is to deepen connections, dive into equity and allyship (no 101 here!), and swap stories on building kick-ass inclusive cultures, products, and services.
Expect a day of snappy keynotes, unconference-style breakouts where you choose your way and can lead the conversation, and a learning mindset that's all about sharing wins, fails, and positive change stories that lead to action.
The event will feature 3 keynote speakers (see speakers here) & 4 breakout sessions. Food and Beverages are included with your ticket.
Who is this gathering for?
If you are a DEI educator, facilitator, contractor, or champion, this is the place for you! You might have a role title associated with DEI but you can also be a tech lead or a policy analyst, who is championing and implementing DEI in their organisation, products, and services.
What to expect?
- Co-designing discussions: We are co-creating the content with you.
- Cool 😎 speakers: Giving you a breather between all the chatting.
- Community building: Make connections and discover collaboration opportunities.
What we will cover
This is up to you! In true unconference style, in the registration process, we’ll be asking you to co-create with us. To prompt your thinking process, here are a few examples to inspire you:
- The Next Stage of Allyship - What does this look like? What will it take for all of us to stand up for the communities to which we do not belong?
- DEI & Te Ao Māori - Recognising Aotearoa New Zealand’s uniqueness, how can we start to see DEI influenced by te ao Māori, te reo Māori me ōna tikanga?
- Career Pathways for DEI Champions - Are there any? How can we create more opportunities for the right candidates?
- Diversity Fatigue - How do we pick up, and move forward from it?
- DEI as Holistic Wellbeing - Would this be a good strategic move for the advancement of DEI?
- Intersectional Data Collection - How do we collect good data in a way that is safe, and also ensures that the experiences of individuals with multiple marginalised identities are properly understood?
~ Submit your Preferred Session Topics Here ~
Honouring Te Tiriti
We are committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as part of this gathering.
Alongside compliance with Te Tiriti, this includes considering how we can authentically embed tikanga and kawa Māori (traditions and protocols) into the event. We are connecting with tangata whenua for guidance throughout this process and during Allyshift.
What this gathering is and what it isn’t
✅ Unconference-style co-creation ✅ Knowing your crowd by sharing attendee’s list beforehand ✅ Time for reflection between session ✅ Embracing JOMO (joys of missing out) ✅ Enough time and space for whakawhanaungatanga ✅ Connecting over kai and inu (food and drink 🤤) ✅ Being unafraid to be wrong or to be an expert ✅ Exploring DEI from all angles, hello intersectionality! ✅ Recognising everyone's on a different journey | ❌ A jam-packed, exhausting day ❌ Too much bum-numbing sitting ❌ DEI 101 basics ❌ "How to" and "10 steps" experts ❌ Focusing only on one aspect of diversity (i.e. gender) ❌ Constant formal kōrero & big words ❌ Feeling the need to dress up in a shirt 🧐 |
What we set up for accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible venue
- Mask-wearing welcome
- NZSL interpreters on request (Wed 10th April is the last day to lock interpreters)
- On-site childcare on request (Wed 10th April is the last day to lock childcare)
- Quiet spaces for rest
- No flashing lights
We are here to ensure that the space meets your needs and is as comfortable as it can be. Let us know during the registration process, what we can do for you.
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This kaupapa is co-organised by Ally Skills NZ facilitators, Elina Ashimbayeva, Erica Austin, and Vivian Chandra, together with Laura Kerrison, Paula Neme and Kauri Tearaura. Our collective experience encompasses the areas of DEI, events and storytelling. We came together to organise a space that’s ready for deeper and braver conversations about DEI, join us!
Ready for a day of meaningful chatter, belly laughs, and maybe a few lightbulb moments? Grab your ticket and let's make some noise for allyship! 🎉