Employee Resource Groups for racial and cultural diversity - who’s it helping?

ERGs (also known as Employee Resource Groups, Employee Networks, or Employee Affinity Groups) are typically voluntary, identity-based communities formed by employees in a company. ERGs can have various purposes, but most aim to give employees a safe space to connect and raise awareness about issues facing their community - both within the company and society at large. ERGs are often formed around specific identities that can be characterized demographically, like race, gender, sexuality, or ability.

For example, the first official ERG in the United States, the Xerox National Black Employees Caucus, was created in 1970 as a forum for Black employees to advocate for inclusion and change within the company.

While ERGs in Australia have had higher levels of success for identities related to gender or the LGBTQ+ community, there has generally been less support for intersectional identities as well as grassroots racial and cultural equity employee networks in the workplace, of which, success varies between different sectors and industries.

This free event will explore expert perspectives on best practice for ERGs focused on racial and cultural equity in an Australian context, as well as experiences on the ground of those who have championed employee networks for racial and cultural equity. We’ll also be exploring the differing challenges and opportunities that racial and cultural equity ERGs have relative to other groups.

What the event will be covering

The value of ERGs/employee networks for racial and cultural equity
What it is like to be build and lead networks, and the barriers for ERGs focused on racial and cultural equity
Resources available than can better equip ERG leaders to drive impact (including the CiC Alliance - a space for ERGs to connect)

Everyone is welcome

While this event will speak particularly to the experiences of people of colour, we welcome any allies who are interested in learning more.

Moderated by Careers in Colour co-founder, Alex Cheng (he/him), we will be joined by some fantastic panellists on the night, and we will be releasing more information about them on our socials.

Div Pillay (she/her), CEO and Co-Founder at MindTribes, Program Lead - Culturally Diverse Women at Monash Business School, Board Director at VicHealth
Celia Tran (she/her), Communications and Engagement at the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute and Founding Member of the Vietnamese Australian Professional Network
Minoli Jinasena (she/her), Strategy Manager at Woolworths, 2023 Empower Top 100 Future Leaders for recognising her efforts and role as EmpOWered Australia lead for Oliver Wyman
Asanga Seneviratne (he/him), Adviser at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Leader of PM&C Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) ERG

This event will be run on Zoom. If you have any accessibility requirements or any other suggestions, please list these in the registration form or email careersincolour@gmail.com.

While this event will not be recorded, we are committed to running a range of other events virtually throughout the year. If you have any accessibility requirements or any other suggestions, please reach us at our email above.

The CiC alliance

Careers in Colour (CiC) is looking to lead a coalition of ERGs that support people of colour, to drive collective impact across Australian workplaces. This would involve supporting a community where people involved in racial, ethnic and cultural equity initiatives in the workplace can connect through regular meet-ups that are coordinated by CiC.

More information on the alliance will be shared at the event, and as a follow up to the event via email. Please indicate your interest on the registration form.

Donations

This event is free for all to attend. Careers in Colour is a non-profit and we greatly appreciate donations of any kind. At the checkout for your ticket you will have an option to donate to support us in being able to deliver similar events and initiatives in the future.

About Careers in Colour

Careers in Colour supports people of colour in their careers by running community initiatives that provide pathways to effect positive change in their own careers, workplaces, and broader society.

Our philosophy is rooted in transformative equity and particularly focuses on underrepresented and marginalised communities with intersecting identities. We aim to do this by providing opportunities for leadership, community and connectivity, while mobilising advocates around issues that affect people of colour in the workplace and push for structural change.

We acknowledge that we live and work on the unceded lands of the Gadigal, Dharug, Wurundjeri, and Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We acknowledge Traditional Owners across the continent and their continuing connection to the land, sea and community.