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The Diversity Agenda

The Diversity Agenda – Helping engineering and architecture firms become more diverse and inclusive through awareness, empowerment and action.

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Engineering and architecture
for everyone.

Over 160 organisations are committed to bringing change to our professions.
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Be the change.

Our goal is to help engineering and architecture firms become more diverse and inclusive through awareness, empowerment and action.

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WHAT’S THE STORY?

We’re here to make engineering and architecture better professions for all.

The Diversity Agenda is a joint initiative from Engineering New Zealand, the New Zealand Institute of Architects and ACE New Zealand.

Launched in early 2018 with an initial goal to see 20% more women engineers and architects, the campaign has since expanded beyond gender to encapsulate the full range of diversity and inclusion.

Of the Accord signatory firms who participated in our 2023 data submission, we found that we still have a lot of work to do to create truly diverse industries across architecture and engineering consulting

39%

OF WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE

Women’s jobs are 1.8 times
more vulnerable to this crisis than men’s jobs.

30%

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

This is only slightly below the New
Zealand average where 33% of women hold leadership roles.

17%

GENDER PAY GAP

The pay gap is still above the national average of 9%, but the gender pay equity gap sitting at 5.6%.

2.42%

MAORI WORKFORCE

This is a recognised focus area for Accord signatories with nearly 90%
taking actions to develop Māori participation or cultural competence.

2.13%

PACIFIC PEOPLES

Pacific participation in Engineering and Architecture is below
representation, with 7% of the labour force identifying as Pacific
peoples.

3.05%

RAINBOW

64% of Accord signatories have training and resources in place
to support their LGBTQIA+ workforce.

2.12%

DISABILITY

The Diversity Agenda has a workstream lead group
focusing on raising awareness of disability in the workplace.

3.33%

NEURODIVERSITY

While 13% of people in New Zealand self-identify as neurodiverse,
only 3.33% of Accord firm employees identify as neurodiverse.

See the full story >

DIVERSITY AGENDA 2025 STRATEGY

To truly have sustainable impact we need to change the system and build a coalition of the willing. So, we’re proud to share our strategy through to 2025 and beyond…

In 2022, the Diversity Agenda Accord signatories came together at the Beehive for our annual Summit. The message received from our leaders was loud and clear. The work we have done through the Diversity Agenda and Accord has made an impact, but it is time to move to the next phase of action. And so, it’s time to refresh and revise our strategy, holding true to original intent and acknowledging the evolution of the diversity movement.

We committed to consulting with our existing members and our external parties to inform our work. It was through this consultation the Diversity Agenda Steering Committee and our founding organisations crafted the strategy and refined our priorities for greatest impact. It’s been designed to assist small, medium and large enterprises to contribute to sectors that are more diverse and inclusive.

Be the change.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Latest news & insights.

Women in Engineering: the Past, Present, and the Future

As part of the commitment by Aurecon, the Diversity Agenda, and the University of Auckland’s…

READ MORE

Pride at GHD

GHD prioritises inclusivity and creates a welcoming environment for all employees, regardless of their gender…

READ MORE

I’d like to see more females leading major infrastructure projects – Josie FitzGerald 

As Josie FitzGerald takes the reigns as the new chair of the Diversity Agenda steering…
READ MORE

See all news & insights >

Next Upcoming Event

Supporting Parents – from Toddlers to Teenagers and Beyond

3 October 2023
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Diversity Agenda Accord.

FIND OUT MORE

Follow the movement.

It's Pride Month across the world, and we are prou It's Pride Month across the world, and we are proud to be part of the movement for ensuring engineering and architecture is for everyone.
Pride is a celebration of people coming together in love and friendship, to show how far LGBTTQIA+ rights have come, and how there's still work to be done.
Pride Pledge (here in Aotearoa) offer a wide variety of services to help organisations and the community on their rainbow inclusion and diversity journey. Some of the services they offer include policy consultation, networking, newsletters, resources, training, The Stocktake and visibility campaigns. Follow @pridepledge to learn more!
Is your workplace a sea of Pink (māwhero) today? Is your workplace a sea of Pink (māwhero) today?
Today is officially 'Pink Shirt Day' here in Aotearoa New Zealand!
We want to create a community where all people feel safe, valued and respected—regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion or cultural background.
Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. Here in Aotearoa we've been celebrating Pink Shirt Day since 2009.
Want to learn more about the meaning behind the Pink Shirt Day kaupapa? Check out @pinkshirtdaynz
By taking part in Pink Shirt Day today you will be helping to stamp out bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusion.
#pinkshirtday #pinkshirtday2023 #PinkShirtDayNZ #diversityandinclusion #thediversityagenda
Did you know we have three official languages here Did you know we have three official languages here in Aotearoa?
Te Reo Māori, English, and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). NZSL became an official language in 2006.
This week is New Zealand Sign Language Week, and the theme for it is ‘Together we can make NZSL thrive’. It's the perfect opportunity to promote awareness and appreciation for NZSL—and the remarkable community who uses it.
There are some fantastic resources available on the NZSL Week website—download them today and why not try practice signing your name.
Or, learn 'Kia Ora' in NZSL (see below) and start using it regularly!
#NZSLWeek #thediversityagenda #DiversityandInclusion #DeafCommunity #HardOfHearing #Equity #Accessibility #inclusionintheworkplace
Deaf Aotearoa
Don't miss out—Early Bird pricing ends tomorrow! Don't miss out—Early Bird pricing ends tomorrow! Have we got your attention?
@womenleadersinstitute, in partnership with United Nations Women Aotearoa New Zealand, will be hosting their 9th Annual 'Women in Leadership' Summit from 13 till 15 June 2023 in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).
And we're excited to announce The Diversity Agenda will be supporting this fantastic event too!
Join 250+ established and emerging leaders, who are equally passionate about creating more diversity in the workplace here in Aotearoa. This year’s conference will include more DE&I discussions and more interactive sessions.
Clink the link in our bio to learn more.
On Saturday we marched alongside our Diversity Age On Saturday we marched alongside our Diversity Agenda members in the Tāmaki Makaurau Pride Parade. 
After a week of darkness across the motu, it was beautiful to see the rainbow come out and Beca, WSP in New Zealand, Tonkin + Taylor, Aurecon, AECOM and many supporters rallying for diversity, equity and inclusion. 🏳️‍🌈🗣️
We had a chat with Mayurie Gunatilaka, Arup New Ze We had a chat with Mayurie Gunatilaka, Arup New Zealand's Country Leader, about all things diversity and inclusion, and her motivations to sign the Diversity Agenda Accord.
Read the interview, get inspired, and join our movement through the link in our bio 🗣️
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