b'18 Member News March 2020Diversity and inclusionDriving real change:Equality, Diversityand InclusionI have always been impressed In October 2019, we launched our Equality, Diversity andby the member offering at Inclusion (EDI) strategy. The multi-year strategy, which willthe IET and the drive to be regularly reviewed and adapted to keep in line withcontinuously meet the demands multiple diversity trends, serves as an overarching planof membership. It has been my goal to join in the efforts to that sets out the rationale for action. raise the bar and improve on the engineering engagement What is EDI? Why is it important? across our diverse society.Advocating EDI is a crucial step Equality is abouttowards addressing the engineering ensuring individualsskills shortage that currently threatensIET Trustee and previous are not viewed lessthe UK. Thats why the strategy hasYWE winner, Yewande Akinola favourably becauseboth an external and internal focus: MBE BEng MSc CEng MIETof their individual characteristics,Externalprotected orCurrently, we are stronger in the otherwise. Our externalfocus area of gender diversity in the focus refers toengineering profession. Examples Diversity aimsthe engagementof progress weve made in this area to recognise,that we have andinclude our Young Woman Engineer understand,the impact that(YWE) of the Year Awards, which has celebrate andwe make with ourbeen running for more than 40 years, value the individualmembers and thepromoting engineering to women and differences ofwider community. helping to alter perceptions.everybody. TheseInternal However, the strategy also looks ahead differences canOur internalto branch out into multiple diversity be groupedfocus refers to ourcharacteristics in order to make under protectedpeople, volunteersgreater impact and reach wider, more characteristics who all act oninclusive audiences. Were hoping that such as, gender,behalf of the IETin broadening our diversity efforts, well ethnicity and sexual and culture. Itbe able to encompass multiple diversity orientation. also refers to ourstrands such as:Inclusion ensurespolicies, processes BAME groupsDisabilitiesthat everybody feelsand procedures. (including hidden able to participate Social mobility disabilities)and can benefit fromProgress so farLGBTQ+Neurodiversityequal opportunityMental healthfor all. With senior leadership support from members of our Board of Trustees,We hope to lead by example, continuing When all three of these elementsincluding Yewande Akinola MBE BEngto demonstrate our commitment to EDI are working together, greaterMSc CEng MIET, Chief Executive andand providing equal opportunity to all. impact and change can beSecretary, and the Executive team, established. since 2018 weve launched a number ofDownload the full strategy here:initiatives to support our focus areas. theiet.org/edistrategy'