Celebrating our DEI mistakes and Mastery

I was super honoured last week to be invited, representing TEAM Architects New Zealand, to participate in the Diversity Accord Summit 2024 and as a member of the 4-person panel discussion, entitled 'Mistakes to Mastery'.

There are many facets to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, (DEI), and I felt my representation wasn't a strong, positive reflection of TEAM Architects NZ Justice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion journey that I am immensely proud of. In a room with Engineering and Architects firms it became obvious that not all firms are equal - size, resource, geographical location, leadership team structure all have a bearing.  Every representative at the Diversity Accord Summit held a strong dedication to improving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion objectives within the Architecture and Engineering fields and wished to be accountable to their industry through their Diversity Accord Agreement!

Team Architects NZ  is a unique consortium and can be considered a large practice, however we have no dedicated DEI, or indeed HR, personnel. In fact, a 90-strong Engineering practice would be considered a smaller practice, and comments from these engineering colleagues lamented not having resources that could dedicate time to diversity initiatives. I believe TEAM Architects NZ punches above its weight. Whilst TEAM Architects NZ leadership does have a wonderfully diverse ethic make up, even if lacking in adequate representation from Māori and Pasifika, our gender ratios are far from the healthy 40%/40%20% balance that inspired this years Diversity Accord challenge by Josie Fitzgerald, steering committee chair of The Diversity Agenda.  Over the last 3 years, our female leadership diversity has improved to 16% and our age representation has also broadened.  

I fully endorse the key sentiments expressed by Penny Kneebone of Tonkin+Taylor.  Penny divulged that you can 'come out all guns blazing' to be everything to everyone, and while you can make some great inroads, it is the long game we need to support, and communication and connection is key.  Early in TEAM Architects NZ's DEI journey, we initiated a successful 'In-Office Champion' network with nominated representatives in each office to help with information flow and people connection, independent of our traditional Director-led network.  TEAM Architects NZ believes improved communication and connection between people throughout our wider team is vital to promote our positive diverse, equal and inclusive culture. 

Similar to other companies, like Studio of Pacific Architecture, TEAM Architects NZ piloted an incredibly well received 'Hui Roopu Tīma' monthly education programme with the aim of bringing our whole TEAM together and fostering education to ALL staff under the themes of: Personal Development; Language and Culture; Health and Wellbeing; and Technical. It was essential that we were consciously inclusive of our people undertaking any role within TEAM Architects NZ, including administration, part time or student internship personnel. Our annual programme, reviewed and improved again for 2024, is a highlight of our inter-office experience. 

Undertaking TEAM Architects NZ wide engagement, through our DEI leads + Champions, to develop our Discrimination, Bias, Bullying and Harassment Policy and Procedure was not a discussion point that I raised during the Diversity Accord Summit Panel. I am proud of the collaboration and consultation that led to our robust policy + procedure being adopted. This Policy and Procedure utilises the strengths of the wider TEAM Architects NZ leadership to support any confidential complainants within otherwise smaller practices to address concerns in all dimensions of our individual roles. Furthermore, new policy and procedure development and consultation will follow this highly successful, engaged model.

One of my personal disappointments to date, is not yet providing a cohesive study group that would continually connect and support those within TEAM Architects NZ as they embark on their Architectural or LBP Registration venture. I strongly believe empowering registration within TEAM Architects NZ is one venture that will directly improve the diversity, equity and inclusion of our leaders within in the wider construction industry.  

We are very honoured to have fantastic support for the initiatives that the TEAM Architects NZ JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity + Inclusion) group have led, and I am optimistic that we will find ideas to improve in those areas that we haven't yet mastered.  What am I most proud of? The confidentiality integrity of our results in our annual survey that are eliciting really crucial feedback!  We hear you, really appreciate the trust and honesty, and are pushing for improvement via our directors and our champions!! 

Thank you to Charlotte Downes and Holly Raush of The Diversity Agenda, for the confidence in TEAM Architects NZ's initiatives and providing the platform to share and learn from some amazing leaders in the DEI space. it certainly was a  privilege to converse with DEI leads from some of the leading Engineering and Architectural companies within NZ, talking about their Mistakes and celebrating their Mastery.