Tourism attraction Auckland Museum has won a national award for showing leadership in advancing diversity and inclusion in its workplace and the community it operates in.
The museum’s director of people and organisation Catherine Smith was a joint winner of the Walk the Talk category at the 2019 Diversity Awards NZ.
The award recognised her commitment to creating a culture of diversity, where the museum workforce reflected the communities it serves, and where employees and visitors feel part of the museum whanau.
Auckland Museum chief executive David Gaimster says in a media release: “Catherine’s leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion is transforming our museum. It is inspiring our people to undertake ground-breaking work and is seeing us take a leadership position in our sector on a global scale.”
Judging convener Neil Porteous says the judges were impressed with Catherine’s unwavering support of any changes that will create a more inclusive culture for individuals working at or visiting Auckland Museum, and her willingness to develop action plans and policies to make those changes happen quickly and visibly.
The 2019 Diversity Awards NZ, celebrating excellence in workplace diversity and inclusion, were presented in Auckland. The event was attended by more than 600 business representatives from the public and private sector and the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety.
All winners:
Supreme Award
Vector Limited
Cultural Celebration Award
Air New Zealand – Te rōpū Te Ara Nui
Highly commended
IAG New Zealand
Walk the Talk Award – joint winners
Catherine Smith, Auckland Museum
Craig Hudson, Xero
Skills Highway Award
Simcro Limited
Diversability Award
Vector Limited
Empowerment Award
Vector Limited
Highly Commended
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Small Organisation Excellence Award in Empowerment
She Sharp
Tomorrow’s Workforce Award
Constellation Brands New Zealand
Work Life Balance Award
Sharesies
Highly Commended
Department of Internal Affairs
Emerging Diversity and Inclusion Award
Yellow NZ Ltd
Positive Inclusion Award
MediaWorks
