Toronto: 02.21.17 Creating Inclusive Workplaces for LGBTQ. – beyond diversity and embracing LGBTQ employees
Is LGBTQ still an elephant in the room? This discussion will allow you to answer some important questions about LGBTQ colleagues, associates and employees. Our experts, Maureen Brown and André Goh, will discuss the appropriate terminology, perspectives and history. You will learn about how to have honest conversations about deeply held beliefs, and how does those beliefs affect attitudes and workplace environment. After this event, you will be positioned to truly support efforts to create environments of mutual respect and inclusiveness for everyone in your team, department and organization.
If you are in career
transition, not currently employed and actively searching for work, you may
register via the links provided. Volunteer speakers and experts from the
business community present to both groups and speak on a variety of topics
related to job search in the current environment. If you would like to suggest
a potential guest speaker (including yourself) please email
torontomembership@hrpa.ca. There will be 2-3 times per year when both groups
will meet together to network, learn and coach.
Speaker: Maureen Brown
Founder Diversity Trainers Plus
Maureen Brown is the founder of Diversity Trainers Plus Inc. (DTP).
DTP provides assessment, strategic planning, training and implementation supports to organizations and jurisdictions seeking to become more inclusive of diverse populations.
For more than 25 years, Maureen has specialized in training, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning to embed inclusive practice into organizations’ key operational areas. Her clients have included private sector companies; banks; pharmaceutical companies; federal and local governments; professional associations; First Responder organizations; post-secondary institutions; and, notfor- profit organizations. She is also a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory™ assessment and the Intercultural Conflict Style™ assessment.
A journalist by training, Maureen has authored several publications on diversity-related topics, including police racial profiling; growing up Black in a suburban-region; access to government funded programs by at risk youth; human rights; and community engagement.
Maureen believes all voices are important in the conversation about diversity. Through humor, empathy and keen insights, she strives to embody her personal motto: “create safe space for honest conversation”. She has addressed audiences in the U.S., Europe and Canada.
Speaker: André Goh
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
André leads a team of professionals in Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) for the Toronto Police Service (Service), a leading policing agency in D&I (National best diversity employer for 2008- 2012). André is responsible for the strategic direction, implementation, and alignment of the Service’s integrated D&I initiatives including sustainable development and corporate inclusive strategies. André is also responsible for designing and developing the Service’s workforce diversity and inclusive strategy, launching sustained culture change initiatives including employee resource groups, developing and implementing a comprehensive D&I learning strategy, and developing and implementing a “diversity scorecard” that links D&I achievement with annual assessments. André has been in this position since 2006. Previously, André was at Ryerson University (Senior Equity & Diversity Advisor), the Western Australia Police Service (Equity Manager), WA Equal Employment Office (Senior Advisor), and Ontario Human Rights Commission (Senior Investigator).
Widely considered a leading expert on organizational change for D&I, André has authored several publications and journals. His works include texts on cultural competency and diversity training such as Customizing Diversity Training Using Vignettes (2009), Diversity and Leadership: Tools in a Changing Environment (2005), Building on Diversity (2002), Voices of Diversity (2000), and Cultural Competence through Equity & Diversity Plans (1998).
André has also been the recipient of prestigious awards and honours including the 2013 Canadian Multicultural Council’s Outstanding Asian Canadian Awards, the 2012 TRIEC Immigrant Success Award, the 2010 City of Toronto LGBT Access Equity and Human Rights Award, the Western Australia 2002 Outstanding Multicultural Society Award, the 2000 Australian Migrant Resource Excellence in Cross Cultural Training Award, and the 2000 Diversity Best Practices Diversity Officer Leadership Award. In addition, under André leadership, Toronto Police Service was ranked top 35 national employers in diversity list of 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.
André received his MA from Ryerson University and served on the boards of several organizations including, the Community One Foundation (Toronto); DiverseCity Steering Committee (Toronto); Diversity Leadership Advisory Committee, Centennial College (Toronto); Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Diversity Committee (Canada); Serving With Pride (Canada); Speaker for The Dominion Institute; Central Neighbourhood House (Toronto); Asian Community AIDS Services (Toronto); City of Toronto Mayor's Committee on Community and Race Relations; Anti-Racism National Network (Australia); National Ethnic Council on Law Enforcement (Australia) and National Asian Community Network (Australia).
With almost thirty years of operational and management experience, André continues to lead in inclusion, diversity and equity.