The Business of Diversity

Professor Tim Soutphommasane, Professor of Practice (Sociology and Political Theory), The University of Sydney

Tim is a political theorist and human rights advocate with expertise in diversity, culture, leadership and ethics. As Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner from 2013 to 2018, he influenced debate in Australia and Britain on the issues of patriotism, multiculturalism and national identity. In 2019 he was appointed Co-Chair of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN). He is the author of five books, including the recently-released On Hate, and is a member of the advisory board of Media Diversity Australia.

Professor Soutphommasane graduated with first class honours in government and international relations from the University of Sydney before completing a master’s degree and doctorate in political theory at the University of Oxford.

Jackie Braw, Senior Policy and Projects Officer (Sexuality, Gender, Diversity and Intersex), NSW Police Force

Jackie has specialised in sexuality and gender diversity issues for over thirty years. She was a manager for ACON (formerly AIDS Council of NSW), the first Policy Officer, Gay and Lesbian Liaison, for the NSW Attorney General’s Department and began working for the NSW Police Force in the sexuality and gender diversity portfolio in 2006. Over the last 13 years with NSW Police, she has been instrumental in the further development of the NSW Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO) program (which began in 1990), developing policy and implementing programs, including training and supporting officers to better meet the needs of LGBTIQ people. Since 2016 the NSW Police Force has participated in the national benchmarking instrument for LGBTI inclusion: the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), ranking Silver status (11th in the top 20 employers), Gold in 2017 (top 10) and Silver again this year. In 2017 Jackie received the AWEI award for Community Impact. Jackie holds a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Psychology from the University of Sydney and a Master in Social Policy from the University of Wollongong.

Christine Ma, Talent Acquisition Partner, IBM

Not only is Christine passionate about females in tech, she is also the Secretary of IBM’s Diversability Group – an active Business Resource Group for People with Disability. IBM recently rolled out its Neurodiversity Program, welcoming job seekers with autism for a variety of IT roles in its Ballarat offices. In Christine’s role, she comes across diversity and inclusion topics daily, and views it as a responsibility for all – not just managers, and not only as part of a HR function.