University of Oxford Professor Tim Soutphommasane has been announced as keynote speaker of the upcoming Diversity Mark Annual Summit in Belfast.
Taking place on 8 October in Titanic Belfast, tickets for the full-day Summit are now on sale with over 300 business and diversity leaders expected to attend Northern Ireland’s largest conference focussed on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
As Chief Diversity Officer at Oxford, Professor Soutphommasane will leverage his pragmatic insights and expertise to help local organisations navigate complex issues such as political polarisation, identity, culture, and leadership. His guidance will support businesses in their journey toward a future where Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) will benefit everyone.
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Speaking ahead of the October Summit, which will also feature an address from Economy Minister Conor Murphy, Soutphommasane said: “Diversity and inclusion are critical to organisational success. It's vital that leaders and managers know how they can get equality, diversity and inclusion right. I look forward to joining Belfast’s business community to reflect on how together we can elevate our efforts."
Before moving to the United Kingdom for his role at Oxford, Soutphommasane worked in Australia where he was appointed the country’s Race Discrimination Commissioner in 2013, becoming the youngest person to ever hold the position. As Commissioner, he led the country’s efforts in tackling racial discrimination throughout a period of intense debates about balancing racial sensitivities with freedom of speech. Soutphommasane is also the author of five books focused on EDI, including On Hate and Don’t Go Back to Where You Came From.
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Commenting on the announcement, Director of Diversity Mark Christine White added: “Having Professor Soutphommasane on board as our keynote speaker is a testament to the Summit’s theme: ‘EDI 2.0: From Action to Impact’. At Diversity Mark, we are driving forward how the benefits of workplace diversity and inclusion can be of benefit to all, enhancing curiosity and collaboration that has a far-reaching impact on the local business community and beyond.
“This is a key calendar date for EDI and we very much look forward to uniting NI’s business leaders on our collective quest towards truly inclusive workplaces.”
Sponsored by Allstate, 2024’s Diversity Mark Summit will explore ‘Action to Impact’ with Soutphommasane joining a range of expert speakers to be announced.
To book tickets for the event, click here.
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