DIAN Decade Award Winners

To recognise a corporate initiative that has demonstrated a new, different or creative approach to promoting, and/or creating, understanding of diversity and inclusion in Asia.  

Shell for 'Workplace Accessibility' 

Going beyond simple compliance with legal requirements such as the Rights of People with Disabilities Act 2016, and as part of a global initiative, Shell has collaborated across multiple functions, including IT, Real Estate, Health, Human Resources, Finance, and Procurement, to create a unified Workplace Accessibility Service for employees. This is designed to streamline and mainstream the support provided to employees that need workplace adjustments and includes a catalogue of services and equipment available to employees. Shell has also set up a central Accessibility Centre with advisors who manage employee requests and provide advice on more specialised needs. This approach sends a powerful message to employees that the company respects the needs of all employees and is committed to creating an inclusive environment that enables them to do their best work.

Finalists (alphabetically by company name) 

• Linklaters for 'Linklaters Mental Health Campaign'
• Telstra for 'All Role Flex' 

To recognise an initiative that has involved two or more parties working together towards a particular diversity and inclusion goal in Asia.

Corporate collaboration on the QT vs Department of Immigration Case (Credit Suisse, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Amnesty International, 14 financial institutions and  15 law firms)

4th July is a monumental date and in Hong Kong 2018 it became meaningful for the LGBT+ Communities too. The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal ordered the city’s immigration department to grant married same-sex couples visas just as it does for heterosexuals. This was a result of the ruling in favour of an expatriate lesbian, known as “QT”, who applied for a visa to reside in the city with her wife who she married in 2011. Credit Suisse drove the initial coordination of the petition to intervene in this court case, signing Davis Polk in a pro bono capacity, encouraging other banks engage, and partnering with lawyers to get the petition submissions finalised. Collaboration is a core value at Credit Suisse and this has been clearly demonstrated in the QT vs The Director of Immigration where the business and legal sectors united to support QT.

Finalists (listed alphabetically) 

• Reach Out (American Express, Microsoft, PepsiCo, PwC, Reckitt Benckiser, Tata Sons Ltd)
• Singapore Business Network on Disability (Deutsche Bank, a founding member of the network) 

To recognise a corporate initiative that has promoted the social inclusion of a diverse or under-represented group in the wider community in Asia. 

Tata Consultancy Services for ‘BridgeIT’

BridgeIT aims to bridge the access and competency gap between marginalised communities and mainstream society using digital tools. The key objectives of the project are to train socially and economically disadvantaged young men and women to become successful digital entrepreneurs; provide computer-aided learning and digital literacy skills to children studying at state-run schools; and improve adult literacy in village communities through TCS’ Computer-based Functional Literacy (CBFL) solution.

Finalists (alphabetically by company name) 

• AIG Singapore for ‘AIG Singapore Student Innovation Programme’ (SIP)
• Northern Trust India for Initiatives for 'Advancement of Persons with Disabilities in India'
• Tata Group for ‘Tata Affirmative Action Programme’   

To recognise a company that has made significant and measurable progress in advancing a particular diversity and inclusion issue in their organisation in Asia.

Herbert Smith Freehills

Over the last four years Herbert Smith Freehills has made a conscious effort to increase female representation in the Asia partnership. In April 2014 19% of partners in Asia were women. That year the firm publicly announced a series of aspirational global diversity targets, including to increase female representation in the global partnership to 30% by 2019. In the Asia region, the 30% target was hit 30% target a year ahead of schedule, increasing from 19% in 2014 to 30% as at 1 May 2018.  A more gender diverse partnership is a key strategic imperative for the firm.

Herbert Smith Freehills believes that no organisation can succeed on a sustainable basis if those charged with leadership are not representative of those they aim to lead. Although the gender targets were a global initiative, that the firm was able to achieve the target in Asia a year ahead of schedule is largely down to the commitment, drive and passion of key champions, sponsors and role models within the Asia leadership team, as well as the buy in of the wider Asia partnership and support from key business services functions. It has been a genuinely collaborative effort. The result has been a game-changer not only in the demographics of the partnership, but in the way the firm think about and approach diversity in Asia.  

Finalists (alphabetically by company name) 

• Credit Suisse
• EY Greater China  

To recognise an HR/D&I corporate professional based in Asia who has been a visible and committed champion of change in advancing diversity and inclusion in Asia.

Claire Goodchild, Morgan Stanley

As Asia Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Morgan Stanley, Claire Goodchild works closely with the Firm’s leaders in the design of the Firm’s diversity and inclusion strategy with emphasis on hiring, retention, development and advancement of key talent. Through this work, Morgan Stanley has been recognised as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India and has received a Gold Standard for LGBT Inclusion in published indices in Hong Kong and Japan. Claire has been with the Firm for over 15 years and has held various roles in talent development, during which she led a Morgan Stanley team to win a Silver Award for Excellence in Training and Development for an internally created programme to develop new staff’s technical expertise. 

Outside of Morgan Stanley, Claire volunteers with The Women’s Foundation in Hong Kong, mentoring talented female professionals in the early stages of their career and was a co-chair of the Foundation’s Mentor Programme Steering Committee from 2016 to 2018. 

Finalists (alphabetically by first name) 

• Katrina North, EY
• Mellener Anne Coelho, Northern Trust India
• Sophie Guerin, Dell