May 2020 marks the centenary of the first female member of ICAEW. That milestone for the Institute represented the first step towards diversifying the accountancy profession. In the past 100 years, we have seen revolutionary changes in inclusivity in the world of work, not just for women, but for the entire spectrum of identities we are familiar with today.
The Equality Act of 2010 underlines how the drive toward inclusivity has become enshrined in law. The nine protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation mean that no one should face discrimination on any aspect of their identity. The law tells us that diversity and inclusion is not optional.
ICAEW President, Fiona Wilkinson, has been using her term in office to mark the centenary through a programme of events, publications and even a historic blue plaque that has gone up in the City to recognise the first female chartered accountant, Mary Harris Smith. For further information about the campaign please see ICAEW’s hub: icaew.com/100years.
In addition to ICAEW’s focus on equality for women, the Institute is looking more closely at diversity and inclusion for everyone, encouraging people to bring their “whole-self” to work and recognising that diversity in the workplace and at home is better for everyone, including the economy. As ICAEW is committed to a world of strong economies, the ongoing push toward diversity and inclusion has never been more important. It has been proven that diverse workplaces, including company boards, make for more successful outputs.
In light of the ethical and economic imperative to expand diversity and inclusion in all aspects of society, and accountancy in particular, ICAEW has launched its new Diversity and Inclusion hub. This hub houses resources on the Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Community, regulation and law, the latest diversity and inclusion news affecting the profession, ways to get involved in the centenary of women in chartered accountancy, and how to engage with diversity and inclusion content on our social media platforms.
Please join us in the journey and check out the hub here.