HRM Musings | Inclusive Futures: Navigating the Evolution of Diversity Practices

Presenter Details

Professor Cathy Stinear (Pro Vice-Chancellor Equity, University of Auckland)

Professor Cathy Stinear is part of the University of Auckland’s leadership team, as Ihonuku Tōkeke | Pro Vice-Chancellor Equity. In this role, she leads the University's DEI activities including the Disability Action Plan and Gender Pay Gap reporting. She also leads the development and implementation of DEI-related policies and procedures, to create a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.

Maretha Smit (Chief Executive, Diversity Works NZ)

Maretha Smit is the Chief Executive of Diversity Works New Zealand, having taken up this role right in the middle of the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. She has a background and qualifications in behavioural and business sciences and has held various transformational executive roles in South Africa, prior to her immigration to New Zealand, eight years ago. She has a strong commitment to issues of social cohesion and a deep understanding of the way in which intersectional layers of prejudice have an impact on employment outcomes.

Dr Dana Ott (Senior Lecturer, University of Otago)

Dr Dana L. Ott is a Senior Lecturer in International Management at the University of Otago, New Zealand, where she also serves as Director of Postgraduate International Business Programmes at the Otago Business School. Dana’s research seeks to enhance global mobility experiences for individuals pursuing international careers and to provide guidance for organisations in effectively supporting neurodivergent employees and leaders. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, particularly focusing on fostering cultural intelligence, championing neuroinclusion, and promoting gender equity. Dana frequently presents her research at prestigious international academic conferences and is regularly invited as a speaker by industry leaders and influential thinkers. Her publications in leading academic journals address topics such as expatriate management, (macro) talent management, neurodiversity in organisations, and literature review methodology. Additionally, Dana serves as Vice President – Marketing and Communication for the Australia and New Zealand International Business Academy (ANZIBA) and is a member of the Leadership Futures Hub at Deakin University, Australia.

Assoc. Prof Barbara Plester (Associate Dean, E,D & I, University of Auckland Business School)

Webinar Moderator, Dr Barbara Plester is Associate Professor in the Department of Management and International Business (MIB) at the University of Auckland. She also serves as Associate Dean Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Business Faculty. She received her PhD in Management from Massey University in 2008 and has worked at the University of Auckland since 2007. In 2018 she was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She is a board member of the Australasian Humour Studies Network (AHSN). Her research explores workplace humour, fun, play, wellbeing, gender effects, technological behaviour, food rituals and the challenges and contradictions of workplace interactions. She is currently researching the impact of hybrid work on fun/play, socializing, ethics, and well-being. Within her department Barbara belongs to the Organization Studies research group, and she teaches critical management, organizational theory, and qualitative methodology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Prior to her academic career, Barbara worked in Publishing and Information Technology companies and has experience in Sales, Marketing and HRM.

Add to Calendar