After working in the media and events industry for almost a decade, I have become acutely aware of the challenges many sectors face in regards to inclusion and diversity. I wanted to become a specialist consultant in this area because I feel passionately that the creative sector is one in which anyone can thrive.
Often people want to better but aren’t sure where to start, which is where inclusion and diversity consultancy and training comes in. Consulting with decision-makers on how to incite change within and training in a top-down approach to make sure equitable values are embedded.
To make real change in an organisation, everyone needs to have an understanding of the self in order to embed a new culture within themselves before that can then be fed into their surroundings. Through group training we become aware of ourselves, begin to recognise our biases and privileges, and are able to own them without shame. Only then can we begin to see when they come into play – because they will – and understand how they affect the environment we create.
As an inclusion and diversity consultant specialising in working with cultural organisations and festivals, I run various pieces of training in understanding differences, unconscious bias, multicultural marketing and how to create diverse workforces as well as power structures within organisations. I consult on a freelance basis and run workshops as part of a collective named Insight Into Action.
As a team of four facilitators and researchers, we bring diverse perspectives and approaches to this work. Collectively we represent communities who experience racism, come from working-class backgrounds, who identify as disabled and LGBTQ+.
Inclusion & Diversity Consultancy
Through collaborative conversation and planning, I am available to:
- Help you to realise your aims and goals
- Create bespoke learning and action plans
- Create personal and organisational targets
- Offer ongoing organisational support
- Be your critical friend
Training can cover:
- Unconscious bias and self-awareness
- Understanding intersectionality
- Identifying key blocks to inclusion
- Seeing difference as crucial to creativity
- Implications for working practices of a diverse workforce
- Organisational power dynamics and how they block change
Testimonial
“In 2017 Artspace Lifespace and sister company Invisible Circus received funding from Bristol City Council to develop a strategy to make our spaces more inclusive and manage our diversity reporting processes. We wanted a larger demographic to not only use our spaces but feel empowered within them through collaboration and discussion. We interviewed some really inspiring candidates but selected Ngaio as we felt she showed the best understanding of both of our organisations and suggested new ways to reach new audiences. She worked with us until April 2020 setting up The Inclusion Project and led and trained The Inclusion Team a volunteer learning programme.
– Kathryn Chiswell Jones, Company Manager at Artspace Lifespace
Ngaio helped us go beyond the surface, think beyond tick boxes and concentrate on opening up production, allowing diverse voices to be a part of our creative practices at all levels. Her work on the Halt Harassment Campaign was hugely important – she helped develop and connect networks from all across the city to work together in unison, gathering a collective positive force for change in the city.
Ngaio is a brilliant, confident communicator, skilled in active listening and empathy. She has a talent for drawing people together and motivating individuals to dig deeper and root out systemic problems in a non-confrontational way. “
