LGBTQIA

To us, LGBTQIA+ inclusion means continuing to support and promote a workplace where our people feel comfortable and empowered regardless of their sexual orientation, sex characteristics, gender identities or gender expressions. We want to be an organisation that facilitates more productive and connected teams that value each other’s differences across the spectrums of LGBTQIA+ through education, resources, policy and ongoing support.

We established a National LGBTQIA+ ERG in 2016, and this group is supported by LGBTQIA+ Champions in each of our regions, a growing network of more than 270 official GHD LGBTQIA+ allies across Australia and an executive sponsor from our Australian Leadership Team (ALT) – Cara Kuramoto, Australian People Leader.

Our LGBTQIA+ Action Plan

Our LGBTQIA+ Action Plan (2021 to 2022) details our commitments to support and promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion. The plan features stories about our people, initiatives and a comprehensive list of actions, which fall into three key areas – systems, culture and leadership. There is also a useful glossary of common LGBTQIA+ terms at the back of the plan. Since its publication, we have achieved a number of actions such as the development of an e-learning module, partnering with a not-for-profit organisation and an improved induction process for new allies. As we near the end of the plan, we intend to develop a refreshed version and continue to progress more of our actions.

270+

GHD LGBTQIA+ allies and counting

→ View our LGBTQIA+ Action Plan here. Partnering with Out For Australia

In 2022, we entered into a major partnership agreement with Out For Australia (OFA) – an organisation that provides role models, mentors and events and support to LGBTQIA+ professionals. Through this partnership, Out For Australia will help us facilitate educational workshops and events for our people and provide mentoring opportunities and resources for our people to mentor LGBTQIA+ professionals inside and outside of GHD. Through this partnership, our Victoria region hosted an ‘Out for International Students’ event with OFA, which provided an opportunity for GHD’s young professionals to network with international LGBTQIA+ students, all while highlighting the experiences of LGBTQIA+ international students through an informal panel discussion.

Working together with Pride in Diversity

We’re a long-term member of Pride in Diversity (PiD), Australia’s first and only not-for-profit employer support program for LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion specialising in HR, organisational change and workplace diversity. PiD helps guide and steer our LGBTQIA+ inclusion awareness training, enablement, policy change and initiative roll out and helped us develop our LGBTQIA+ e-learning module. Through PiD, we also participate in a range of forums with other member organisations.

Pride Month, IDAHOBIT, Wear it Purple

We continue to mark important LGBTQIA+ days including International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), World Pride Month and Wear It Purple Day.

On IDAHOBIT 2022, we held a national live panel event for our people across Australia featuring special guest Emily Scott, Board Member and former CEO for Out for Australia, as well as three GHD speakers. The panel explored the history of IDAHOBIT, why IDAHOBIT is important in a workplace setting and tips on how to be more inclusive through allyship. During Pride Month in 2022, our people joined local events and reflected on allyship, and how we can all help to create thriving spaces that truly welcome our people, our clients and our communities.

Pronouns

We have the option to include pronouns in our official GHD email signatures and business cards so that our people can indicate their gender identity and pronouns. This supports an inclusive environment, reducing the likelihood of assumptions being made based on name alone. It also supports those using pronouns outside of the gender binary, normalising pronoun use.

Benchmarking

GHD continues to participate in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), a widely recognised national benchmark on LGBTQ workplace inclusion. In 2022, we received our highest ever rating, and we continue to use AWEI as a robust framework to help guide our LGBTQIA+ activities and inclusion commitment.

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New LGBTQIA+ e-learning module

We launched a new e-learning module in 2022 that focuses on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace. This module is a first of its kind for our Australia Business, and it was developed with our partner, Pride in Diversity.

The module is designed for all GHD employees in Australia and aims to help them better understand LGBTQIA+ people and communities.

By completing this course, people can expect to gain a better understanding of the lived experience of LGBTQIA+ people, be able to describe the difference between gender and sexuality, understand the impact of discrimination and the importance of acceptance, and know more about applying best practice to contribute to an LGBTQIA+ inclusive workplace. It ensures that everyone has the opportunity to learn about who we are and aren’t, the impact of the discrimination we face in society, and how to further contribute to building an inclusive workplace. In particular, the section where participants are invited to reflect on their own identities really helps bridge a gap in understanding gender diversity.”

Dani Campbell

Senior Electrical Engineer and member of our Australian I&D Committee

From dream to reality: a different road to becoming a parent

The journey to have children can be a rollercoaster ride of emotions for any parent-to-be. For Callum Bryan-Mathieson, Sydney Team Lead for Landscape Architecture & Urban Design and his partner Clinton, their journey began with plenty of excitement and energy. Now they have a family of five after welcoming three children (now 3, 5 and 7), each via altruistic surrogacy and egg donation.

Callum kindly shared some insights on his experiences of becoming a parent with us.

“I completed the e-learning and thought it was an excellent overview to help our people gain a better understanding of the lived experience of LGBTQIA+ people.