Building successful Employee Resource Groups

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), also known as Employee Networks, or Employee Affinity Groups are voluntary, employee-led groups that serve many purposes – for example, they can provide a safe space to network, celebrate diversity and build a sense of community; foster employee engagement and dialogue; harness employee input into D&I strategies; and even help organisations recruit for diversity.

At this event, we heard from DCA members about the role of their ERGs, how they work and the benefits they have delivered, for both employees and the organisation.

Attendees were joined by Cathy Brown, DCA’s Communications and Advocacy Director, for a discussion with three DCA members:

1. Catherina Behan, Group Diversity & Inclusion, People, Culture & Advocacy at Suncorp – In 2019 Suncorp was recognised as the AHRI award winner of the Susan Ryan Age Diversity Award. Catherina  shared details of Suncorps ERGs, including its ‘LIFE-X’ for life experience, for its over 50s community,
2. Jean Capdevielle, Director, Value and Bid Marketing at Thales Australia – Thales has five focus areas for their ERGs: LGBTQI+, Gender, Reconciliation Action Plan, Veterans, and Neurodiversity & Accessibility. Jean  discussed the benefits of being part of Thales Accessibility and Neurodiversity ERG,
3. Courtney Pond, Group Inclusion & Diversity Manager at NRMA – As Group Inclusion & Diversity Manager, Courtney leads and drives the diversity and inclusion strategy across the Group. Courtney  joined Ken Collins to share how they developed and implemented their first employee network group, SHINE, and
4. Ken Collins, Chair of SHINE (their first ERG) at NRMA – As chair of Shine, NRMA’s LGBTQI+ employee network, Ken talked about Shine’s purpose; to create a culture of inclusion, safety, well-being, and belonging, where people feel they can be themselves, no matter how they identify.