Leading with Allyship: In Conversation with a Diverse Network Champion

08 August 2025

As part of our series shining the spotlight on our staff networks, we sat down with Tracy Dickenson – one of the Senior Leadership Team’s champions in the Diverse Network - to talk about her role as an ally and champion, and what we can all do to help foster a more inclusive workplace.

Why is being a Diverse Network Champion important to you?

“First and foremost, for me, I think it’s really important to celebrate individuality and diversity.

“Having an organisation that reflects us as individuals leads to better performance and greater critique and challenge of what may or may not work in a community sense.

“Only with a diverse and wide range of different perspectives and experiences can we make the best impact in the communities we serve.

“My experiences aren’t from the perspective of being part of a global majority group, but I am a woman, and when I started working 20 years ago, the workplace was very different.

“It was only through allies that I was able to thrive, and I’m keen that everyone has that opportunity.”

What have you found most impactful since becoming a champion and ally within the Diverse Network?

“One of the most insightful things for me has been the conversations in network meetings with Diverse.

“A member shared how, in school, they felt rebellious because they highlighted how subjects like geography and history didn’t reflect their lived experience.

“That made me reflect - what I thought was a great education was actually quite narrow in scope.

“Those kinds of conversations have opened my eyes and definitely made me rethink my own perspectives.

“I’ve also downloaded a lot of audiobooks that have helped me understand lived experiences and reframe my own perspectives.

“There’s so much more out there - life becomes richer when we see beyond the Eurocentric view we were taught.”

Looking forward, what more do you think we can all do to promote diversity and inclusion further within the organisation?

“I think celebrating our individual differences is key, and there’s more we can do informally in that space.

“Having more collaborative opportunities where we celebrate different festivals, cultures, or food would be amazing.

“Let’s face it – some of us are working remotely. So when we do get together, making it meaningful and inclusive is a big opportunity. And if food is involved, that’s even better!”

For more information about the Diverse Network – including information about how to get involved as a member or ally of the network – click here.