CEO of the National Centre for Diversity, Solat Chaudhry recently visited Lisbon, Portugal to attend and speak at the National Forum for Diversity, hosted by the Portuguese Diversity Charter, at the University Institute of Lisbon on the 22nd May 2017.
As a keynote speaker at the high profile international event, Solat launched Investors in Diversity Portugal and spoke about the hugely successful Investors in Diversity approach in the UK; which has enabled organisations to completely change their cultures, to become far more inclusive.
The Investors in Diversity Portugal Award will be an accreditation by the Portuguese people for the Portuguese people.
With 12 years of experience in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace, Solat also mentioned the commercial necessity to accept, embrace and utilise diversity, as well as sharing the National Centre for Diversity’s groundbreaking work on Neuro-equality.
The National Forum for Diversity celebrated the first year of the Portuguese Diversity Charter, part of a wider EU initiative on diversity.
Solat commented, “the experience was exhilarating. The Forum was well organised and really well attended, the Portuguese people were so nice, friendly and welcoming. From taxi drivers to hotel staff to Sectaries of State, everyone I met was so friendly. It was a brilliant experience and I will definitely go back for holidays.” .
Solat was also interviewed by members of Portugal’s national media, giving him the opportunity to showcase how the National Centre for Diversity can bring their experiences from the UK into other European countries.
Mr Chaudhry went on to meet with members of the Portuguese High Commission for Migration and the Diversity Charter Board, to further discuss the next steps in driving forward Investors in Diversity in Portugal.
Solat confirmed that “the next stage following the Investors in Diversity Portugal launch will be a pilot involving three Portuguese organisations from all three employment sectors.”
With the success of the launch and the Portuguese Diversity Charter’s National Forum, it is likely that future relations between the National Centre for Diversity and Portugal will become even stronger.
Solat added, “We also had positive discussions about the potential of setting up an independent Portuguese Centre for Diversity which would work closely with us.”.
Continuing discussions will ensure that there is a strong sense of collaboration and ownership between the National Centre for Diversity and the Portuguese Diversity Charter.
For more information about the Portuguese Diversity Charter please visit: http://www.cartadiversidade.pt/.
For more information about Investors in Diversity Portugal, please contact the National Centre for Diversity on 0800 288 4717 or email admin@iiduk.org.
