Deloitte Top 200 adds workplace diversity to award categories

Global Women chairwoman Dame Jenny Shipley. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A new category recognising diversity in the workplace has been added to the Deloitte Top 200 Award, to be announced in November.

Dame Jenny Shipley, chairwoman of Global Women, said the prize would recognise businesses which ignited change by looking into their talent pool and recognising the advantages of diversity.

APN, which owns the Herald, is a sponsor of the awards, which recognise New Zealand's best company, executive, young executive, chairman, most improved performance, governance excellence, visionary leadership and growth strategy.

Deloitte chief executive Thomas Pippos said diversity in the workplace made businesses better and could spur wider changes in society.

"Together with our new partner APN, we are delighted to add this new category to New Zealand's premier business awards, now in their 25th year. Diversity can be a powerful strategy for organisations that choose to use it for their competitive advantage.

"A greater focus on diversity by New Zealand's most successful companies will spur economic growth and social change."

Award applicants will be judged on their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout their business including on issues beyond gender, as well as their development and solutions to diversity challenges. They will be required to disclose their diversity policy.

Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges assisted by adviser Vicki Robertson, the Treasury's deputy chief executive.

More information is at www.deloitte.com/nz/top200 and at www.diversenz.org

The Herald is a sponsor of the awards which will be announced in Auckland on November 27.