“We share the responsibility to create workplaces where everyone, inclusive of all abilities, can thrive and contribute meaningfully,” says Aurora50 co-founder HH Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Abu Dhabi, 11 November 2024 – Aurora50 is hosting a three-day summit focused on people of determination, a critical area of inclusivity.
Aurora50’s Inclusive Workplaces Summit aims to highlight best practices, share valuable insights and inspire innovative approaches to integrating and supporting people with disabilities and their support system providers in the workplace.
It will focus on:
This three-day event, from 19-21 November 2024, will take place at Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and Topland’s newly launched Showroom in Abu Dhabi.
It brings together industry leaders, government representatives, POD professionals, diversity and inclusion advocates, employees who are parents of POD, and individuals dedicated to fostering inclusive workplaces.
The summit will include:
Attendees and website visitors will be invited to sign the People of Determination Allyship Pledge at aurora50.com. The pledge pillars are: allyship; championing workplace inclusivity; empowering women of determination; fostering inclusive communities; and supporting POD families.
In 2023, Aurora50 ran The Inclusion Summit (pictured) where hundreds of change-makers convened to discuss the power of inclusion, looking at inclusion beyond race and gender to incorporate people of determination in the private sector and UAE economic strategy. It previously hosted The Board Summit, looking specifically at gender equality at a board level.
Aurora50 co-founder HH Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, who will be speaking at the Summit, says: “The Inclusive Workplaces Summit is an essential platform that brings together government, the private sector, specialised organisations and individuals to promote the inclusion of people of determination.
“By fostering collaboration across these sectors, we can drive inclusive innovation that empowers individuals and strengthens our communities.
“Aurora50’s dedication to addressing the challenges faced by people of determination aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in promoting equality, decent work and inclusive economic growth.
“Our commitment spans beyond the workplace to cover education, social interaction and domestic environments, supporting the global aim to reduce inequalities, foster innovation and build sustainable communities.
“Together, we share the responsibility to create workplaces and societies where everyone, inclusive of all abilities, can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
“By championing education, supporting employees and families and fostering a sense of community, we can create lasting change, ensuring that diversity and inclusion become the cornerstones of our society’s progress.”
HE Abdulla Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, welcomed hosting the Inclusive Workplaces Summit at the organisation’s Innovation Center.
He emphasised the importance of integration and inclusivity as fundamental pillars of our society, saying: “We are proud to host this conference, bringing together industry leaders, government representatives, people of determination, professionals in the field, supporters of diversity and inclusion and parents of employees from various categories of people of determination.
“We hope to initiate a meaningful dialogue that will lead to positive and tangible change for these groups, as we believe this will be a decisive step toward creating a more inclusive society for all, especially for people of determination.”
He also highlighted the role of private sector institutions, brands and various partnerships in promoting inclusivity, integrating people of determination and creating suitable employment opportunities for them.
He says: “We are grateful for our collaboration with Aurora50, who share our vision for inclusivity. Their support and contributions are crucial in making this conference possible. We encourage and support all efforts and stakeholders to join us in this important endeavour to create an inclusive world for everyone.”
HE Abdulla Al Humaidan – who will make the keynote speech at the Summit – expressed his hope that the conference will produce impactful outcomes and recommendations, serving as a catalyst for change and inspiring organisations and individuals to take concrete actions to promote inclusion and integration, ultimately contributing to positive change for people of determination.
HE Salem Ali Al Shamsi, Social Incubation and Contracting Executive Director of the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, said: “The Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an focuses on fostering inclusive communities by ensuring that all members of our community, including people of determination, have equal access to suitable employment opportunities.
“Through our collaboration with Aurora50’s Inclusive Workplaces Summit, we are reinforcing our commitment to creating lasting and impactful solutions that empower both individuals and organisations to drive positive change.
“We look forward to seeing the success stories that will inevitably follow this initiative, and we are confident that it will pave the way for even greater impact in the future.”
The Summit’s key sponsors include Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, Topland, Ma’an and NMC Healthcare.
Find out more, download the brochure and see the full agenda for the Inclusive Workplaces Summit at https://aurora50.com/inclusive–workplaces–summit/
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Notes to Editors
Aurora50 is a GCC-based DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) impact agency that promotes inclusive workplaces and diverse leadership.
It supports corporate clients in their diversity, equity and inclusion goals and is a dedicated partner in transforming the future of work and forging the next generation of inclusive leaders.
NOORA is Aurora50’s real-world community of talented, cross-industry corporate women. Pathway20 is Aurora50’s 12-week accelerator for women board directors, and The Inclusion Summit is the region’s forum for transformation, bringing together hundreds of change-makers to advance the DEI agenda.
Aurora50 was founded in 2020 and, along with ADNOC, is a world record–holder for the most pledges received for a gender equality in the workplace campaign in 24 hours.
Aurora50 is accredited as a UAE social enterprise by Ma’an, the Abu Dhabi Authority of Social Contribution. It is the first scheme to recognise socially driven organisations in the UAE. Aurora50 has pledged to allocate 51 percent of its annual net profits for reinvestment into the business.
Aurora50 has also partnered with MullenLowe MENA for the award-winning Fixing the bAIs campaign to fix AI’s gender bias using AI itself. Fixing the bAIs is a vast image bank of women in various professions, to teach AI that women can be engineers, mathematicians, CEOs and more.
For further information, please contact: Suzanne Locke – [email protected] call +971 456 1200 | email [email protected]
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The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Ma’an certifies UAE-based DEI impact agency for gender balance and inclusion work.
