ECWO Conference 2023: Creating Inclusive Organisations

We believe that everyone should be welcome and encouraged to co-create inclusive organisations. That’s why this November 24, 2023, ECWO is inviting everyone interested in co-creating inclusive environments to join the dialogue, learn about the latest research, and meet with leaders who are re-shaping how we think about DEI, social safety and belonging.

We have created a programme of inspiring keynotes, a thought-provoking panel discussion, unmissable workshops and research presentations that also includes plenty of opporunities for connection and networking.

We can't wait to welcome you to de Forumzaal at Erasmus University Rotterdam!

Morning Programme

09h30: Walk in & Coffee

10h00:

Welcome by Prof. Dr Werner Brouwer, Dean, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)

Opening by Prof. Hanneke Takkenberg, Executive Director, ECWO

10h20 – 10h40: KEYNOTE: Prof. Dr Barbara Banda, Professor of Practice in Strategy and Leadership

Faculty for ECWO's Women in Leadership programme, Barbara Banda is the author of The Model Black: How Black British Leaders Succeed in Organisations and Why it Matters which was selected in June 2022 as one of the FT’s business book must-reads and provides the foundation for her keynote.

10h40 – 11h10: KEYNOTE: Frank Baaijens, former Rector Magnificus at TU Eindhoven

For eight years, Rector Magnificus Frank Baaijens was at the helm of education and science at TUE. During that time, and based on the belief that gender imbalance between women and men in science requires a rigorous intervention, Baaijens made bold decisions to change paradigms and systems (including inaugurating the Irène Curie Fellowship). In this keynote, he will talk about the challenges and resistance he faced, and the result.

11h10 – 12h00: Panel Discussion: Creating inclusive organisations - What is the imperative?

Prof. Dr Barbara Banda, Prof. Frank Baaijens, Ahmed Shafik (Manager of group services IT at NN-Group), and Anouk Creusen (Managing Director of 75inQ), moderated by Dorothy Grandia, ECWO's Associate Director of Programming.

12h00 – 13h15 Networking Lunch

13h15 – 13h30 Short walk over to Bayle Building for breakout sessions

Afternoon Programme

13h30 - 14h30: Breakout sessions

Location: Bayle Building

Session 1: Is Gen Z really lazy and disloyal? Can Babyboomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z collaborate in the workplace? And if yes, how? Find out in this workshop with Emma Agricola, 'the Gen Z-er who specialises in Gen Z’ and a passionate consultant, speaker, trainer and moderator in the field of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Session 2: Can VR help amplify empathy and activate inclusion? Discover the answer in this fascinating workshop with the IBias VR team.

Session 3: How saying no to non-promotable work helps create inclusive organisations. A workshop with Prof. Dr. Hanneke Takkenberg, inspired by the book The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women's Dead-End Work.

Session 4: An inspirational session on Social Safety with Thijs de Greeff, founder of Spinck. As the first “out” national field hockey team player in the Netherlands, de Greeff uses his personal experiences to create an inclusive culture in sports and commercial organisations. SPINCK developed the new guidance on gender-and-sex-diverse-individuals for the Dutch Olympic Committee.

14h30 - 14h45 Return to plenary: De Forumzaal, Van der Goot building

14h45- 15h00: How do you measure inclusion? ECWO is developing an inclusion gap tool for use in organisations. Our researcher, Kirsten Kardijk, shares an update on this innovative and essential new tool.

15h00 - 15h30: Presentation of the Dianne Bevelander Prize 2023 by Dr. Natalie Cleton. Winner Karen de Sousa Pesse, Senior Executive at Salesforce and recent TEDxBrussels speaker will deliver a short address.

15h30 – 16h00: Writer, consultant and coach Maartje Laterveer brings her perspectives and insights into a summing up of the conference.

Conference closing: Prof. Hanneke Takkenberg

16:00 Networking drinks

The Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations (ECWO) is committed to fostering inclusion. Our founding purpose in 2014 was to empower women and to create a level playing field by building communities for organisational change. Today, ECWO has expanded its perspective to embrace a wider vision of a world of inclusive prosperity. Our new mission is to create a sense of belonging for everyone within organisations through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), anchored in social safety. We strive for settings where everyone feels valued, respected and supported. We conduct research and produce evidence-led educational programmes, events, coaching, advocacy, and advisory services. We stay true to our roots, and we have evolved to recognise that achieving true inclusion and equity requires encompassing all, regardless of gender or identity.