The Dos, Don’ts (and Dangers) of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Targets

Angela Deacon

Head of Talent, Engagement and Diversity at Apa Group

Angela Deacon is currently Head of Talent, Engagement and Diversity at APA Group.  She has extensive experience working on organisational culture across a range of sectors, including cultural transformation within elite sports. Herself having an extensive athletic career, 8 years serving as Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games Coach and current Board Director of Combat Aus. Angela can provide her insights on gender targets, successes and challenges, from both a corporate and governing sports bodies perspective.

Christine Ung

Director, Global Diversity and Inclusion

Christine is an accomplished diversity and inclusion leader with a background spanning multiple industries and geographies. She’s passionate about fostering inclusive cultures and has led transformative initiatives, driving equitable practices and enhancing workforce diversity. Leveraging her rich experience, Christine has championed employee resource groups, designed inclusive development programs, and promoted equitable practices. Christine is currently leading the global D&I efforts at Aristocrat where she continues to advocate for inclusivity, breaking down barriers and empowering teams to thrive in diverse environments.

Ruth Madden

ESG Manager at Port of Newcastle 

Ruth Madden is a dedicated professional with a passion for environmental sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion. With almost 12 months experience as the ESG Manager at Port of Newcastle, she has been driving positive change within the organisation. Prior to her current role, Ruth worked as a project manager at GHD, specialising in contamination assessment and remediation. She successfully completed a Masters in Environmental Management and Sustainability in 2021 and began working as the carbon neutral champion for the northern NSW region. She established and led a green office action team, focusing on implementing sustainable practices and initiatives within the company. It was through this experience that she realised her passion for both the environment and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

In her current role as ESG Manager, Ruth not only oversees the environmental, social and governance aspects of the Port of Newcastle but also plays an active role in fostering diversity and inclusion. She co-chairs the diversity, equity and inclusion steering group, working alongside colleagues to develop strategies that enhance diversity within the workplace. Additionally, Ruth chairs the reconciliation action plan working group, aiming to build stronger relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities. Her work within these steering groups include developing programs to encourage the recruitment and advancement of women and First Nations individuals in the maritime industry. Ruth is particularly passionate about cultivating relationships that enhance diversity and inclusion within the office and is committed to ensuring equity for all employees.

Amanda Ewing

Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Accenture

Amanda leads Accenture Australia and New Zealand’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity teams. She is passionate about creating a workplace culture where our people feel they belong and can advance and thrive. With over twenty years’ experience in talent strategy and transformational change enablement she has worked with numerous clients in banking, media, resources, and government. Amanda is a certified Gallup Strengths coach, a qualified human-centred design lead and has extensive experience in using data and insights to target the best transformation actions to achieve outcomes.