NWO/NWO-I LGBTIQA+ network event: connecting identities through Employee Resource Groups

On Wednesday 22 May  the LGBTIQA+ network presents an event that aims to explore the goals and benefits of Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s). ERG’s are groups within organizations where employees from historically marginalized groups come together. These networks offer support, raise awareness and further DEI policy (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) through education and ally engagement.

The LGBTIQA+ network at NWO and NWO-I has existed for several years and is now officially organized as an ERG. To celebrate this relaunch we invite all colleagues from the institutes, NWO-D, the NWO-I office to join us, whether you identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community, as an ally or as interested in the topic of ERG’s.

Programme

• Introduction by Léon Ouwerkerk, Coordinator for the LGBTIQA+ ERG
• Three talks about personal experiences, ERG experiences and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Read more about speakers Ella Bosch (NWO-I), Julien van Campen (TU Delft) and Kshitij Mor (UU) below
• Panel discussion with speakers and audience, led by Judith Kreukels
• Drinks

Goal

The goal of this event is threefold. First, we want to explore the topic of ERG’s in general: what are the goals and benefits of ERGs? What can they do, and how do they work? Second, we want to (re)introduce the LGBTIQA+ ERG and collect input on how to shape and organize it. Third, as with all ERG gatherings, we want to connect the community of NWO, in this case the LGBTIQA+ community.

To start the conversation on how the ERG can best support LGBTIQA+ employees at NWO/NWO-I, we ask you to fill in a short survey (this is completely without obligation) at the link below by 15 May. Our speaker Kshitij will analyse the survey responses and share his insights with us during his talk. Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management (uu.nl)

Practical information

Date: Wednesday 22 May 2024
Time: 16.00 – 18.00 hrs
Location: NWO Utrecht, Winthontlaan 2 Utrecht, auditorium/room 9.02

Registration

Participation is free of charge. If you attend live, we ask you to register via this form so we know how many people to expect and so we can prepare your badge. Note: the form is created on the CWI website to make sure the data is stored safely.

You can also join online, without registration. Then please contact Léon Ouwerkerk for the weblink. But we'd rather see you in Utrecht, to build the community. 

About the speakers

Ella Bosch is a policy advisor at NWO-I and part of the DEI team at the NWO-I office. She will speak about her personal experiences in terms of DEI and discrimination, and share her experiences being involved in two other ERG-like organizations during her time at Radboud University: The Halkes Women(+) Faculty Network and the (Donders) Diversity & Sustainable Science Committee. What works, and what doesn’t work for ERGs? What challenges can you encounter?

Julien van Campen is assistant professor at the faculty of Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft. Next to a management role and researching hydrogen storage and lifecycle impact reduction for aviation, he is the current chair of True U, the LGBTIQ+ network at TU Delft. He has been involved with True U since its foundation in 2016. Julien aspires to be a queer role model, showing students and colleagues that it is possible to be an out and proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community and have a career. He will speak about himself and his work, and about the importance of True U for LGBTIQ+ employees of TU Delft.

Kshitij Mor is a PhD researcher in the Organisational Behaviour Group at Utrecht University. His research examines policy and individual factors that affect the inclusion of LGBTQ+ employees at the workplace. Kshitij will speak on the importance of an identity-conscious approach to inclusion at work, and will share with us some results of his ongoing research on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.