A diverse workplace, which ensures equal opportunities for everyone, enhances the overall success of a company. With this in mind, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee seeks to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equal workforce in order to contribute to the success of the telecoms industry. The Committee believes it is our responsibility to attract, develop and retain the most exceptional professionals in the fibre industry by educating and challenging perceptions, leveraging progressive leaders, and sharing best practices.

The committee promotes gender, ethnic, ability & generational diversity, and inclusion by the dissemination of best practices within the industry as a sustainable asset for the future, and by embracing equality and encouraging progress in the industry. Additionally, it actively supports equality and fosters advancement in the industry. The ambition of the committee is to provide a network for professionals of all roles and levels within our industry to access networking and development opportunities, while celebrating successes at an individual and corporate level.

The committee plans to run workshops, surveys, and outreach activities to advocate for best practices in the arena of talent development and recruitment. Moreover, it will qualify the landscape of women in fibre in Europe and seek to demonstrate the link between a diverse workplace and business success. The DE&I Committee will also take action on facilitating new and unique opportunities for networking to empower women in establishing connections and interactions with their peers, both male and female.

In this context, the committee recently launched a groundbreaking video campaign titled "Women in Fibre", designed to celebrate and empower women working in the fibre industry. This campaign not only showcases the remarkable achievements, skills, and contributions of these women, but also aims to promote gender equality and inspire the next generation of female professionals in the field.

The DE&I committee welcomes all members to join us in the common purpose of diversity, equity, and inclusion for all in our industry. Please contact the FTTH Council Europe to propose a delegate for the committee. In order to empower the aim of the DE&I Committee, we require the collaboration of a diverse range of members. So, in our committee, we invite everyone to actively contribute towards advancing our aim of cultivating a diverse and equitable fibre industry. Click here and join us!

Webinar - "Women in Fibre - Gender Diversity Survey: the results are in"

The FTTH Council Europe just revealed the first key findings of its Gender Diversity Survey which have been officially launched during this webinar on 15 December 2021.

Roshene McCool, Senior Market & Technology Development Manager at Corning, presented the findings from the Gender Diversity Survey undertaken by the Women in Fibre Committee on behalf of the FTTH Council Europe in September of this year.

Find out what our 280 respondents had to say about whether gender is a barrier to progression in the European fibre industry; if Diversity & Inclusion initiatives are having an impact in their organizations; the impact of COVID-19 on work life; and if flexible working practices have helped them balance work and life effectively. Roshene presented the results along with recommendations for what leaders can do as they start to address the gender balance in their organisations.