‘Visible leadership and open conversations’: How Alcoa achieved AWEI Silver status

Alcoa of Australia Chairman and Managing Director Michael Parker said visible leadership and more open conversations about LGBTI+ inclusion and equality in the workplace have helped the company amplify its culture of inclusiveness.

Last week, Alcoa was recognised as a Silver Tier Employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Awards.

 “My aim is for every Alcoa employee to bring their ‘whole selves’ to work and to feel included and valued for who they are and for the diversity of ideas and experiences they bring,” Mr Parker said.

 “Since 2013, our ally network for LGBTI employees, EAGLE, has grown from 30 members to now more than 500 … all banding together to champion change across the business.”

Under strong leadership from Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Manager, Mark Hodgson, the network actively promotes a culture of inclusion and rallies support for LGBTI colleagues.

Some tangible efforts from the EAGLE network over the past year include organising events to mark days of significance such as IDAHOBIT, attending external LGBTI forums to share learnings and gather ideas, and participating in the annual Perth Pride Parade.

Each year, Alcoa makes a submission to the AWEI Awards to benchmark against more than 150 organisations nationally in LGBTI workplace inclusion. For the past five years, Alcoa has been a Bronze Tier Employer.

Workplaces are judged on a range of criteria including inclusive policies and practices, executive engagement, inclusive facilities and services, employee networks and external visibility.

Alcoa was one of two resources companies awarded Silver status.

Media contact

Mika Sangalli, Senior Communications Adviser, 0409 125 623, mika.sangalli@alcoa.com