Dear members,
Happy New Year! We hope that you had a great break, and you’re feeling as refreshed and recharged as we are. 2019 was an exciting year for AXIS Network and gender balance in Aberdeen and we saw an increase in understanding, drive, and activity in the space, with well-attended networking events, a busy mentoring programme, and launch of the AXIS Pledge. In 2020 we will be focussed on increasing the pace of change towards our ambition of a gender-balanced Energy sector, and we aim to do that through;
Leadership roundtables around our event themes with pledge signatories
Launch of an ambassadors programme
Promoting and supporting diverse representation at industry events
Delivering a toolkit to support gender-balanced offshore working
We will continue to share relevant news, best practise and case studies on our LinkedIn channel and via our Resources site, to inspire and encourage others by profiling role models from across our sector, to collaborate with and support other D&I initiatives - in particular other local groups AFBE Scotland, InterEnergy, and OGUK’s D&I Task Group – and, of course, to host energetic and thought-provoking member events. We were delighted to confirm that Deirdre Michie OBE will continue her role as our network senior sponsor for 2020, offering her insight and guidance in how we continue to take strides towards our goals. Our group is now proudly backed by OPITO, and we look forward to sharing details of our 2020 event sponsors with you as soon as they are confirmed. First up will be Baker Hughes, sponsoring our March event - full details to be shared shortly!
2019 saw a few changes in our committee structure – we bid a fond farewell to Elizabeth McAlpine (secretary) and James Overton (web), both leaving to focus on new and exciting career changes, and we welcomed new members Caroline Lawford (thought leadership), Eva Hagan (role models / events), Padraig McCloskey (comms and strategy) and Wigdan Hamour (sponsorship). They join myself, vice-chair Erica Kinmond, Sarah Clark, Denis Pinto, Jenny Junnier, Julie-Ann Whyte, Katy Hardacre, Susan Gordon and Susan Grayson to form your 2020 committee.
Before I sign off, a few quick member announcements:
2020 member survey – opens today
As a member-led volunteer network your views are incredibly important to us, and I’m pleased to launch our 2020 member survey. Filling the survey in should only take you 10 minutes, and will go a long way to supporting us to meet your expectations in 2020. With thanks once again to CNR International, we are pleased to offer a £100 John Lewis voucher to the lucky winner of a prize draw for completed surveys, to be drawn on 28th February.
Let’s Talk About Diversity – OGUK Business Breakfast – giveaway
OGUK’s first business breakfast of the year will be hosted by the OGUK D&I Task Force. AXIS Network will have a stand at the event, and we have 4 tickets to give away to AXIS Network members, kindly sponsored by OGUK and OPITO. To be selected for one of these tickets, please email us with the title “D&I Ticket Please!” before COB Wednesday 29th January, and we’ll notify winners during the day on Thursday 30th.
Finally, on behalf of the AXIS Network committee may we wish you all a brilliant 2020. We encourage you to get involved in driving change in your organisation, and we look forward to engaging with and supporting you on this.
With warm regards,
Karen Blanc, and your AXIS Network committee