Is change an acceptable price for going through the fire?

If the definition of ‘debate’ is “a discussion about a subject on which people have different views" (Collins dictionary), then the Diversity Council Australia Ltd's 11th annual Great Debate absolutely knocked it out of the park. Even if until the very end there was still an unanswered definition of what polarisation is – something for all of us #DEI practitioners to take heed of as it varied from hateful experiences to #diversityofthinking.

The topic: Is polarisation holding diversity and inclusion back? In an increasingly polarised world, where it may seem there is more to divide us than unite us, what does it take to move the dial on diversity and inclusion? Are our divisions impeding progress towards genuine equality? Or do they ignite a sense of urgency and a drive for change?

?I learned so much and MC Patricia Karvelas summarised the experience as no matter which way you leaned on the topic, this was one of the main outcomes from the evening.

?At times the debate itself felt polarising as speakers used all types of narrative tactics and debate dramatics, including a very cute Guide Dog, to sway the audience. Personal stories, various food and cooking metaphors, and rapid-fire data points were used as influencing strategies. At the end, the audience agreed with the ‘yes’ team.

?The audience voting poll:

• Pre-debate: Yes – polarisation is holding D&I back 64% versus the no vote of 36%
• Post-debate: Yes at 62% versus no at 38%

?The ‘Yes’ team for the affirmative included:

• Michael Hing (he/him) - comedian, broadcaster, actor and podcaster.
• Dee Madigan (she/her) - Executive Creative Director and founding partner of Campaign Edge.
• Thomas Mayo Mayo (he/him) - Assistant National Secretary of Maritime Union of Australia & award winning author.

Arguing against the notion that polarisation is holding D&I back was:

• Niki Kesoglou Kesoglou (she/her) - Executive Manager Culture, Inclusion & Community, from event sponsor IAG
• Lou Wall (they/them) - Multi-award-winning comedian, composer and content creator.
• Graeme Innes AM (he/him) - Former Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission.

My highlighted quotes and insights from the night were:

• We are seeing “purposeful polarisation” that we need to pay attention to (largely political driven).
• “Polarisation is the promotion of ignorance”.
• Yet, in some cases, polarisation has seen positive change impacts such as the Australian pay gap shrinking from 18.5% to 13.9% due to the @workplacegenderequalityagency mandatory reporting. And while it was uncomfortable for many, the @marriageequality discussion did create a result for the LGBTQIA+ community. Hence a cooking reference that “without the heat, nothing cooks”.
• However, several people in the audience shared they could not buy into the proposition that people need to suffer for change to happen.

I left the evening with a reminder that tough conversations are not easy. That even amongst a supportive #Diversityequityinclusion group we experienced a wide range of views. We need to listen and even if we don’t agree or get close to it, at the very least hear out others with different perspectives and experiences. Not jump to conclusions about where people are coming from, or as Dee Madigan put it so beautifully: “always assume positive intent”.

It was absolutely wonderful to also catch up with so many of my #diversityandinclusion network IRL!

With my former Westpac colleague Alison Burgess

With Bianca Scobie and Leanne Thomas from the Port Authority of NSW

With former Westpac colleague Leanne Crouch