HRD spoke to NZ’s first chief people inclusion officer
Timely’s new chief people inclusion officer believes the creation of her role will send a strong message to businesses across New Zealand.
The global tech company has welcomed Mary Haddock-Staniland to the team as chief people inclusion officer to focus on driving workplace diversity and inclusion.
Believed to be the first role of its kind at an executive level in New Zealand, Haddock-Staniland said her appointment is a sign that the dial on diversity is changing.
Speaking to HRD, she said: “This appointment is sending a strong message to the New Zealand business landscape, in particular in the tech sector, that inclusion should not be a bolt on, it should be built into every business’s strategy and DNA.
“It is integral to any organisation and that is certainly the case at Timely.
“Being able to be yourself at work regardless of the who, what, where, and how, you are more productive, you add weight to your purpose, you add more innovation and creativity and as such, people stay in their role.”
Haddock-Staniland will take up the role in December having left her position as head of membership services at Diversity Works New Zealand.
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As a transgender advocate, she has long been known as a powerful voice in the D&I space.
“The fact that I’m transgender means I am paving a way that probably was not previously available,” she said.
“I’m in a minority group and I’m going against the grain in an environment that wouldn’t have existed a few years ago.”
She said the executive level of the role is key to driving a culture change in NZ and she believes her appointment will encourage other businesses to follow suit.
“Executing the strong culture, people and inclusion strategy that Timely has been doing, and that I will be extending, is really exciting,” she said.
“Diversity and inclusion aren’t easy. There are going to be challenges but there are going to be so many more rewards.”
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Timely provides software to the beauty industry across New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
CEO and co-founder Ryan Baker said developing inclusive work practices is a priority for employees and the company’s 15,000 clients worldwide.
He said: “We started making Timely an inclusive, supportive and flexible workplace in the early days because that’s the company we wanted to work at.
“What we learned is that it’s not just about us. Owners in the beauty industry do business based on the same values of inclusion.
“The more we invest in creating an inclusive workplace for Timely staff, the more business comes through the door.”