JOIN A PUBLIC BOARD

The charity Common Purpose, has for a long time championed the need for diversity in the boardroom and in leadership. It is one of very few organisations open and committed to it.

They have launched a campaign called 'About Time' which provides training to professionals to apply for these roles and get in and make a difference. Public Boards are the boards of Directors or Governors of government or public organisations, whose role and responsibility it is to ensure that the organisations work effectively and that executive directors are accountable for their work. The positions are very influential, and can range from a School Governor, to the Chairman of a 600 Million Pound annual turnover NHS Trust. Some of these positions are also paid - so your time contribution is valued. They are looking for talented professionals from ethnic backgrounds to apply as there are major gaps, and some have also been appointed. As founder of Diverse Ethics, I have a vast experience on diversity issues, and I have just been seconded to the Board of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, which is Chaired by Sir Andrew Motion. I have personally benefited from the training provided by About Time. These positions are great for personal development and expanding our networks, and also given that public service is so deep in many ethnic cultures, it provides a professional platform for exercising this virtue. It is a natural fit in many ways.

The training that Common Purpose provides, and the kinds of people and organisations you will visit, is very unique and eye-opening. The courses will be run all through the year, and there is a very simple application form, but the training is totally free, and funded by the Government Equalities Office. If you have any queries about this, you may call Amy Ritman on 0207 6088119. More details are in the About Time link above.

Dr. Atul K. Shah, Diverse Ethics

Article added on 19th January 2010 at 4:53pm