Testimonials
What our clients and partners say about our work…
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)
“In the three years since I joined SLR, we’ve increased female representation from 31% – 37%, attracted some fantastic women into senior roles, and increased the proportion of women on the APAC leadership team from 13-31%. In that time, we’ve doubled revenue and quadrupled profits. Diverse teams really do produce better results!
I attribute much of this success to our focus on diversity and the education of our senior men through the Engaging Men program. I look forward to continuing the journey!”
Paul Gardiner, Regional Manager, SLR Asia Pacific
“This program was transformative – one of the best I have attended. It successfully creates a space to allow both men and women to genuinely share our differing experiences and understand how to collectively tackle bias and systemic barriers that limit all of us. Feedback on the program has been excellent.”
Lisa Vasic, Managing Director, Transaction Banking, ANZ
“I’m most proud of the changes I’ve seen from our male managers following their participation in the Co-Creating Inclusive Cultures: Engaging Men program. The changes they have applied, both in thought and action as a result of a greater understanding of how our biases may inadvertently play out, have been many and positive.”
James Phillis, CEO, SMEC
“The appetite and support from our people and leaders for our recent initiatives, Engaging Men and Female Sponsorship, has been really impressive. I am encouraged by our progress and shared commitment to diversity and inclusion at GHD.”
Phil Duthie, General Manager ANZ, GHD
“Your authentic and engaging presentation kept the audience captive and inspired a number of leaders to reflect deeply on the issue of ‘D and I’, a noteworthy accomplishment that has opened the door to many new opportunities.”
Fannie Jacques, Vice President, Human Resources, Canada, ABB inc.
“In the wake of Canada’s new reporting requirements with regard to the representation of women in corporate leadership, Coleen proposed a strategic initiative to ensure impact. Ensemble vers la parité brought together like-minded women and organizations to amplify awareness and support companies in meeting their Diversity and Inclusion objectives. Through her energy, professionalism and enthusiasm, more was achieved in one year than in the five years preceding: a collaborative business model to inform regional ‘D and I’ strategy; ‘best practice’ sessions for board members and senior executives; the launch of an annual gala to honour ‘D and I’ champions; and the creation of a network of influential stakeholders that will accelerate the advancement of women in Quebec. In short, a great legacy.”
Françoise E. Lyon, President and Managing Partner, DGC Capital, Montreal Canada
“Engaging our male business leaders is essential to creating inclusive cultures in our industry. When men have the opportunity to explore the source of beliefs and behaviours and learn more about the bias impeding women’s advancement, they’re motivated to be part of the solution. Our role, as leaders, is to foster and role model an inclusive environment where everyone – men and women – can reach their full professional potential.”
Jamie Shelton, CEO, Northrop, Sydney, Australia
Like to hear more about our programs? Schedule a call today
Case Studies
ARCADIS: Creating Opportunities for Senior Executives to tackle the Challenges of Gender Equality
As featured in Backlash and Buy-In published by Male Champions of Change and Chief Executive Women (2017).
Australian Human Rights Commission: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment
Engaging Men’s empathic approach featured in Consult Australia’s Submission to the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces (February 2019, p 12).
“The conversation about gender equality, and subjects such as sexual harassment in the workplace, too often does not include men in the room, or worse by naming and shaming inappropriate behaviours without consideration of how our culture contributes to and upholds them. By not authentically engaging with men, we run the risk that measures to overcome sexual harassment will create backlash and potentially cement traditional views.”
Kate Jenkins, Sex Discrimination Commissioner and members of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment team with Jamie Shelton, CEO, Northrop and Consult Australia Male Champion of Change.
Advocacy
Ethics Education in NSW Primary Schools
“I have successfully argued difficult cases in the United States Supreme Court. I have rarely, however, seen an advocate Coleen’s equal. She was prepared, authoritative without being overbearing, incisive and read the questioners well. What a gem.
Peter Carre AB, J.D., Principal, Biohub Pty Ltd. and Former parent Neutral Bay Public School, Sydney, Australia
“You’ve changed 150 years of history – no mean achievement for a Canuck! A generation of kids will one day say, ‘merci beaucoup’.”
Peter Joseph, Chairman of the Board, St James Ethics Centre, Sydney
“Coleen has made an extraordinary contribution to the work of the Ethics Centre. She was responsible for directing one of the Centre’s most important public policy initiatives. (Her) work eventually led to the Government revising an unjust and anachronistic (education) policy that had remained unaltered since the late 1880s. Coleen is diligent, committed and highly effective. She has a sound capacity for both strategic and tactical insight and execution. She is articulate and courageous, and I commend her in the highest terms.”
Simon Longstaff, PhD, Executive Director, St James Ethics Centre, Sydney, Australia
Human Trafficking in Quebec
Congratulations on the excellent work you accomplished (to combat human trafficking) here in Quebec. You arrived on my path and gave me the strength to continue –thanks to your dedication, your persistence, your leadership, your determination and your effectiveness, to name but a few qualities. You were, for me, a greatly appreciated colleague and partner. MERCI, MERCI, MERCI!”
Annie Robert, former Director, RCMP Human Trafficking Unit, Montreal, Quebec
Translated from French
“I have had the pleasure of working with Coleen MacKinnon over the past year on a project with Free the Slaves. She has been tireless, imaginative and resourceful in finding ways forward for the anti-slavery movement both in Quebec and across Canada. Coleen has vast experience in the non-profit sector in Canada and Australia and has a track record of operating on the cutting edge of social change.”
Jolene Smith, Former CEO, Free the Slaves, Board Member Voices4Freedom, Washington, DC