A senior Defence Force official says an upcoming Pride in Defence conference will be a “major milestone” for the armed services. The Pride in Defence – Success Through Diversity conference will be held from 28-29 November in partnership with Massey University Wellington. Defence Force Assistant Chief Personnel, Brigadier Howie Duffy, says the conference marks a major milestone for the New Zealand Defence Force, which lifted its ban on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning people serving in uniform or as civilian staff 20 years ago. “In recent years, we have seen increasing numbers of glbtiq people choosing a career in the NZDF and current members of the NZDF who identify as glbtiq electing to live and serve openly. “As a progressive employer, the NZDF has an ethical responsibility to ensure the needs of its increasingly diverse workforce are supported.” The conference will bring together policymakers, senior leaders and influencers from Defence, academia, the public and private sector, charities and support groups. Speakers include representatives from the United States Army and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The discussions will be about sharing best practice, and offering practical solutions to strengthen organisational success by promoting an inclusive corporate culture. “The two-day conference, led by OverWatch, will continue this important conversation around inclusion and support,” Brigadier Duffy says.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 12th November 2013 - 10:02am