Meet the 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Award finalists
The ACE New Zealand Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Stantec, celebrates consultants who exhibit outstanding leadership in their steadfast commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within their workspaces and communities. Meet our 2024 finalists – Wharehuia Dixon (Beca), Erica Jeon (Aurecon) and Sarah Lang (Beca).
ACE Chief Executive Helen Davidson says the Diversity and Inclusion Award acknowledges individuals who advocate for and embody the principles of diversity and inclusion, contributing to the advancement of both the consulting sector and the communities it serves.
"This is the first year ACE has invited applications for the award and we were really inspired by the entries that came in," Helen says.
"We know that diversity and inclusion can enhance performance, innovation, employee satisfaction and overall success, and our members are doing some fantastic work in the D&I space.
"We're really excited to showcase these three great finalists. Huge congratulations to Wharehuia, Erica and Sarah – we’re looking forward to celebrating with you at the ACE Awards next month."
Wharehuia Dixon
A staunch advocate of te reo Māori and Principal in Māori Advisory at Beca, Wharehuia Dixon (Ngāti Awa) has gradually evolved his professional career to incorporate his technical engineering skills with his passion for te reo Māori and knowledge of te ao Māori.
Erica Jeon
Erica (Yuhyeon) Jeon is a Chartered Civil Engineer (CPEng) in the Roads and Highways team at Aurecon. She grew up in South Korea and moved to Aotearoa in 2009. Her experience of living in dense cities with integrated, urban infrastructure in Korea, then of the 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, shaped her motivation to become an engineer and make a positive impact to communities through infrastructure.
Sarah Lang
Currently Business Director – Government Advisory at Beca, Sarah Lang is a values-driven leader, who is passionate about using her knowledge and networks to contribute to structural change for a better New Zealand. A senior executive with more than 30 years’ experience in central and local government, private sector and not-for-profit management, Sarah’s legacies are exemplary.
Winner to be announced at 2024 ACE Awards Gala
The winner of the 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Award will be announced at the ACE Awards Gala in Christchurch on Thursday 24 October.
A ticket to the ACE Awards Gala is included in any full registration for the Futurespace conference. Individual tickets are $235 plus GST and tables of ten are $2,350 plus GST. Each ticket includes a three-course meal, drinks and live entertainment.
To get tickets, visit the Futurespace registration page and select 'ACE Awards Gala only' or 'Table of 10 to ACE Awards Gala'.
Ticket sales close on Wednesday 9 October.