First Minster of Wales, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, will launch a special event at Cardiff City Hall in September dedicated to highlighting the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusion within Wales.

The event is organised by one of Wales’ most high-profile black entrepreneurs, Bernie Davies, a multiple award-winning bestselling author, TEDx speaker, business strategist, and diversity and inclusion thought leader.

The ‘Mastering Diversity’ conference will take place on September 18, 2023, at Cardiff City Hall. It is the first multi-disciplinary conference of its kind to take place in Wales and is set to bring together a diverse group of people from public and commercial life to discuss the importance of diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging within Welsh communities.

The full-day event will run from 9am until 5pm and feature several keynote speakers, beginning with an initial address by First Minister, Mark Drakeford. Also speaking at the conference is the Welsh Government Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS, who will be discussing the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racism Action Plan and its agenda for diversity, equity and inclusion. Welsh Government Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething MS, has also given his full backing to the event.

Four of the main sponsors of the event are NatWest, Bevan Buckland LLP, BBC and S4C. NatWest will sponsor the Business Zone, with a keynote speech delivered by NatWest’s Ecosystem Manager, Gemma Casey, who is also providing expert support. Bevan Buckland LLP is executive sponsor of the Cognitive and Nuero Diversity Zone, Shazia Hussain will be the keynote speaker. BBC will sponsor the Diversity in the Public Sector Zone. S4C will sponsor the Education Zone, co-led by BAMEed Network, and will also cover the event on its TV channel. Its Leader of Diversity, Sustainability and Social Purposes, Ryan Chappell, will be its keynote speaker.

Also speaking will be the sponsors of the event’s Digital Inclusion Zone, Anwen and Dave Aspden from leading bespoke IT Consultancy Stable, along with Andrew Martin, from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Huw Pendleton, Managing Director of Celtic Holiday Parks. Other speakers during the day include Michelle Morris, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales; Daniel Biddle, the most injured 7/7 survivor; Dee Llewellyn, the creator of the Welsh diversity and inclusion awards; Rob Edwards, neuro diversity UK entrepreneurship expert; and Professor Meena Upadhyaya OBE, Emeritus Professor at Cardiff University.

The conference will also include multiple break-out, seminar-style discussion rooms covering topics such as allyship, cultural diversity, neurodiversity, religious tolerance, gender equality, and diversity in education and entrepreneurship.

There will also be a number of exhibitors in attendance, including Adoption UK, Women’s Equality Network, Race Council Cymru, Stable Resources, BAWSO and more.

As a Business Wales and Equal Power Equal Voice Mentor, the event’s organiser, Bernie Davies, provides strategic business development support and training throughout the United Kingdom and globally. Hundreds of businesses, Welsh Government Accelerator programme participants, major banks, universities, and further education colleges have all been supported by Davies in their entrepreneurship and DEI programmes.

Davies has just been announced as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Association Achievement Awards 2023. In recent years, Davies has also been awarded Swansea Black Icon, Top 100 Woman in Business in Wales, Excellence in Business Award for Black History Month, won the Diversity and Inclusion Award, and recently featured in an ITV Wales Face to Face interview with Adrian Masters. She has also recently hosted a two-day event dedicated to female empowerment which featured a number of internationally renowned contributors, and brought together people from across the UK, Commonwealth and US, culminating in a gathering at the House of Lords.

Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, said:

“I am honoured to be speaking at the Mastering Diversity conference at Cardiff City Hall and look forward to discussing our efforts to improve diversity, equality, and inclusion within Wales. Our commitment to equality and ending racism is reflected in our Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which aims to build an anti-racist Wales by 2030. By working together and sharing our learning, we can foster a society that celebrates our differences and ensures that everyone feels valued and included. The Welsh Government is committed to equal opportunities for all. In the last four years we have published the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, an LGBTQ+ Action Plan, established the disability rights taskforce and launched the Advancing Gender Equality in Wales Plan.”

Ryan Chappell, Leader of Diversity, Sustainability and Social Purposes at S4C, said:

“I'm delighted that S4C is supporting and covering the Mastering Diversity event in Cardiff. It promises to be an important forum for discussing the vital issues of diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging in Welsh communities.”

Gemma Casey, NatWest Cymru’s Ecosystem Manager for Wales, said:

“NatWest Cymru will be scheduling talks and activities in the Diversity in Business and the Third Sector Zone, and we look forward to listening to and engaging with our speakers, panellists and attendees as we all strive towards helping our communities to thrive and fulfil their potential.”

Bernie Davies, event organiser and Diversity and Inclusion Champion, said:

“I come from a Caribbean background, where diversity is par for the course. As a result, I grew up with a deep understanding of the importance of inclusion, and in some ways, I took it for granted. I am very aware that my experience and understanding of the many layers of the diversity agenda is not the norm. However, the organisations that are currently thriving with a wholesome and productive work culture are the ones that undertake deliberately diverse recruitment and practice allyship within the workplace.

“Wales is very diverse and has been going through an awakening in respect of the importance of focusing on deliberate diversity, but there is a lot left to be done. In this event, we aim to bring together all sectors at one iconic venue and make a case for the importance of deliberate diversity in Welsh communities.”