Welsh diversity and inclusion leader Bernie Davies, Founder of Mastering Diversity CIC, has delivered a full statement at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2026 in New York.
Bernie delivered the intervention on behalf of the Technical Centre for Fine Art and Computer Studies CIG—TechCeFaCos—a Cameroon-headquartered non-governmental organisation holding consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2013. She serves as TechCeFaCos’ Patron and Main Representative to the United Nations.
TechCeFaCos provides the formal UN mandate and international pathway, while Mastering Diversity—its Strategic Knowledge Partner—connects cross-sector expertise with grassroots and lived-experience voices, helping to shape the discussions, recommendations and thought leadership advanced through the partnership.
Bernie’s statement drew directly upon the Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summits, which she conceptualised and curated at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Summits brought together contributors from Wales, the wider United Kingdom and internationally across government, business, education, law, health, technology, sport, civil society and community leadership. Their collective insights informed official UN submissions and the Joint Communiqué taken forward to the 2026 High-Level Political Forum.
The statement was delivered during the Forum’s official review of Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. TechCeFaCos was formally called to address the sixth meeting of the HLPF, with its contribution now permanently recorded through UN Web TV and the official United Nations transcript.
The intervention urged governments, businesses, civil society and communities to replace fragmented initiatives with trusted, accountable partnerships capable of producing measurable and lasting social value. It challenged the recurring cycle of waste, inefficient urban planning, flawed infrastructure, duplicated effort and missed opportunities to collaborate and called for communities to be treated as active partners in development rather than passive recipients of decisions.
The next stage of the work will take place at the Mastering Diversity Conference 2026 on Thursday 10 September 2026, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.
Under the banner ‘We Go Together or Not at All,’ the conference will bring businesses, public bodies, charities, community leaders, young people, practitioners and lived-experience experts together.
Dedicated interactive zones will examine the realities of diversity, equity and inclusion across business, public services, STEM, education, health, sport, gender equality, representation and access to justice. Participants will identify challenges, share evidence of what works and explore the partnerships required to turn commitments into measurable action.
Book free conference places here.
