‘Facing Equality’ to challenge inequality

Julie-Anne Mizzi, MCom 1997 and BCom 1992, UNSW

UNSW Business School recently hosted the ‘Facing Equality’ exhibition, to challenge inequality around the university.

The photographic portrait series displays images of a diverse range of successful UNSW Sydney alumni in various fields within each faculty.

The exhibition is part of UNSW’s Grand Challenges program, to encourage the ongoing and visible display of a broader range of role-models and thought-leaders from diverse backgrounds on-campus.

Professor Rosalind Dixon, Academic Co-Lead, UNSW Grand Challenge on Inequality said, “As part of the Grand Challenges on Inequality brief we’ve done programs on financial literacy and resilience through ideas about social emergency lending…one of the most effective ways to challenge unconscious bias is to talk about it and to expose people to counter models, and to challenge people to have less bias.”

National Manager, Davidson Institute & Social Sector Segment, Lali Wiratunga (MBA Exec 2013) delivered a personal EDI (Equality Diversity Inclusion) story, highlighting his background as the grandson and son of a first-generation migrant to Britain from Sri Lanka.

Mr Wiratunga, an MBA (Exec) 2013 graduate said, “Storytelling may be a starting point. My belief is that, driving a step change requires a blend of hard-wiring though targets and soft-wiring, through leadership programs and education.”

Many of the UNSW Business School and AGSM alumni who featured in the exhibition, along with their family and friends were present. Professor Rosalind Dixon and Professor Richard Holden, joint academic leads for the Grand Challenge on Inequality; Professor Eileen Baldry, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UNSW Sydney; Business School Senior Management Team; AGSM Senior Leadership Team; Business School Heads of School; EDI and Grand Challenges stakeholders; and philanthropist Bill Manos were also in attendance.

Professor Chris Styles, Dean UNSW Business School said, “This month the UNSW community and here at the Business School we celebrated International Women’s Day and the 20th anniversary of Harmony Day. I wish to take this opportunity to affirm that the Business School is committed to mutual understanding, equity, diversity and inclusion and this is reflected in the way we do business.”

The portraits of Business School alumni will be displayed on Level 2, Business School West Lobby with AGSM alumni portraits being displayed at AGSM, ground floor just above the café.