The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in partnership with UNESCO and a wide coalition of partners from corporations to civil society is launching the world campaign “Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion” today, on Saturday 21 May 2016.
This is a day which provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better. For the Sydney School of Protocol – Asians In Australia in particular, this day means a lot.
When Dr Caroline Hong, CEO/Founder CH Asia and Julie Lamberg-Burnet, CEO/Founder Sydney School of Protocol met for the first time in 2014, there was an instant connection. Caroline’s success as an Australian business woman with an Asian heritage has allowed her to develop a strong desire to help and support other Asian community members to achieve success within Australia.
With a shared vision to support Australians to become global corporate citizens and achieve success, Caroline and Julie launched the Sydney School of Protocol - Asians In Australia.
Driven by a desire to lift the competitiveness of Asians living in Australia for success in business, the community and social settings, the program suite is aimed to elevate and advance interpersonal skills, relationship building, awareness of cultural etiquette and international protocols.
As recently as the 01 May the Sydney Morning headline “Sydney's finest Asian Australian students still missing out on leadership roles” by Education Reporter - Eryk Bagshaw, captured the essence of our vision at the School to support students to gain and succeed in leadership roles.
In our experience at the School, working with clients who recognise the “bamboo ceiling” and the perceptions and stereotypes hindering their progress, they overcome these through investing in their personal and professional development.
Australians of Asian descent make up to 12 per cent of the country's population but only four members of the federal Parliament. Of the 17 Federal government departments only one counts a leader of Asian descent as its head.
The statistics are similar in the private sector. Only 1.9 per cent of executive managers and 4.2 percent of directors come from Asian backgrounds, according to a 2013 “Diversity Council Australia” study.
The Sydney School of Protocol – Asians in Australia continues to support Asians in Australia and wishes to facilitate this awareness amongst clients of both the Sydney School of Protocol and Sydney School of Protocol – Asians in Australia.
It is satisfying to see the success our clients have achieved through developing a greater understanding of cultural nuances and gaining effective tools and strategies for success in our multi- cultural and diverse business world.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with our clients assisting in their progress in their chosen fields.
Please contact us at [email protected] to enquire about programs or opportunities to further support the Australians to become global corporate citizens and achieve success.
