Menzies Aviation has become a signatory of the United Nations’ (UN) Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).
The move demonstrates the company’s commitment to advancing gender equality and inclusivity and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within its operation and the communities in which it operates, Menzies said.
The WEPs provide a powerful framework to advance gender equality and set a global norm for the private sector, putting transparency, accountability and the tracking of progress and results at the centre of the principles. In line with SDG5 (the fifth of 17 SDGs established by the UN in 2015), which concerns global gender equality, the seven principles focus on promoting equal opportunities, fair treatment, and non-discrimination for women, while also encouraging corporate leadership to drive positive change.
The announcement follows Menzies’ participation in the UN Target Gender Equality programme in 2022. That same year, Menzies launched its Women in Leadership programme, completed by more than 70 people, with more cohorts planned, and earlier this year it launched an allyship campaign to empower colleagues to show up as allies at work, supporting women and other under-represented minorities.
We want our people to experience equity of opportunity
Menzies is aligned with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 25by2025 industry-wide campaign, aimed at shifting key diversity and inclusion metrics across the aviation industry by 25%, or up to a minimum of 25% by 2025. Mirroring this commitment, Menzies is making strides to increase the proportion of females in its own senior leadership population from 19% in 2022 to a minimum of 25% by 2025, and middle leadership from 31% in 2022 to at least 40% by 2033.
Menzies’ move to support the UN WEP is part of the company’s broader commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture where its employees can thrive. It is implementing unconscious bias training and has established a long-term plan to improve its practices and employee experiences, with a greater focus on family friendly policies.
Menzies wants its staff to feel respected
“We’re proud to show our support and commitment to advocating gender equality at Menzies Aviation. Our people are at the heart of our business and our success, and we want them to experience equity of opportunity, to feel respected and supported to learn and develop, and to be able to be themselves. We look forward to implementing the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) framework and taking the next step in our own journey to create a more inclusive, diverse and equitable business that benefits every employee,” said Juliet Thomson, chief people officer, Menzies Aviation.
Images: Menzies Aviation
