Diversity and Inclusion

During the year, AXON also created opportunities for colleagues to share lived experiences, including a session with a team member who spoke about his experience as a trans man. This discussion reinforced the importance of inclusive healthcare communications and highlighted the role of representation, understanding, and dignity. Such initiatives continue to strengthen allyship and learning across the team.

Another colleague highlighted how approaching a senior male colleague for an informal catch-up can sometimes feel uncomfortable. This insight inspired an initiative designed to make those moments easier by offering a simple, inclusive way to spark relaxed, human conversations between junior and senior colleagues, which can then open doors, encourage mentorship, and build confidence.

To mark South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) and the 2025 theme “Roots to Routes”, Hanover hosted a conversation with Khalida Popal, former captain and co-founder of Afghanistan’s women’s football team. She shared reflections on her personal journey, growing up in a refugee camp in Pakistan after fleeing the Taliban as a child, and discussed her book My Beautiful Sisters: A Story of Courage, Hope and the Afghan Women’s Football Team which explores the power of courage, hope, and solidarity. The event provided colleagues with an inspiring opportunity to reflect on these themes.

As part of this broader effort, Madano also hosted an educational session on neurodiversity, where colleagues shared personal experiences of different forms of neurodivergence. To embed this learning into day-to-day practice, the team introduced inclusive meeting guidelines designed to support diverse communication styles, cognitive needs, and physical requirements.

These discussions, along with other Pride-related activities held across NATIONAL’s Canadian offices, created opportunities for colleagues to hear diverse perspectives and deepen their understanding of how to support 2SLGBTQI+ communities in meaningful and consistent ways. By engaging teams across regions and languages, these initiatives helped foster visibility, encourage dialogue, and strengthen support for sexual and gender diversity across the network.

In addition, Senior Vice-President Jeff Wilson delivered presentations on the state of DEI in the United States and beyond both internally and externally through the Public Relations Society of America’s Richmond and Philadelphia chapters. The session examined key factors driving DEI changes in the United States and their impact on organizations and communities—including legal influences, social media dynamics, political actions, international responses to U.S. changes, and implications for communicators.

The experience sparked thoughtful conversations and reinforced the importance of creating an inclusive workplace where individuals feel seen and valued.