Z Energy's efforts toward diversity and inclusion

With Pride Month upon us, Z Energy (Z) is proud to be showing up for its rainbow community with an important event that prompts discussion, shares knowledge and promotes wellbeing for its people. This event forms a small but valuable part of Z’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I).

“Diversity and inclusion is one of our core values,” explains Z’s D&I lead Patricia Green. “Z stands for enhancing the lives of our people, the partners we work with, and the communities we serve. At a day-to-day level that means creating an environment where everyone feels they belong, that they can be themselves and they can thrive.”  

One of the key ways this is brought to life is through Z’s ally network. “We’ve got four ally networks within Z, and one is the Rainbow Network,” Patricia says. “It’s where people can come together, support each other and think about ways that Z can do things better.”

Members of this network were also active participants in Z’s Pride Month panel discussion. “The beauty of a panel discussion is it allows people to be more personal and vulnerable,” says Patricia. “It’s a chance for others to connect with members of our rainbow community, hear about what the network has been doing and find out how they can be an ally.”

And allyship is critical, says Patricia. “We talk about this a lot at Z. Even if someone doesn't directly relate to a minority group, there’s always a role for them to play.” This has become particularly important in the current climate, where internationally there has been increased discrimination and polarisation in this space.

“It’s something that was discussed on the day,” says Patricia. “It’s really disappointing to see what’s happening overseas and there’s a sense that we’re going backwards.” In the face of that, Z remains firmly committed. “This hasn’t changed our determination to focus on diversity and inclusion. We’re as dedicated as we’ve ever been. Our stand remains, and in fact, it becomes even more important that our people feel safe and know that they have a strong voice here.”

This commitment is further demonstrated by Z’s Rainbow Tick accreditation, which it has received every year since 2018. “There’s a lot that goes into this, but for me, at face value, it’s a really obvious way for people to know that when they join Z, this is a safe place for them,” says Patricia. “That symbolism is important and you can see it in other ways, too, like people using rainbow lanyards or wearing a pin. It all shows people that it’s OK to be themselves.”

In December last year, Z also created and announced the Gender Affirmation Standard. “This is a key milestone for us and it’s created a benchmark for how we’re going to support individuals who wish to affirm their gender while working for Z,” says Patricia. “It’s based on best practice from organisations across Australia and New Zealand, but we’ve also consulted with those who have lived experience to make sure that what we’re doing is right, hits the mark and has value for them.”

While all of these efforts have had a positive impact, Z believes there is always more to learn. “We know we’ve still got work to do,” says Patricia. “We don’t always get it right, but we’re really committed to listening to our people, hearing from them and making sure they have those avenues to share with us what they need, and then we respond to that.”  

And ultimately, Z believes the benefits of D&I come back to them twofold. “Having diverse people in our organisation is good for us. It creates a more resilient business, our teams are stronger and we get more innovation. It really matters.”