Amanda White (she/her) – HR Manager
Prior to applying for the position, I closely reviewed information I could find about RES, looking in detail at the section on their website that highlighted ‘Fairness, Inclusion and Opportunity’. I was impressed by what I read and yet it is akin to what is on many larger companies websites and there continued to be an element of doubt as to whether these commitments were actually executed or whether they were just trying to ‘tick the boxes’. Regardless, upon being offered the opportunity for employment, I accepted albeit with an element of concern for the unknown.
I have now been with RES for nearly six months and similar to my experiences with running a café, I am elated with the acceptance, support and friendships which I have already encountered from my colleagues within RES. I now have an acknowledgement and understanding that this is by no way a company that is just trying to ‘tick the boxes’, far from it. It is a company that is trying to set a new precedent within the world of development and engineering. The commitment to diversity and inclusion I have seen within my short period of employment with RES has far exceeded any former expectations I had, I feel an integral member of a large company which shares similar values and where my sexuality is inconsequential. This feeling has not evolved from a select few members of the company which is often the case, but for every single person I have worked alongside, something I have never really encountered in such an organisation.
The commitment towards diversity and inclusion from team members at RES has for want of a better word ‘gobsmacked’ me. From the CEO, Directors, Administration, Engineers and indeed other Project Development Managers, the commitment to constantly improve and progress towards true Diversity and Inclusion seems to be a common narrative from all employees.
Despite working remotely (I am based in Brisbane and most my colleagues in Sydney or Melbourne), my manager and director have both taking the trip to Brisbane to meet myself and my husband, showing support by hosting a working lunch at our café and introducing themselves to my husband directly, this is something that far exceeded any expectations. In addition, when I was recently at the Sydney office for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the amount of rainbow lanyards, support brochures and rainbow decorations throughout the office space, highlighting the commitment to Pride and Diversity. This identified to me as a company going above and beyond the norm of what I had encountered previously to truly being an employee which constantly strives to be a leader within Diversity and Inclusion.
