Diversity & Inclusion: Belonging and Psychological Safety with Dr Wendy Orr

UPDATE: Due to illness, Kim Jansen will be replaced by Colleen Kaufmann of Tax Consult South Africa.

This event will be held both in-person from 1800hrs SAST and livestreamed from 17:30 BST / 18:30 SAST.

If you would like to attend the in-person event, please follow this link.

Wendy was previously Group Head of Inclusion for the Standard Bank Group, a position she held since October 2012. She was responsible for Diversity and Inclusion and Employee Wellbeing.

Wendy is a medical doctor who has worked in the areas of equity, transformation, and diversity and inclusion since 1999, when she took up the role of Director: Transformation and Employment Equity at the University of the Witwatersrand. After leaving the University, she worked as a consultant, servicing a wide range of clients in the areas of employment equity, diversity and organisational culture. Immediately prior to moving to Standard Bank she was head of Transformation and Organisational Development at Absa Capital.

Wendy’s career path turned from medicine to diversity and inclusion after she had served three years as a commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of South Africa – a position to which she was appointed by then President Nelson Mandela. Her path to the TRC began in 1985 when, while working at the District Surgeon’s Office in Port Elizabeth, she became the first and only doctor in government employment to reveal evidence of police torture of political detainees, when she successfully sought a Supreme Court interdict against the police to stop them from assaulting and torturing political detainees. Subsequent to this she remained active in health and human rights issues, particularly in respect of the rights of political detainees.

Wendy is the recipient of the following awards, amongst others:
·         The Star newspaper Women of the Year Award in 1985
·         The Civil Rights League Human Rights Award in 1990
·         The MK Seedat Health and Human Rights Award in 1997
·         The UN Association for Human Rights citizenship award in 1998.
·         The Benjamin Pogrund Medal for advancing the cause of non-racialism at Wits in 2001.
·         The SA Women for Women’s Award in Health in 2006
·         The NMMU Council Prestige Award for “rendering exceptional service which has made a
significant impact on the community” in 2013.

Watch the replay below: