Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement to include a) membership details, b) a list of dates when meetings were held and c) an overview of the steps taken by the Diversity and Inclusion in Public Appointments Governance Group to ensure that the Reflecting Wales in Running Wales Strategy 2020-2023 is implemented?
The purpose of the strategy was to sustain the increased numbers of women on Boards and to increase the number of disabled, Black, Asian, minority ethnic people, and other under-represented people in appointments to Boards so that Boards reflect the communities we serve and therefore improve decision making. There was a strong focus on delivering the commitments regarding the training and development programmes, which are soon to be evaluated.
While there were initial discussions about establishing a Diversity and Inclusion in Public Appointments Governance Group, due to the impact of Covid the Group was not established. Primary efforts were instead directed towards practical and operational delivery, amidst limited resources.
Additionally, the Senior Independent Panel Members (SIPMs) were invaluable, leveraging their expertise and experience to further the goals of diversity and inclusion in the public appointments process. Senior Independent Panel Members were recruited from across Wales to join recruitment panels for some of the most significant public appointments. Individuals were drawn from all walks of life and protected characteristics.