Leading space industry staffing specialist EVONA has announced the launch of its innovative Project Inclusivity Drives Diversity (IDD) Trilogy – White House Edition.
This all-encompassing series delves into the urgent diversity and inclusion challenges within the space industry, offering pragmatic solutions to tackle these concerns.
By prioritising inclusion, EVONA is defying conventional norms and paving the way for a more diverse, inclusive, and inventive industry landscape.
EVONA took Project IDD to the White House back in March, where they shared their vision of space sector equality with industry leaders at the Space STEM Forum, focussed on the development of the space workforce.
Lack of diversity in the space sector
The IDD trilogy is a timely response to the well-documented lack of diversity in the space sector and other STEM industries. Currently, the US STEM workforce is 89% white and 73% male, with only 1 in 5 identifying as female in the space sector and a mere 2% having a disability. This over-representation of individuals from advantaged socio-economic backgrounds poses a significant barrier to innovation and growth within the industry.
“At EVONA, we are passionately committed to driving the transformation of the space industry through diversity and inclusion. Project IDD stands as a powerful testament to this dedication, as it not only uncovers the key challenges but also delivers practical, actionable strategies for organizations to nurture a genuinely inclusive and dynamic workforce. We are confident that with a collective spirit of collaboration and determination, we can dismantle barriers and establish a thriving space sector where equal opportunities for success are within reach for everyone,” commented Tom Kelly, EVONA co-founder, who recently moved across the pond to head up EVONA USA as CEO.
Innovation, creativity, communication
The business case for inclusion and diversity is clear: increased innovation, creativity, communication, and consumer influence. Research has shown that companies with ethnically diverse executive teams are 33% more likely to outperform their peers, while those with at least 30% female senior leadership see a 15% increase in profitability. Additionally, companies hiring and supporting talent with disabilities enjoy 20% higher revenue, 200% higher net income, and 30% higher margins.
Project IDD delves into the importance of fostering a truly inclusive environment before tackling diversity issues. The trilogy covers three key areas: Part 1 focuses on specifically on gender diversity, featuring EVONA’s principal recruiters who achieved a 50/50 gender split in their space industry placements. Part 2 explores visible diversity, while Part 3 discusses the often-overlooked aspect of invisible diversity.
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