Toronto, February 14, 2008 – Deloitte has named partner Jane Allen as its first Chief Diversity Officer. The first role of its kind in the country, Ms. Allen’s appointment highlights Deloitte’s commitment to diversity and puts Deloitte at the forefront of Canadian businesses that are dedicated to building a more inclusive, safe, work environment where people can succeed to their fullest potential.

A recent Catalyst Canada study, Career Advancement in Corporate Canada: A Focus on Visible Minorities, found that while the Canadian workforce is diverse, workplaces are not inclusive. Creating work environments where everyone is included and valued is critical to the future competitiveness of all Canadian businesses.
 
“We all have parts to play in creating more diverse workplaces in corporate Canada,” explains Ms. Allen. “With predictions of an increasingly limited talent pool, it is of utmost importance that organizations like Deloitte make managing diversity a business imperative.”

Working with the firm’s National Diversity Council and senior leadership, Ms. Allen will develop and implement Deloitte’s diversity strategy. The firm defines diversity as recognizing, affirming and celebrating difference in age, education, ethnicity, race, family status, gender, national origin, physical abilities or qualities, religion, sexual orientation, thought processes, personalities and lifestyles and any other characteristic that makes a person an individual.

Experience and commitment to diversity
Ms. Allen brings a long history of tackling diversity issues to her new role. While at Ontario’s Ministry of Energy, she was seconded to the Ontario Women’s Directorate, a group established by the premier to focus on women’s issues. In 1992, as Assistant Dean for Executive Education at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Management, Ms. Allen co-founded of the Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award now run by the Rotman School of Management.

“Diversity isn’t just about women’s issues and visible minorities. It includes all the characteristics that make us unique,” she says. “I’ve done a lot of work dealing with the challenges that women face, and I want to bring that experience to leveraging all aspects of diversity.”

Joining Deloitte’s Consulting practice in 1996, she became a partner in 2001 and national leader for the firm’s Power & Utilities segment in 2004. Ms. Allen will retain this role in addition to her new duties as CDO.

Recognizing, affirming and celebrating diversity
At Deloitte, making a positive difference in our communities has always been a priority. The firm supports community organizations including ALLIES (a joint initiative of McConnell and the Maytree Foundations), the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Centre for Diversity, Goodwill, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights and the YWCA Women of Distinction awards as part of Deloitte’s commitment to recognizing, affirming and celebrating diversity.

With the addition of Ms. Allen, Deloitte will continue to work towards managing diversity within the firm, while encouraging and supporting external groups with their initiatives to create a more inclusive Canada.

About Deloitte
Deloitte, one of Canada's leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through more than 7,600 people in 56 offices. Deloitte operates in Québec as Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. The firm is dedicated to helping its clients and its people excel. Deloitte is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

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