Race has recently been at the forefront of conversations surrounding workplace culture and hiring in Singapore. In addition to the new anti-discrimination laws which will soon be enshrined, what other measures must be put in place to ensure a racially inclusive workspace? Is Singapore’s racial diversity truly represented at individual workplaces?

In this episode, which is in conjunction with IPS’ annual flagship conference, Singapore Perspectives 2023, host and Associate Director at the Institute of Policy Studies Liang Kaixin chats with Dharesheni Nedumaran, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, APAC, at Mediabrands and Shamil Zainuddin, Research Associate at IPS Social Lab. They discuss how hiring and appraisal processes can be made more equitable, how to approach the sensitive topic of race at work, and how workplaces can be made more inclusive for minority groups especially.

Find out more about conversations on racism at work:
CNA (27 June 2022): The Big Read: To stamp out everyday racism or microaggression, treat it as anything but casual
The Straits Times (28 May 2022): Formalising HR practices can fight workplace racism: Panellists at race forum
South China Morning Post (29 August 2021): Singapore will pass new laws to combat racism, workplace discrimination: PM Lee

About our guests:

Dharesheni Nedumaran

Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, APAC

Mediabrands 

Dharesheni Nedumaran (Sheni) is a global Diversity & Inclusion specialist, with more than 10 years international experience spanning tech, NGOs, global businesses and government, working on data driven projects and programs with underrepresented communities, tailored to countries regulations and culture.

In her current role as Mediabrands APAC Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, she works across a network of more than 3000 media and marketing professionals in multiple agencies across 13 Asia-Pacific countries, to lead the development of a long term strategy and roadmap that helps to increase representation, create a culture of belonging and contribution, and promote respect, equity and fairness.

Accredited with Campaign Asia’s Women Leading Change award for Diverse & Inclusive Workplace for Mediabrands Singapore in 2022, Sheni has a Master’s of Work & Organisational Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit.

Shamil Zainuddin

Research Associate 

IPS Social Lab

Shamil Zainuddin specialises in applied ethnography and holds qualifications in Sociology which he has taught as a Teaching Assistant while completing his Masters in the National University of Singapore.

Prior to joining IPS in 2018, he was a Senior Design Ethnographer at NCR Corporation, a global enterprise technology company. There, he spent five years using qualitative methods researching human experiences to inform R&D, innovation and marketing.

He has received awards for applied ethnographic work and is the recipient of the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Day Award in 2005.

Above all, he is most interested in carrying out the work to make the everyday easier for especially disadvantaged communities. He is an active volunteer with Beyond Social Services and highly encourages everyone to volunteer with an organisation they believe in.

On Diversity is a podcast inspired by the Institute of Policy Studies Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, we chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making, and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.

More from On Diversity
Season 3 Episode 3: Ableism at Work with Cassandra Chiu, a vision impaired counsellor and advocate for PWDs, and Justin Lee, Senior Research Fellow at IPS
Season 3 Episode 2: Ageism at Work with Heng Chee How, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), and Associate Professor Helen Ko of the Master & PhD in Gerontology Programmes at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
Season 3 Episode 1: Sexism at Work, with Corinna Lim, Executive Director of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and Simran Toor, Chief Executive Officer at SG Her Empowerment Limited (SHE) 
Season 2 Episode 9: Youth Mental Health, with Dr Jacqueline Tilley, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the National Institute of Education (NIE) and Asher Low, Founder of Limitless
Season 2 Episode 8: What Makes Us Singaporean, with Matthew Matthews, Principal Research Fellow of IPS and Head of IPS Social Lab, and Oon Shu An, Singaporean actress and host
Season 2 Episode 7: Homelessness, with Harry Tan, IPS Research Fellow, and June Chua, Co-founder of T Project
Season 2 Episode 6: The Young vs The Old, with Kanwaljit Soin, Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon, and Teo Kay Key, IPS Research Fellow
Season 2 Episode 5: The New Civil Society, with Carol Soon, IPS Senior Research Fellow and Head of Society and Culture, and Woo Qiyun, Environmentalist and creator of The Weird and Wild

Race has recently been at the forefront of conversations surrounding workplace culture and hiring in Singapore. In addition to the new anti-discrimination laws which will soon be enshrined, what other measures must be put in place to ensure a racially inclusive workspace? Is Singapore’s racial diversity truly represented at individual workplaces?
In this episode, which is in conjunction with IPS’ annual flagship conference, Singapore Perspectives 2023, host and Associate Director at the Institute of Policy Studies Liang Kaixin chats with Dharesheni Nedumaran, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, APAC, at Mediabrands and Shamil Zainuddin, Research Associate at IPS Social Lab. They discuss how hiring and appraisal processes can be made more equitable, how to approach the sensitive topic of race at work, and how workplaces can be made more inclusive for minority groups especially.
Find out more about conversations on racism at work:
<ul>
<li>CNA (27 June 2022): <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/everyday-casual-racism-microaggression-ethnic-minorities-big-read-2770666">The Big Read: To stamp out everyday racism or microaggression, treat it as anything but casual</a></li>
<li>The Straits Times (28 May 2022): <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/formalising-hr-practices-can-fight-workplace-racism-panellists-at-race-forum">Formalising HR practices can fight workplace racism: Panellists at race forum</a></li>
<li>South China Morning Post (29 August 2021): <a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3146812/singapore-will-pass-new-laws-combat-racism-workplace">Singapore will pass new laws to combat racism, workplace discrimination: PM Lee</a></li>
</ul>
About our guests:
Dharesheni Nedumaran
Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, APAC
Mediabrands 
Dharesheni Nedumaran (Sheni) is a global Diversity &amp; Inclusion specialist, with more than 10 years international experience spanning tech, NGOs, global businesses and government, working on data driven projects and programs with underrepresented communities, tailored to countries regulations and culture.
In her current role as Mediabrands APAC Head of Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion, she works across a network of more than 3000 media and marketing professionals in multiple agencies across 13 Asia-Pacific countries, to lead the development of a long term strategy and roadmap that helps to increase representation, create a culture of belonging and contribution, and promote respect, equity and fairness.
Accredited with Campaign Asia’s Women Leading Change award for Diverse &amp; Inclusive Workplace for Mediabrands Singapore in 2022, Sheni has a Master’s of Work &amp; Organisational Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit.
Shamil Zainuddin
Research Associate 
IPS Social Lab
Shamil Zainuddin specialises in applied ethnography and holds qualifications in Sociology which he has taught as a Teaching Assistant while completing his Masters in the National University of Singapore.
Prior to joining IPS in 2018, he was a Senior Design Ethnographer at NCR Corporation, a global enterprise technology company. There, he spent five years using qualitative methods researching human experiences to inform R&amp;D, innovation and marketing.
He has received awards for applied ethnographic work and is the recipient of the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Day Award in 2005.
Above all, he is most interested in carrying out the work to make the everyday easier for especially disadvantaged communities. He is an active volunteer with Beyond Social Services and highly encourages everyone to volunteer with an organisation they believe in.
On Diversity is a podcast inspired by the Institute of Policy Studies Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, we chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making, and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.
More from On Diversity
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s3e3-ableism-at-work/">Season 3 Episode 3: Ableism at Work with Cassandra Chiu, a vision impaired counsellor and advocate for PWDs, and Justin Lee, Senior Research Fellow at IPS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s3e2-ageism-at-work/">Season 3 Episode 2: Ageism at Work with Heng Chee How, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), and Associate Professor Helen Ko of the Master &amp; PhD in Gerontology Programmes at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/podcasts_uri/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s3e1-sexism-at-work/">Season 3 Episode 1: Sexism at Work, with Corinna Lim, Executive Director of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and Simran Toor, Chief Executive Officer at SG Her Empowerment Limited (SHE) </a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e9-youth-mental-health/">Season 2 Episode 9: Youth Mental Health, with Dr Jacqueline Tilley, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the National Institute of Education (NIE) and Asher Low, Founder of Limitless</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e8-what-makes-us-singaporean/">Season 2 Episode 8: What Makes Us Singaporean, with Matthew Matthews, Principal Research Fellow of IPS and Head of IPS Social Lab, and Oon Shu An, Singaporean actress and host</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e7-the-homeless-in-singapore/">Season 2 Episode 7: Homelessness, with Harry Tan, IPS Research Fellow, and June Chua, Co-founder of T Project</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e6-the-young-vs-the-old/">Season 2 Episode 6: The Young vs The Old, with Kanwaljit Soin, Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon, and Teo Kay Key, IPS Research Fellow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ipscommons.sg/ips-on-diversity-podcast-s2e5-the-new-civil-society/">Season 2 Episode 5: The New Civil Society, with Carol Soon, IPS Senior Research Fellow and Head of Society and Culture, and Woo Qiyun, Environmentalist and creator of The Weird and Wild</a></li>
</ul>

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme.

In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.

On Diversity features new episodes every week.

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme.
In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.
On Diversity features new episodes every week.

IPS On Diversity Podcast

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society. On Diversity features new episodes every week.

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society. On Diversity features new episodes every week.

Advertisement