New BCI white paper explores Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the resilience profession
The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) has released a new white paper series called EDI in resilience. The first edition of this series, called "Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Resilience Profession: Views, Strategies, and Future Vision", provides a comprehensive, neutral analysis of how EDI is understood and applied within the resilience sector.
Based on a global survey of over 200 resilience professionals and supplemented by focus groups, the report offers insights into how EDI is embedded in organizations and within business continuity and resilience teams. While 40.2% of respondents said EDI is fully integrated into their organization’s strategy, only 13.4% reported full integration of EDI into their continuity and resilience plans.
The white paper also explores how EDI contributes to resilience strategies. Nearly half of respondents (48.2%) identified “improving resilience” as a key benefit of embedding EDI, with strong agreement that diverse teams enhance organizational resilience. During times of crisis, most respondents believe EDI plays a critical role in improving response and recovery capabilities.
However, challenges remain. A major barrier to integration is a lack of awareness. Half of the respondents stated EDI is simply not considered part of resilience planning in their organization. Furthermore, understanding of EDI’s importance varies, with only 37.7% believing that business continuity and resilience teams have a high level of understanding.
The report also examines EDI in recruitment and the profession’s talent shortage. Most respondents acknowledged EDI’s presence in hiring practices, but views on the profession’s overall inclusivity vary widely—highlighting a need for continued dialogue and progress.
This white paper marks an important step in evaluating and advancing EDI in resilience. The BCI remains committed to supporting further research and fostering inclusion in resilience.
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