Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core components of membership and reflect the values of BAPEN. They should be seen as essential individual rights. In the context of BAPEN’s work, the most important reason for promoting EDI is to help achieve better outcomes for patients. Hearing all voices within an organisation can bring more careful consideration, better decision-making and better risk management. When supported and valued, colleagues create a happier, more imaginative and more engaged collective. Within a voluntary association it is essential to create ‘parity of esteem’ and a feeling of joint-ownership amongst members, regardless of their individual role.
Furthermore, as part of BAPEN’s 2022 – 2027 Strategy, the organisation committed to amplfiying and making improvements to our EDI policies and commitments.
BAPEN has held an annual member’s pulse check since 2022 with the aim to give assurance that we are being successful in implementing the aims of our EDI policy. The pulse check also gives the opportunity to ask additional questions, and 2024 was the first year that we did this. Overall satisfaction with BAPEN remains high and engagement rates with the pulse check increase year on year.
Annual Pulse Check 2024
In November 2023, a paper was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition titled ‘Sex disparities in parenteral and enteral nutrition societies’ leadership worldwide: a 20 year retrospective analysis’. The paper included analysis of the leadership of BAPEN, but only looked at the position of President and this paper provides further analysis of the gender diversity amongst the leadership team of BAPEN, our latest conference and our BAPEN awards.
Gender Diversity in Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society Leadership Teams
