CGI’s Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Network is a dynamic, people-first initiative that continues to set new standards for inclusive engagement, cultural celebration, and systemic change within the workplace.
At its heart, REACH amplifies voices, creates safe spaces, and drives meaningful representation across all levels of CGI. In October 2024, REACH launched the impactful “Future Black Leaders” event, an in-person networking and skills-building day hosted at CGI’s London office. This event offered final-year Black heritage university students and recent graduates direct access to CGI leaders, application insights, career journey storytelling, and practical skill-building sessions, showcasing REACH’s dedication to diversifying tech talent pipelines.
Alongside this, REACH delivered a vibrant year-round calendar of cultural observances, each thoughtfully curated to educate, unite, and honour CGI’s diverse workforce. These included Diwali (diya painting, food sampling, cultural sharing), Lunar New Year (traditional snacks, zodiac reading, origami, and an intranet feature), Eid and Ramadan (community lunches and dinners, henna stations), Holi (colourful decorations and themed lunch), and Passover (informative session and traditional meal). During South Asian Heritage Month, REACH has planned engaging initiatives such as a curry cook-along, kite painting, Tamil name writing, quizzes, and a multimedia showcase of South Asian art and literature.
The REACH Network’s “Chai & Chat” sessions, held monthly, offer all members a confidential, inclusive environment to share stories, experiences, and highlight cultural or workplace issues that might otherwise go unheard. Their quarterly newsletter comprising event recaps, a “Faces of REACH” spotlight on committee members, a Network Spotlight for wider contributors, and the “Culture Capsule” featuring global literature, podcasts, and recipes extends the network’s reach to those unable to attend in-person events, helping foster a sense of belonging across geographies.
REACH also operates an Awards Team to support members in applying for internal and external recognition, championing excellence within the community. Most notably, the network is actively engaged in structural advocacy: a sub-group is focused on senior leadership equity, exploring how CGI can better retain and progress diverse talent into upper management so that its SLT reflects the makeup of its employee.
Through a holistic approach that blends education, celebration, allyship, recognition, and policy influence, CGI’s REACH Network is not only building an inclusive culture – it is ensuring that equity and representation are foundational to CGI’s future. REACH continues to evolve as a catalyst for change and a model of best practice for workplace inclusion in the UK and Australia.
