Summary: <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Diversity is widely celebrated in contemporary society. Big employers have adopted elaborate strategies to recruit more diverse workforces. On the world stage, diversity is posited as a progressive antidote to ‘backward forces’ clinging to outdated national cultures. But has diversity become an illiberal orthodoxy? When Google engineer James Damore notoriously inquired whether diversity was an incontestable virtue, he lost his job. Do diversity policies invite a permanent war of cultures, resulting in a society increasingly segmented along the lines of identity? Can we achieve fair treatment and equal access to jobs without creating discriminatory and divisive hiring practices?</span></p><br> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SPEAKERS</span></strong></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">JOSIE APPLETON</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">director, civil liberties group, Manifesto Club; author, <em>Officious: rise of the busybody state</em>; blogs at notesonfreedom.com</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">AMALI DE ALWIS</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">CEO, Code First: Girls; chair, BIMA Diversity panel; fellow, RSA</span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">DREDA SAY MITCHELL</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">author, journalist, broadcaster and campaigner; winner, CWA’s John Creasey Dagger for debut novel, <em>Running Hot</em>; latest</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">novel, <em>Blood Daughter</em></span></p><br> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">CATHY YOUNG</span><br><span style="font-size: 12pt;">US journalist and commentator; weekly columnist, Newsday; author, <em>Ceasefire!</em></span></p>
