The UK’s professional songwriter’s association, the Ivors Academy, has achieved parity in gender representation across its academy and trust boards for the first time in the organisation’s history.These boards provide leadership and represent the interests of UK songwriters and its charitable trust. The appointment of classical composers Hannah Peel and Kevin Sargent officially established this long desired ambition of equal gender representation.
Emily Saunders, board director and chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion steering group, said: “I’m delighted that we have reached this point and I would like to thank all our directors and trustees for their commitment to championing equality at the Academy and across the music industry. Our members deserve and expect a gender-balanced, representative and inclusive Academy and trustee board to represent their perspectives and interests.
The @IvorsAcademy achieves gender balance on its Boards .
Don’t just talk Equality, Diversity & Inclusion….Do it.
To speak for all voices , Music must speak with all voices…..more to do but proud we’re getting there.
https://t.co/2Hkbxco5FM— Crispin Hunt (@crispinhunt) February 22, 2021
“This is one step of many that we are committed to taking to make sure we are fully diverse and inclusive across everything do. Diverse life experiences, identities and backgrounds bring diverse thinking and new ways of seeing the world, that creates a stronger Academy for all music creators.”
The Ivors Academy committed itself to championing equality, diversity and inclusion after publishing a 12-point action plan in July of last year. Within the manifesto, the organisation outlined the ambition for 50% representation of both genders on its boards. Improving the protection and management characteristics of collected data also featured within the plan, as well as providing equality and diversity training to staff and board members, and providing more support and guidance to improve accessibility when entering awards ceremonies.
Earlier this month the Ivors relaunched the Academy Trust with a line-up of new trustees, described by the he organisation as “an important call to action for increased support for the songwriters, composers and musicians hit hardest by the pandemic and a lack of opportunity”.
Ivors Academy CEO Graham Davies said: “I am delighted to announce the relaunch of The Ivors Academy Trust with an amazing board of talented trustees and ambition to sustain music creators.
“This is an important time for the music industry to increase the level of support it gives to creators. We must throw a lifeline to our talent pipeline on which our industry depends. The Ivors Academy can grow and develop our creative community if we get support to scale the education, development, mentoring, training and support we can provide. This is vital work.”
