London 2012 diversity manager wins Peter Robertson Award

2010 Tom Waddell Award winners Brent Nicholson Earle and Sara Waddell Lewinstein with Stephen Frost

Congratulations to Stephen!

Stephen Frost, Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, will be the third recipient of the annual Peter Robertson Award for Equality and Diversity Champions. Stephen will be honoured for his significant contributions to diversity and inclusion at two special receptions later in Washington, DC and London.

The Peter Robertson Award was created to recognise those 'unsung heroes' who - like Peter - demonstrate profound personal and professional commitment to the value that diversity and equality bring to their organisations and to their communities.

Candidates for the award were nominated by peers and co-workers in private and public sector organisations that belong to the Global Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion Networks, and nominations from around the world reflected the global nature of the ORC Networks business. The winner and finalists were selected by a panel of equality and diversity thought-leaders based on demonstrated overall success in their professional work over a substantial period of time, innovation in the field, dedication to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and leadership. Announcing the panel’s decision to award the honour to Stephen, Patrice Hall Global Leader Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Practice noted his longstanding work in the areas of disability, age, and gay and lesbian rights, his strong collaboration with community and industry groups for the benefit of the economically disadvantaged, and his entrepreneurial style that breaks down boundaries and enables real change, even in unreceptive environments.

The award selection panel was made up of Anne Watts, CBE, Chair of NHS Appointments Commission, UK; Frank Quevedo, retired Vice President of Equal Opportunity for Southern California Edison, US, and recipient of the first Peter Robertson Award; Rory Mullett, retired Vice President of ORC Worldwide’s Equal Opportunities Practice, US, and a longtime colleague of Peter Robertson; Surinder Sharma, National Director for Equality and Human Rights, The Department of Health, UK; and Patrice Hall, Global Leader Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice, Mercer.

The Peter Robertson Award is named in honour of the late Peter C. Robertson, who dedicated his life to furthering diversity in organisations and championing the rights of all employees to contribute fully. He chaired ORC Worldwide’s Equal Opportunity Group and, during his 12-year tenure with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, played a key role in preparing the Uniform Selection Guidelines that regulate how US employers might test and select employees, as well as guidelines on affirmative action, sex/pregnancy discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination. Robertson was a trusted advisor to equality officials in the Canadian government and was instrumental in starting networks for equality and diversity professionals in Canada and the UK.