Sarah Dickins wins Most Inclusive Chief People Officer in Retail at InclusionIn Awards

Our very own Sarah Dickins has been crowned the "Most Inclusive Chief People Officer in Retail" accolade at the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Awards, hosted by InclusionIn.

The awards ceremony, powered by WiHTL & Diversity in Retail, took place on the 5^th of November at the spectacular Indigo at the O2. This landmark event brought together the leaders, changemakers and allies driving EDI in the Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail (HTL) sectors.

 Since joining Central Co-op in late 2021, Sarah Dickins has led transformative efforts to embed EDI into the Society's core values and practices. Her leadership has driven a comprehensive culture shift, known as “Difference Makers," which empowers colleagues to co-create an environment that emphasises respect, inclusion and a true sense of belonging. This initiative has significantly increased colleague engagement and reduced turnover.

Sarah’s impact extends across the Society and beyond. Under her leadership, we launched two key EDI initiatives in 2024: inclusion networks and an inclusive leadership program. These networks provide vital platforms for underrepresented voices, with each executive team member acting as a sponsor. The inclusive leadership program has also received praise across the Society for promoting a deep understanding of EDI principles, featuring renowned speaker René Carayol at our annual conference.

Sarah, who has recently been appointed as Chief Operating Officer - Food, Member and Customer, reflects on the award: "I am incredibly honoured to receive this award and share it with all the Difference Makers at Central Co-op who have been part of our journey to build an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. Inclusion is about everyone having a voice and being valued for who they are, and I am proud of the progress we’ve made together. There is always more to do, and I’m excited for the Society to continue driving real, meaningful change alongside our inspiring teams.”

We were also named as finalists in other categories, including Most Inclusive CEO in Retail for Debbie Robinson, Most Outstanding EDI Professional of the Year in Retail for Naomi Smith, and Most Progress in EDI Maturity Curve 2023-24, further underscoring the Society’s commitment to inclusive practices.

The recognition of Sarah at InclusionIn’s EDI Awards represents a significant milestone in our mission to lead with equity, diversity and inclusion at our core, championing an environment where every colleague feels they belong.

The EDI Awards celebrate the individuals, teams and organisations making strides in EDI initiatives, recognising outstanding dedication to creating more inclusive workplaces. As Tea Colaianni, Founder and Chair of InclusionIn, highlighted: "Receiving over 200 entries in our inaugural year is a powerful testament to the dedication and depth of commitment to advancing inclusion across the industry. Each winner represents a gold standard of excellence in their category, embodying an unwavering passion and desire to drive real change."

Congratulation to Sarah and all the winners and finalists at last night's awards!