The Home Office Gender Equality Network (GEN) was re-launched by Kerry O’Dea and Jason Ghaboos (Co-Chairs) in April 2019. They established a core team, a diverse group of over 25 passionate volunteers from all across the Home Office. 

GEN takes a programmatic approach, initiating a series of pilots and projects aimed at improving workplace inclusivity for all staff and embedding gender equality in everything the department does. GEN take an evidence led approach to pilot new initiatives and ways of working, drawing from departmental data, surveys and focus groups with staff, with a strong focus on outcomes. 

GEN focus on the personal development of our team, supporting each other to achieve our goals. GEN doesn’t recognise grade structures- the most junior grade can be working on the highest profile project. 

Since 2019 GEN has delivered:

•Jason Ghaboos was seconded to Murray College, University of Cambridge to take forward ground-breaking research on workplace inclusion, 'Collaborating with Men'. The research has featured in Forbes magazine and Jason undertook outreach with stakeholders including: Number 10, Cabinet Office, the Government of Jersey, ONS, GCHQ and more.

•GEN developed a new Gender Action Plan for the department with an intersectional approach, considering how different protected characteristics are interconnected, recognising the importance of how this relates to our workplace culture.

•GEN delivered the first ever Home Office intersectional event in March for 250 staff, celebrating the Civil Service Year of Inclusion and bringing together all the staff support networks. 

• Working with HR and all the staff support networks, GEN led an intersectional and collaborative approach to establish Exit Interviews for the department, delivering one survey for all staff, covering all the protected characteristics. 

•Established a project on imposter syndrome, almost 100 staff members have benefited from training sessions, a discussion forum, and key note speaker events.