“…A range of diversity initiatives have been reported in the literature, including, but not limited to, gender mainstreaming, diversity hiring, diversity management and diversity training. Few of the diversity initiatives however are found to be effective in combating discrimination or creating inclusive organisations (Ballard et al 2020 ; Hiranandani 2012 ). Reported issues include, but are not limited to, the co-optation of the equity agenda by the business agenda (Ely and Meyerson 2000 ; Mirchandani and Butler 2006 ), and an essentialised approach to identity (D’Cruz 2007 ; Zanoni et al 2010 ) which denies the social constructedness of race, class and gender etc..…”