Supporting Our Team

A Year of Transformative Action for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

2021 was a groundbreaking year for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at VHA. This work revolves around the drive to ensure all team members feel empowered, valued and are treated with respect. And that everyone at VHA has the tools they need to continue delivering high quality care to the diverse client populations we serve.

At the centre of this important work is Adam Benn, VHA’s Manager of DEI. Adam took on this inaugural position in the summer of 2021, and also assumed the role of co-chair of VHA’s Anti-Black Racism Action Group, which was launched in summer 2020.

“I see an opportunity for transformative change within the health care sector,” says Adam.

“My role is focused on championing, developing and bringing to life a strategy that supports and builds the foundation necessary for DEI practices and outcomes that will become integral components of VHA’s strategy, operations and culture.”

As co-chair of the Anti-Black Racism Action Group, Adam is leading our efforts in four key areas that make up VHA’s strong foundation for sustainable and impactful change: education and training, to enhance our anti-racism and allyship offerings and to create opportunities for open discussion; policy and communication, to critically examine our language and develop guidelines to promote and ensure inclusion; advocacy, to identify areas where VHA can influence systemic racism in our community; and data, to gather a better understanding of the diversity at VHA, report our results and identify strategies to further our DEI efforts.