The first quarter was a particularly busy period for the SAGE team with several Strategic Plan priority actions completed in the opening months of 2022.

Throughout January and February, we saw a strong uptake in renewals with 43 institutions renewing their subscription to SAGE.

It is heartening to see the sector’s continued commitment to, and championing of, the SAGE accreditation program. I would like to thank our subscribers for continuing to demonstrate leadership in advancing gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the higher education and research sector.

During the first quarter of 2022, we launched the inaugural Heads of Institution Forum and the new SAGE website to strengthen our engagement with SAGE subscribers and stakeholders. The Forum will inform SAGE’s future strategic directions while the new SAGE website provides improved access to SAGE news and resources.

In April SAGE hosted its first fully virtual conference, Diversity Interventions 2022 SAGE, in partnership with Advance HE and Oxford University.

Special thanks to our conference speakers, panellists, and presenters for generously dedicating their time and expertise to this event, and for engaging in such constructive and open discussions throughout the two-day program.

I would also like to personally acknowledge and thank all conference delegates for their participation and engagement in each of the presentation sessions and workshops. Your active participation not only enriched our event but helped to shape and grow evidence-based solutions for gender equity, diversity and inclusion.

Applications for the first SAGE Cygnet Awards are now open. It is promising to see so many institutions making progress on their journey to advance gender equity, diversity and inclusion. I look forward to announcing the outcomes of the first SAGE Cygnet Award applications in the coming months.