TRIEC says thank you to Zabeen Hirji

TRIEC paid tribute to one of its most longstanding and valued supporters at a special event today.

Zabeen Hirji is retiring from her role as Chief Human Resources Officer at RBC following an outstanding 40-year career with the bank. She has been Chair of the TRIEC Council since 2009.

TRIEC honoured Hirji for her leadership of the Council at its annual Council Meeting. The Honourable Ratna Omidvar, TRIEC’s Chair Emerita and one of our founders, gave a special speech in which she thanked her long-time colleague and collaborator for her championship of diversity and inclusion in the Canadian labour market.

Senator Omidvar also led an onstage conversation with Hirji about her work, and her vision about what still needs to be done to continue moving the needle on building inclusive workplaces.

“When you have those opportunities and platform it is your duty to drive positive change, and I have been in the privileged position to be able to elevate the issue of immigrant inclusion in Canada,” Hirji said.

“An inclusive workplace is at the core of a human capital strategy.  However, moving the needle is about more than organizational policy – change happens one person at a time. Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice – and we all need to choose it again and again.”

TRIEC Executive Director Margaret Eaton said: –

“During her time with the Royal Bank, Zabeen has been a tireless advocate for the talent that immigrants bring to our region – and the need to leverage this talent. She has brought high level attention to this issue, and we are so grateful to have worked with her. We look forward to the next steps we will take in our partnership.”

Zabeen Hirji will continue her collaboration with TRIEC in future in a new capacity, to be announced in 2018.