A champion of diversity in the energy sector has welcomed progress across the industry following this year’s Grampian Pride event – while acknowledging that there is much hard work still to be done.

Kim Sabate, HR Solutions Partner and Pride@Work Leader for global energy technology company Baker Hughes, said huge strides have been made across diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) - not only in Aberdeen - but globally.

"We as a community and a sector have achieved so much," she explained. "But we need to continue to communicate and engage, put more effort into initiatives across the energy industry, and then translate those strategies into concrete and meaningful actions."

Kim, 33 years old, has been supporting Grampian Pride since 2019 and was heavily involved in the planning, promotion and selecting the merchandise for this year's event in Aberdeen.

"Baker Hughes has been a great supporter of Pride over the years but I am, of course, always challenging senior leaders and others to find new avenues of engagement," she said. 

"That extends to customers and the wider Baker Hughes family, because the value of participation – across the LGBT community, within the energy industry in Aberdeen, in Scotland and globally, and for the business sector as a whole – is significant."

As an Asian-transwoman, Kim has been leading by example since arriving in the UK in 2017. 

"I transitioned at age 22 in the Philippines and found the confidence and support necessary to share my journey with the full backing of Baker Hughes," she said. "I am happy to say our company culture is absolutely committed to supporting individuals regardless of race, gender or identity. "

A range of initiatives developed by Kim reflect that reality. A very successful Gender Transition Toolkit, designed to assist managers and people leaders support and understand employees who are transitioning gender, is being revised in its second iteration and will soon be rolled out globally across Baker Hughes.

Pronoun protocols developed by Kim have also been key: explaining why they matter, why they are so important, and why their routine inclusion on signatures is such a big step forward for an industry that now includes DEI as an important element of culture alongside health and safety.

Participation in the in-house Future Female Leader initiative was also rewarding. "These types of initiatives are quite important in our industry which, despite great strides, can still be male-dominated," she said. "Taking active steps to improve diversity can demonstrate that success in the energy industry is not dependent on your gender."

Improvements are also being developed and implemented across benefits and policies for transgender and other minorities, said Kim, with the direct input of the company's Employee Resource Group of which she is a member. All of this fantastic activity led to Kim winning The OEUK Award for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion last year.

From a more personal point of view, her advice for anyone in a similar position is to be open and to communicate.

"Coming out is very personal," she said. "Look around, observe your environment and, if you think you are in an environment where you will be supported, then that can be the right situation to speak your truth. I was fortunate to find that from Baker Hughes, and I have definitely felt the company's support – all the way up to senior leadership and chief executives."

Above all else, and reflecting the values and ethos of Grampian Pride and the wider movement, Kim stressed the importance of respect.

She said: "It is essential that people keep an open mind, that they communicate and share experiences, and that they educate themselves about the crucial issues of diversity, equality, and inclusion. At the root of all of those is respect.

"This has been my experience at Baker Hughes. And that is my hope going forward for each individual, in every company, and across all industries."

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Baker Hughes