Innovative pharmaceutical multinational Pfizer is successfully championing and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the business. The strides it has made in achieving gender diversity at board and executive committee level, as well as its partnership with Unjani Clinic NPC were recognised at the 10th Gender Mainstreaming Awards held on 6 October 2022. 

Johannesburg, 11 October 2022. Innovative pharmaceutical multinational Pfizer was recognised for championing and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within its business at the 2022 Gender Mainstreaming Awards held last night.

Business Engage’s Gender Mainstreaming Awards continue to be a key instrument and advocate for the meaningful inclusion and representation of women within business and the private sector. 

The various award categories recognise the successful case studies, strategies and best practices implemented by private sector companies in their drives to embrace gender mainstreaming and seam it into their respective organisational fabrics. 

“For corporate entities, simply paying lip service to diversity, equity and inclusion can no longer suffice,” explains Kevin Francis, Country Manager Pfizer SA and Cluster Lead SSA. 

“Diversity is just as crucial to building a successful business as it is to building a vibrant culture. At Pfizer, we realise that means not just attracting the best and brightest talent, but also ensuring that our colleagues can thrive in an environment where we champion diversity, equity and inclusion every single day, all around the world.”

2022 Gender Mainstreaming Award Categories

At Pfizer, our holistic commitment to advancing gender diversity, women empowerment and inclusion stretches from the corporate office and senior management, to nurses on the ground treating patients and people working in our research and development facilities. 

It is with great pride that we celebrate the awarding of the GMA 2022 overall category winner in the Women on Executive Committees in Multinationals category. This is awarded to multinationals that have improved the gender diversity of their boards and senior management committees. 

Anne Dembah, Pfizer Country Manager, Kenya and Cluster Lead East Africa is the category winner in the Inclusive Leader Award for East Africa. This is in recognition of her remarkable leadership and mentorship, with special emphasis on gender diversity and inclusion. 

Commenting on the recognition, Anne said, “It is indeed an honour and I am humbled by this accolade. More importantly, it is a testament to the work that Pfizer as an organization has been doing over the years in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space in ensuring that everyone is seen, heard, and respected for who they are.” 

Pfizer was also awarded for its partnership with Unjani Clinic Non Profit Company (NPC) in the categories of Empowerment of Women in the Community and Economic Empowerment. These awards recognise organisations that positively impact womens’ lives in the poorest and most underserved communities, and efforts to foster and develop the entrepreneurial spirit of women through inclusive supply chain management, enterprise development and other sustainable practices respectively. 

“At Pfizer, we strive to be among the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies. The recognition received from the GMAs is humbling and serves as encouragement that we are on the right trajectory and tracking well in key DEI areas for South Africa,” says Francis.

“In addition, we are honoured to be recognised for our support of Unjani Clinic NPC, which is doing incredible work throughout South Africa to enhance skills and provide income opportunities aimed at eradicating poverty and equitably distributing resources, specifically in the healthcare sector.”