At NW Natural, we believe inclusion is a daily practice, not a one-time initiative. We’ve strengthened our internal culture by embedding DEI into our values, leadership expectations, and employee experiences. Our DEI Council and Steering Committee provide strategic oversight, while our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) foster belonging across identities and roles. We’ve also expanded field engagement efforts to ensure inclusion reaches every corner of our workforce—from the corporate office to field operational teams.
We’re especially excited about our upcoming Employee Engagement Fair on June 10. This event will spotlight our ERGs and employee-led committees, offering all our employees a chance to connect, learn, and get involved. It’s a celebration of community and a reflection of our commitment to employee voice and leadership. We’re also proud of our Brews, Brats, and Bucks fundraiser, a cross-ERG collaboration that blends fun with purpose.
Equity is foundational to our DEI strategy. We’ve consciously broadened our search efforts, created opportunities for internships to reach potential employees we haven’t in the past, ensured equity is woven into our hiring practices, launched listening sessions with employees, and continued to communicate the ways that diversity, equity and inclusion help our employees, our customers and our company. Our procurement efforts and community partnerships further extend our equity commitments beyond our walls. Most importantly, we hold ourselves accountable through regular reviews and transparent communication to all levels in the company including employees, managers and our Board.
We have a great calendar of DEI-focused events:
May 30: AAPI Heritage Month celebration featuring South Korean culture.
June 5: Brews, Brats, and Bucks fundraiser.
June 10: Employee Engagement Fair hosted by the DEI Council.
These events are designed to foster connection, celebrate diversity, and deepen employee engagement.
As a founding and Diamond-level member of Partners in Diversity, NW Natural has benefited immensely from this partnership. A standout moment was our participation in the 2025 NW Equity Summit, where I participated on a panel with other leaders in the DEI space facilitated by Diane Lim and Kim Rush, our President of NW Natural, introduced keynote speaker Baratunde Thurston—a powerful moment that underscored our leadership in regional DEI conversations. Insights from Partners in Diversity have shaped our internal training and ERG strategy and provided ongoing learning and support for our work through their webinars, Breakfast for Champions events and Say Hey.
