The Ethics Task Force (ETF) of IAMCR recently hosted the workshop Creating and Sustaining an Ethical and Safe Environment. This interactive session builds on the development of IAMCR’s Code of Conduct and was designed for IAMCR leadership, including the heads of Sections and Working Groups (SWGs) and newly elected officers. The workshop provided a coaching space to reflect on how to implement, lead, and role-model ethical and inclusive practices in both online and in-person events, workshops, and discussions.
The session was facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Adams (CMgr), founder of Scafell Coaching and a research culture consultant in higher education. It was attended by 17 members, representing the SWGs heads and the ETF. Participants explored how to identify and overcome the barriers individuals may face when raising concerns or contributing ideas during conferences or other IAMCR events. Discussions addressed the practicalities of responding to ethical challenges, evaluating whether the Code of Conduct and other initiatives are fostering the inclusive and respectful environment the association aspires to, and navigating privilege, cognitive bias, and structural inequities.
The workshop fostered action-oriented conversations relevant to both individual SWGs and IAMCR as a whole. Topics included hierarchy and deference, accessibility, funding and finance, language barriers, freedom of speech, and gender inclusion. Participants engaged in collective brainstorming and concluded with reflective strategies for building a safer, more equitable, and ethically grounded association.
This initiative was supported by the IAMCR Committee and Task Force Project Fund.
Links:
https://iamcr.org/taskforce-ethics
https://iamcr.org/singapore2025/code-of-conduct
https://www.scafellcoaching.com/
https://iamcr.org/ctf_fund