Advisory Councils
Advisory Councils
A variety of internal and external advisory groups serve important roles in ORNL’s DEIA strategy. Each gathers DEIA feedback on a Lab-wide level and provides input to the DEIA council and ORNL leadership on a regular basis.
ORNL’s DEIA Council
This ORNL team continues to evolve as DEIA needs do, with membership expanding to key Lab groups that can best connect the council with DEIA working groups across the organization and create a “hub and spoke” model that is useful for advancing pilots, sharing successes, and enhancing uniform implementation of DEIA strategies. Team members consult with managers, groups, and employees to address diversity in our workforce and in our contractual, small business, and technology transfer relationships.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
ERGs provide feedback to Laboratory leadership on workplace challenges and workplace sentiment, including DEIA and culture. The ERGs are a trusted and established mechanism to facilitate up and down communication throughout the Laboratory.
ORNL’s Science Advisory Board (SAB)
SAB meets annually to review the Laboratory’s S&T programs and provide feedback that guides the institution’s strategic plans, including DEIA. The SAB is composed of members from the UT-Battelle S&T Committee, directorate advisory committee chairs, and nationally recognized experts in S&T and policy.
National Laboratory Chief Diversity Officers Council (NLCDO)
NLCDO is a working group composed of the Chief Diversity Officers and other representatives who are responsible for the DEIA function at their respective laboratory. The purpose of the NLCDO is to amplify the labs’ ability to share best practices, determine ways to get economies of scale for common challenges, and establish a strong communications forum across the national laboratory complex.
UT-Battelle (ORNL’s management and operating contractor) Board of Governors
The UT-Battelle Board of Governors receives regular DEIA updates from ORNL leadership. The Board, in turn, provides feedback and recommendations on the progress and initiatives.
Battelle’s DEI Community of Practice
Battelle’s DEI Community of Practice is a working group for sharing best practices and developing tools to collectively advance DEIA at each respective national laboratory represented by Battelle, including ORNL.
