Inclusion isn’t enough: making diversity real in governance

Ashrit Nand MInstD

At just 21, Ashrit Nand MInstD has already carved out a path in governance, advocacy and leadership. Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, his perspective has been shaped by his lived experience as a queer person of colour.  

Nand’s parent immigrated from Fiji, and he has both Indian and Chinese heritage, which has shaped his values and outlook. He feels grateful that his parents responded with openness when he came out to them at the age of 14.  

 “It was early, but it felt natural. I was lucky because my parents were incredibly supportive and said, ‘As long as you’re happy with who you are.’ That made all the difference,” he says.  

By 16, he became involved in various student leadership and advocacy spaces, wanting to be part of change, rather than waiting for it, and by 18, he took on a director role at Out@AUT, a trust supporting the rainbow community and allies at the Auckland University of Technology, alongside serving on the AUTSA Student Representative Council.  

Today, Nand continues working in the wider student support space, but he says he is discovering challenges along the way – both internal and external – that raise questions about purpose and staying the course when things get tough.  

“Being queer and brown, especially in governance spaces, can feel like you’re constantly navigating expectations. It can be isolating,” he says.  

Early in his governance journey, Nand found himself conflicted about how to balance board roles, advocacy and a day job while staying true to his sense of purpose. That, he says, created a tension that saw him questioning whether being “queer and brown is holding me back – can I actually make a difference?”

But while that was destabilising, instead of backing away from advocacy he chose to lean in by becoming a student advocate. Now, he chairs the Labour Party executive committee in Takanini.

“I realised I’m more drawn to the advisory and consultancy side of governance. I love bringing perspectives to the table, especially those that aren’t always heard,” says Nand, who wants to encourage more young, queer people to enter governance spaces.

But he says there are still barriers to entry.  

“Many young people don’t even know what governance is or how to get involved. Students are already doing the work – they’re running clubs, organising events. These are governance skills. We just need to connect the dots,” he says.  

While many boards are working to improve diversity, Nand says diverse voices are critical to building strategies that are authentic and truly inclusive because “lip service won’t cut it”.  

“Empathy and openness contribute to inclusive spaces and this needs to be ‘felt’ by people when they enter an organisation or boardroom. Simply stating it isn’t enough. That means when you’re building initiatives, it’s not just about inclusion, but about making people feel genuinely welcome,” he says.  

Nand’s advice to young rainbow leaders interested in pursuing advocacy through governance is to “lead with your skills first, not just your identity”.

“Your voice and experience speak for themselves. Your queer identity is part of you, but it doesn’t need to be the headline. Let it be an add-on, not a label.”

Nand sees himself continuing in governance and focusing on ‘impact’ with a broad interest in NGOs and regulatory boards.  

“I love the mission-driven space. It’s where I feel I can bring my full self to the table. I work and study full-time – it’s hectic, but governance is refreshing. It’s where I can breathe and contribute meaningfully.” 

Interested in building more inclusive and effective governance? The IoD Rainbow Directors’ Network connects directors and governance professionals who support and champion LGBTQIA+ representation in the boardroom. Learn more here.