Femmes Designers (‘we’ ‘us’ ‘our’), strive to provide a respectful, safe and welcoming environment to all our members, speakers, contributors, patrons, partners, suppliers, and beneficiaries (‘Femmes Designers Community’ ‘you’) and others who may come into contact with us through our activities including staff and contractors.

Purpose

• The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to set out the behavioural expectations of those involved in the Femmes Designers Community and to specify our policies and procedures for responding to complaints about conduct that does not comply with this Code. It also covers how a complaint under this Code should be brought to our attention.

• We believe that everyone in the Femmes Designers Community should be treated with dignity and respect and be able to interact without fear of discrimination or other forms of abuse. We will not tolerate bullying or harassment of any kind.

• This Code of Conduct applies to everyone in the Femmes Designers Community. It applies while you are a participant of the Femmes Designers Community’ and covers behaviour that occurs within the context of your activities and dealings with members of the Femmes Designers Community (including us) as well as outside of it, if relevant (as determined by us).

Minimum expected standards

You agree to, as applicable to your role in the Femmes Designers Community:

• Maintain the highest standards of professional endeavour, integrity, confidentiality and financial proprietary;

• Ensure that all conduct is honest, fair, equal, non-discriminatory and law abiding;

• Apply the same professional standards regardless of an individual’s gender, race, ethnicity, religion or beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or age;

• Adhere to our and any other relevant organisation’s arrangements, rules, procedures and functions and not to commit or be party to any act or omission (including any fraudulent or dishonest act) that results or may result in a breach of these;

• Not partake in any activity or behaviour that amounts to professional misconduct;

• Ensure that the good name and reputation of the Femmes Designers is not brought into disrepute through professional or personal actions or direct or indirect comments, howsoever communicated (including online);

• Ensure safe working environments, free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

• Unless agreed otherwise specifically in writing, maintain absolute confidentiality of our sensitive, valuable or confidential information (unless specifically agreed otherwise in writing) and not to disclose or authorise to be disclosed or use for personal gain or to benefit a third party any of our confidential information;

‘Prohibited Conduct’ inconsistent with the standards expected of participants of the Femmes Designers Community’ includes:

• Lying, fraud or bribery;

• Harassment or discrimination;

• Sexual harassment or sexual assault;

• Violence

• Bullying;

• Theft (including of intellectual property);

• Other criminal conduct;

• Misuse of the Femmes Designers name, logo or affiliation.

  The list of Prohibited Conduct above is indicative and not exhaustive and represents the minimum of what we expect from the Femmes Designers Community.

Reporting misconduct

Any individual who wishes to report misconduct by a participant of the Femmes Designers Community’ should contact us in writing. To do this, please e-mail contact@femmesdesigners.com

Individuals may request confidentiality when reporting misconduct. We will respect privacy and confidentiality if reasonably possible, but it may not always be possible including if there is significant risk of harm or where legal obligations require otherwise.

Investigating reports of misconduct

We will decide in our discretion whether it is appropriate for any investigation to be undertaken following receipt of a misconduct report (except if required otherwise by law, such as in the case of criminal activity).

Consequences of failure to comply with this Code

Any failure to comply with this Code of Conduct will be taken seriously, and we may consider taking steps in response, where appropriate.

Any decision by us relating to redress and/or sanction will be proportionate to the seriousness of the misconduct and may, without limitation (and if applicable), include warnings or an official reprimand, exclusion from the Femmes Designers Community, temporary suspension or permanent cessation of grant funding, removal of membership, refused access to our events, cessation of commercial partnerships, termination of contracts underpinning our relationship and, where appropriate or required by law, formal reporting to the authorities.

Criminal activity will be dealt with in accordance with applicable laws.