The Business Commission to Tackle Inequality (BCTI) welcomes two new members: Open for Business and Valuable 500

Geneva, 5 September 2024 – The Business Commission to Tackle Inequality (BCTI) is pleased to announce the addition of two prominent organizations, Open for Business and Valuable 500, to its expanding coalition. These new members bring a wealth of expertise and a shared commitment to addressing global inequalities, furthering BCTI’s mission to place social accountability and inclusive growth at the core of the business agenda.

BCTI is a cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder coalition, inviting leaders from over 80 organizations who are committed to raising ambition, taking action, and deepening corporate accountability to create equitable markets and a just transition. Over the next two years, the Commission will focus on catalyzing business action in key areas, including human rights, diversity and inclusion, living wages, and just transition efforts.

Open for Business joins BCTI with a strong mandate to advance LGBTQ+ rights globally. Since its launch in 2015, Open for Business has been instrumental in building a consensus among the global business community that anti-LGBTQ+ policies are detrimental to both business interests and economic development. The organization’s mission aligns seamlessly with BCTI’s goals of fostering inclusive societies and markets.

Dominic Arnall, Chief Executive Officer of Open for Business and newly appointed BCTI Commissioner

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“We believe in the power of business to deliver social value. Our task is to present the economic and business case on global LGBTQ+ inclusion, demonstrating that successful, enterprising businesses thrive in diverse, inclusive societies. We are excited to join the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality to redefine the role of business in creating a more equitable, prosperous landscape that empowers all individuals and communities”

Dominic Arnall Chief Executive Officer of Open for Business and newly appointed BCTI Commissioner

Valuable 500 also joins BCTI, bringing a focused commitment to ending disability exclusion in business. Representing a coalition of over 500 global partners, Valuable 500 works to ensure that the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities worldwide are fully included in the services and opportunities offered by businesses. Their Synchronised Collective Action approach is designed to drive systemic change and hold businesses accountable, ensuring that disability inclusion becomes a core element of corporate strategies.

Katy Talikowska Chief Executive Officer of Valuable 500 and newly appointed BCTI Commissioner

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"We are thrilled to join BCTI and be able to contribute further insights and knowledge to the diversity and inclusion agenda, in particular with our focus on disability inclusion. This collaboration with other business leaders can only help make the positive changes needed in business and across society. At the Valuable 500, we look forward to leveraging this partnership to create a more inclusive global business landscape."

Katy Talikowska Chief Executive Officer of Valuable 500 and newly appointed BCTI Commissioner

As BCTI continues to expand its reach and impact, the addition of Open for Business and Valuable 500 represents a significant step forward in the Commission’s efforts to address inequality on a global scale. By joining forces with these organizations, BCTI strengthens its capacity to drive change across diverse sectors, ensuring that the voices of all individuals and communities are heard and valued in the pursuit of a more just and equitable world.