How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?  

The initiatives aiming at fostering a more inclusive and equitable work environment transcend the legal department. Although conceived in the Legal team, when LGBT+ members of the legal team approached me in 2018 to support the inclusion of the LGBT+ community in Frontera´s Diversity and Inclusion corporate policy, the idea not only materialised via such inclusion but later on derived in Frontera receiving  the Friendly Biz certification from the LGBT Chamber of Businesses of Colombia for being a friendly business with the LGBTQ+ community. 

Prioritising diversity and inclusion in the legal team comes naturally. Not only does Frontera have all the corporate governance mechanisms in place to do so, but it encourages (and follows up) their implementation.  The legal team together with the human talent team led the efforts by empowering all members of the team to lead and take actions to ensure its diversity and inclusion policies are truly lived.  In the case of the legal team, a close and respectful relationship is the basis of teamwork.  No difference is made concerning gender, sexual orientation or alike.  Mothers and fathers are allowed and encouraged to have a balance in their personal and professional lives.  Since the very beginning of the evaluation of potential candidates, the process is carried out to minimize unconscious biases by having interview panels composed by diverse employees, making tests to candidates without interviewers or decision makers knowing who obtained which grade.   

In terms of gender equality, Frontera has spearheaded initiatives in the oil and gas industry which was, and to some extent continues to be, known for being trapped in stereotypes.  Both in our offices and fields women have leading positions and roles that formerly were either, mostly or solely, done by men.  To exemplify, Frontera implemented a program whereby women are encouraged to drive tank trucks which transport crude from the oil fields to pipelines, ports or downloading and storage facilities.  Frontera has also trained women in oil and gas technical tasks to work in hydrocarbon fields.  

In order to align its efforts with international initiatives, Frontera trained women in the communities in which it operates by training them in the development of leadership skills. This effort is aligned with UNICEF 2018-2021 Plan for Gender Equality. Frontera also works with 93 Sikuani women to improve the quality of their handicrafts together with Artesanías de Colombia, so that handicrafts have better opportunities to position locally and the artisans can generate income for their families to improve their livelihood.  

Amongst the multiple recognition of Frontera , in 2022 and 2023, we were listed in the 20 Best Places to Work in Colombia. 

Members of the legal teams are often invited to talk about the above initiatives which they do with pride. Nothing is more fulfilling that hearing them talk with conviction and passion about how Frontera lives diversity and inclusion.