Nancy Novak has been named Executive Sponsor of the Infrastructure Masons Digital Divide program. Access to internet connectivity is a critical element to almost every aspect of a person’s life, including educational opportunities, jobs, and access to healthcare. The digital divide is the difference in access to technology for different strata of our society and has been an issue for as long as digital infrastructure has existed.
The pandemic has exacerbated the digital divide and its consequences are even more severe now that the world is heavily relying on digital infrastructure.
“Not having access to technology or basic know-how is a major barrier to daily life.” says Dean Nelson, Founder & Chairman of Infrastructure Masons. “The pandemic has widened the digital divide. There are millions of unemployed people with limited access to education, health care and other forms of social support that digitally savvy people can easily take for granted. Nancy is a globally recognized advocate for increasing diversity and addressing inequalities in the technology and construction industries. We’re proud to have her leadership in this effort.”
Billions of people have gone on-line for work and to stay in touch during the pandemic, yet almost half of the world’s population still does not have access to the internet. Conversely, many of those who have access may not know how to use it.
“Nancy has a deep understanding of the digital divide as she shared at our recent global member summit.” said Charisse Richards, Co-Chair the iMasons Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “It is important to grasp the difference between equality and equity. Although both promote fairness, equality achieves this through treating everyone the same regardless of need, while equity achieves this through treating people differently depending on need.”
Nancy has over 30 years of experience in construction and has overseen the delivery of over $3.5 billion in projects during that time. She is also actively involved in a number of organizations dedicated to the advancement of women in business, including Women In Government Relations (WGR), Women Construction Owners and Executives (WCOE) and the World Trade Center Institute (WTCI). In addition, she is also a board member of the National Woman’s Party in Washington, D.C., which is committed to sharing the untold stories of women’s history, and she is a Visionary Champion for Above Glass Ceilings, a consulting company focused on advancement of professional women. Nancy is also the recipient of the iMasons 2020 D&I Champion Award.
ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE MASONS
Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a non-profit, professional association of technology and business leaders who represent over $150Bn in infrastructure projects in over 130 countries. The organization is guided by an Advisory Council composed of global leaders who manage some of the largest digital infrastructure portfolios in the world. The iMasons vision is to Unite the Builders of the Digital Age by enabling our global membership to Connect, Grow, and Give Back. Members leave their companies at the door and connect as individuals. IMasons has four strategic industry priorities – increase Awareness, enhance Education opportunities, champion Diversity & Inclusion, and inspire Sustainability through deep member engagement. Visit the website at www.imasons.or