Governance Institute marks International Women’s Day with a series of luncheons across the country
In the wake of the first Gender Pay Gap report, this year’s International Women’s Day seemed to have a greater urgency than in recent years as it’s clear that there is still a significant road ahead for many Australian companies to improve outcomes for female workers.
Recent data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reveals that the gender pay gap in Australia is 19 per cent less on average, with some organisations seeing far larger disparity across the workforce.
These statistics underscore the ongoing challenges faced by women and the urgent need for collective action to address gender inequality.
At our annual IWD events, attendees in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin gathered to hear from an amazing array of panellists who shared their paths to success, highlighting the tough challenges and providing special insights into their respective careers.
In Sydney, the line-up included notable speakers such as Holly Kramer, Non-executive Director at ANZ Group Holdings and Woolworths Group; Tracy Morgan, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee at Wesley Mission and Melissa Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Gandangara Land Council.
(Governance Institute’s International Women’s Day event in Sydney)
The panel shared their stories with Governance Institute’s Chair, Pauline Vamos, FGIA FCG, discussing the importance of a supportive pipeline for the next generation of women leaders and how change must come from the top, with all speakers fierce advocates for gender equality and diversity on boards and in executive roles.
In Brisbane, Tracey Lake, Chief People Officer, Great Southern Bank; Matt Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, Northstar Energy; Katie Whittle, General Manager Engineering & Execution, Shell Offshore Wind and Gail Creighton Davies, Transformation Consultant and Founder of the G8 Ladies spoke with Loretta Bayliss, Founder & Chief Executive, Prescience Group about the importance of visible support for those who call out inequity and the power of small actions and curiosity.
(Governance Institute’s International Women’s Day event in Brisbane)
Katie Moore, General Manager, Policy, Research & Strategic Programs, Reconciliation Australia; Clare Gleghorn, Chief Executive Officer, Bastion Reputation; Kimberly Randle, CEO, Fair Supply and Brooke Haigh, Company Secretary, Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) were at the Melbourne event sharing raw and honest details about their professional and lived experience.
Through engaging conversations and shared insights, the International Women’s Day events aim to galvanise leaders across industries to champion gender diversity, foster inclusive workplaces, and drive positive change towards a more equitable future for all.
To all the directors, executives, professionals, and attendees who joined us, we hope you enjoyed the company and gained some important insights from these inspirational conversations.