Top scientist celebrates gains in STEM gender diversity, but tells IWD event that equity is still a long way off.
Debora Jackson FGIA, Dr Eileen Doyle and Professor Bronwyn Harch.
Some predict we’ll have hotels in space, humans on Mars, and brain enhancements all before we reach global gender equality and equity.
Professor Bronwyn Harch, QLD Acting Chief Scientist.
Around 120 guests attended the Governance Institute International Women’s Day event at Customs House in Brisbane to hear insights from Professor Bronwyn Harch, Interim Chief Scientist for Queensland, and Santos Director Dr Eileen Doyle.
In her keynote speech, Professor Harch celebrated the hard-won gains made by women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
‘I am in good company as four of the six Chief Scientists in Australia are women,’ Professor Harch said.
‘When I look at leaders in Queensland’s tertiary institutes, six of the eight universities have a woman as Vice-Chancellor. The State’s ministers for science, STEM education and the digital economy are all women.’
Professor Harch said more women in senior roles created the conditions for greater diversity, innovation and productivity.
However, Professor Harch warned that despite progress, women remain under-represented in key decision-making roles across almost all industries in the Australian workforce.
‘While women make up more than half the number of employees in Australia, they comprise only 19 percent of CEOs; 32 percent of key management positions; 33 percent of board members and, abysmally, only 18 percent of board chairs.’
‘Some predict we’ll have hotels in space, humans on Mars, and brain enhancements all before we reach global gender equality and equity,’ she said.
Time for a mind shift
Santos Director, Dr Eileen Doyle said organisations that fostered an abundance mindset grounded in good governance principles were better positioned to combat complex challenges.
‘If we understand it is and not or that solves our most challenging problems and continues to encourage the innovators, we will all get there quicker.’
‘The megatrends that converge on our changing world create amazing complexity. They create a recognition that to adapt is the only solution,’ Dr Doyle said.
Active listening the key to mastering equity
Professor Harch commended the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day – Embrace equity – and said it was one that resonated strongly with her.
‘We need to get beyond equality and embrace equity to ensure we are giving everyone what is needed to be successful – particularly women.’
‘In the workplace, I have found it is important to not only pursue ‘best practice’ approaches for achieving equity, but to also be listening for opportunities to achieve equity for staff when stories of inequity are being told.’
More Governance Institute women’s networking events will be held in the other capital cities from 27 – 29 March.