The strategy is about engaging leaders with power. We know that women’s activism is largely responsible for, and remains essential to, progress on gender equality. However, the levers of power in nations and in organisations today, still largely rest in the hands of men. This strategy recognises that gender equality is not only a women’s, but also a critical business, economic, social and human rights issue
Research consistently shows that diversity drives business performance – companies with top quartile gender and ethnic diversity outperform peers by 21% and 33%, respectively. Research also shows that CEO commitment is the largest driver of gender equality outcomes. Companies are 22% more likely to have at least 15% women at the C-level when the CEO actively monitors diversity and inclusion programs.
Global studies, however, find that CEO action is still lagging. Only 24% of women and 38% of men see senior leaders communicate the importance of gender diversity. Only 18% of women and 26% of men say that progress is measured and shared across their company.
When our coalition was formed in 2010, men led the vast majority of organisations in Australia. The idea was to seek their support to shift this system for the future. Today, while more women are CEOs and hold key executive positions, we still need men leaders actively engaged – working equally and alongside women leaders – to achieve our goals for gender equality in the workplace.
