Men to push case for gender equality
Monday, April 19th, 2010A new grouping of male CEOs and company chairmen will work to raise the issue of gender equality on the national business agenda. The men will develop and drive strategies to progress gender equality in the corporate sector.
Formation of the group followed ASX Corporate Governance Council recommendations on diversity, requiring each ASX listed entity to adopt and disclose a diversity policy which includes measurable objectives relating to gender. The reforms are due to be implemented in July 2011.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, who established the group at a meeting in Sydney last week, said that the men’s commitment and enthusiasm “will be one of the most significant factors in achieving success and building momentum toward the adoption of the ASX council reforms”.
Commenting, Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said that the way for women to get ahead in business was by being competent, committed and loyal. But they also had to get along with their colleagues, join in, go along to the pub, and be interested in what people did.
The new group consists of:
-
· Glen Boreham, managing director, IBM Australia and New Zealand
-
· Gordon Cairns, non-executive director, Westpac and Origin Energy
-
· Robert Elstone, managing director and CEO, Australian Securities Exchange
-
· Stephen Fitzgerald, co-CEO and managing director, Goldman Sachs JBWere
-
· Michael Luscombe, managing director and CEO, Woolworths Ltd
-
· Kevin McCann, chair/ non-executive director of various boards including Origin Energy Ltd, Macquarie Bank Ltd, Australian Institute of Company Directors
-
· Stephen Roberts, CEO, Citi Institutional Clients Group, Australia and New Zealand
-
· Giam Swiegers, CEO, Deloitte Touche Tomasu, Australia
-
· David Thodey, managing director and CEO, Telstra Ltd
Have your say: Will men driving the gender agenda make a difference? Should it make a difference?
[rating]
