Facing the Reality of Gender Equality
The lunch was framed by recent findings from IPSOS and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, which revealed some concerning perspectives in Australia:
- 30% of Australian men don’t believe that gender inequality really exists.
- 43% of Australians feel that when it comes to giving women equal rights with men, progress has gone far enough.
- 39% of Australians think that men are being expected to do too much to support equality.
These statistics highlight the ongoing challenges we face in achieving true gender equality. For us at Total Synergy, they underscore the importance of our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
Insights from the Industry’s Leaders
At the event, Susanne Legena, CEO of Plan International, introduced the ‘Gender Compass,’ a tool designed to help leaders identify where different groups stand on gender equality—from ‘Trailblazers’ and ‘Hopeful’ to the more resistant ‘Moderate, Conflicted, Indifferent, and Rejectors’. Understanding these perspectives is crucial for driving meaningful change.
Author David Leser also spoke at the event, emphasising the importance of engaging men in the conversation about gender equality. He reminded us that everyone has a role to play in ‘leading where we have a chance to lead,’ a sentiment that resonates deeply with the values we hold at Total Synergy.
To finish the event, Julian Connolly presented an award and spoke about how Total Synergy can assist engineering businesses with project management, highlighting our commitment to driving efficiency and innovation in the industry.
Our team at the event included Head of Sales, ANZ, Lisa Robertson, Global Head of Marketing, Lizzie Babarczy, Account Executive, Julian Connolly and Business Development Manager, Leonard Lynch, As the main sponsors, we were not just participants, but active supporters of the crucial discussions that took place.