Opinion

The annual jamboree of panels, breakfasts, social posts, shout outs, ‘should I hold the door open?’ questions or – God forbid – cupcakes haven't really moved the needle, says Host/Havas CEO Laura Aldington. Instead of fiddling while Rome burns, we should be going on strike. The women of Iceland did – and, funnily enough, it got stuff done.

Businesses are using diversity and inclusion policies as fig leaves to deflect criticism and tick boxes, rather than create meaningful change for their employees. Catherine Fox, a journalist, author and one of Australia’s leading commentators on women and the workforce, explores the gulf between men’s and women’s attitudes to D&I – and what the industry should do next.

An anonymous female agency leader says she recently put forward two male names for a role, only for them to be rejected because they were men. Quotas are great, but there are deeper issues to fix: Maternity leave job security, smaller superannuation nest eggs, emotional support – women juggle this while trying to look and cook like Nigella Lawson. Solve the imbalance and the quotas may no longer be required.

Lion’s CMO Anubha Sahasrabudde rarely pulls punches; IWD is no exception. The global marketing expat who returned home in 2021, says IWD needs less back-patting lunches and more tangible action; that men have backed her career when women haven’t but in the end the numbers don't lie - imbalance is everywhere.  

Older men who treat women poorly will fast find themselves unemployable, Zenith Media Australia CEO Nickie Scriven writes. Now it’s time to end the tug of war and move to mutual trust, respect and inclusivity.

The annual jamboree of panels, breakfasts, social posts, shout outs, ‘should I hold the door open?’ questions or – God forbid – cupcakes haven't really moved the needle, says Host/Havas CEO Laura Aldington. Instead of fiddling while Rome burns, we should be going on strike. The women of Iceland did – and, funnily enough, it got stuff done.

People can see through fluff pretty quickly. Making a song and dance about International Women's Day and diversity but failing to deliver on substance is going to backfire on agencies, warns Howatson+Company’s Renée Hyde. Which is why IWD is still important – because it reminds the labour market that there is a choice, and now more than ever, employees are calling the shots.

In this anonymous piece, a highly placed female agency exec says the pendulum has swung too far the other way – the industry is in danger of discriminating against men.

"When I resigned from Coles, there was a dust cloud as three male colleagues bolted to apply for my job. But the most qualified person – a woman – was waiting to be tapped on the shoulder," says Australia Post CMO Amber Collins. Likewise Susan Coghill at Tourism Australia. Collins has been criticised for suggesting women lack men's confidence. But she's doing something about it, and won't work for, or hire, anyone who doesn't pull in the same direction. While men might be unsure of holding open doors for women, female leaders should be the last people metaphorically closing the door for others.