Accelerating progress in gender equity

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, Business News asked five highly accomplished Western Australian women about their career journeys and achievements.

Those profiled have been inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame for their contribution to their various fields across business, STEM, community and culture.

The number of women in leadership roles can be an indication of broader trends, so the Australian Workforce Gender Equality Agency’s assessment that women make up just 19 per cent of company chairs, 22 per cent of chief executives and 34 per cent of board members, is telling.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme was ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’, aiming to highlight the need to foster an inclusive and equitable society.

The theme also recognises the importance of economic empowerment for women and girls in creating a gender-equal world.

The gender pay gap in Australia sits at 21.7 per cent. In February, WGEA published data on more than 400 private sector companies in WA, finding numerous remuneration disparities.

According to WGEA, WA has the highest mid-point for employer gender pay gaps at 13.9 per cent.

Motivated women, such as those profiled, are striving to combat the underrepresentation of women in business through their strength and contributions to community.

Esme Bowen - Chamber of Comemrce and Industry WA deputy chair inducted in the Business category. Photo: Karen Wheatland.

Bowen brings lived experience to health, community

ESME Bowen says her initial training as a nurse was what led her to pursue a career in orthopaedic spinal care.

During her studies, Ms Bowen embarked on a tour across Europe, visiting leading spinal injury hospitals.

Three weeks after returning to Perth she broke her back in a car accident and ended up a patient in a spinal care unit.

During her 18-month rehabilitation, Ms Bowen returned to her nursing studies and was invited by surgeon Sir George Bedbrook to join his Spinal Injuries Prevention Committee and share her story.

This kickstarted Ms Bowen’s advocacy work as she went on to serve on volunteering, disability and road safety boards.

She currently works as Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA deputy chair, Carers Advisory Council WA chair, Volunteering Community Reference group member, Volunteering Australia director, Paraplegic Benefit Fund director, and Disability Assembly WA board member.

Included in Ms Bowen’s 35-plus-year career was a tenure as RAC WA president, tours across Australia and overseas with athletes with disability, and operation of the retail surf business she started with her husband 36 years ago.

Ms Bowen said she was blessed to walk out of the special unit after the car crash all those years ago, as many people weren’t as lucky.

“When we had the road crash, and while trapped in the vehicle, I already knew the reality of the injury I was facing,” Ms Bowen told Business News.

“Walking out of the spinal unit instead of wheeling out was like winning the lottery.”

Ms Bowen’s lived experience has deepened her understanding of what it means to experience a spinal injury, enabling her to measure success from a patient’s perspective upon her return to nursing.

“The passion for injury prevention, disability and road safety advocacy, empathy and understanding of unpaid carers and those in our communities who are vulnerable flowed naturally after my injury,” Ms Bowen said.

“I had a story to tell, and the representation of lived experience is essential for community understanding and for the leadership of valuable awareness, community economics and policy change.”

She said it was critical for boards to reflect the communities they served.

“We need to see those with lived experience and diversity at each organisation and policymaking table,” Ms Bowen said.

“Without the understanding of lived experience, we cannot include everyone.

“It also provides an amazing learning curve and understanding for the rest of the community; for everyone to be together on a decision, project, employment or policy change.”

Libby Lyons - Science in Australia Gender Equity chair inducted in the Business category. Photo: Karen Wheatland.

Lyons an agent for gender equity

LIBBY Lyons is a highly experienced executive dedicated to driving better gender equity outcomes in the workplace.

Ms Lyons has worked as chair of Science in Australia Gender Equity for the past four years, helping executives and business leaders implement cultural and systems transformation within organisations.

Ms Lyons said her earlier work as director at Workplace Gender Equality Agency (2015 to 2021) had provided a solid platform for her current position at SAGE.

In fact, she told Business News her tenure at WGEA was a career highlight.

“As director and chief executive … I was the custodian of a national treasure: a longitudinal dataset of gender statistics and pay information collected by way of an act of parliament, from all Australian private sector organisations with more than 100 employees,” Ms Lyons said.

“As CEO, I knew it was also critical to use this data to raise awareness of gender equality for all Australians. Everyone has a right to know and a role to play.

“I know that, as a CEO, you will only ever be as good as the team with whom you work, and so I was especially proud that for the last two years of my term, the WGEA ranked number one out of all ninety-seven Australian Public Service agencies in the APS staff census, with the highest employee engagement index rating and the highest innovation index rating.

“We were third in the index rating for wellbeing. There can be no higher achievement for a leader.”

Ms Lyons was named an honorary doctor of letters from Curtin University in 2022 for her contribution to social sciences through her advocacy for workplace gender equality.

To further her community contribution, Ms Lyons serves as the WA Chapter chair of Chief Executive Women, strategic counsel for ReGen Strategic, an adjunct professor at Australia Catholic University, and an Honour a Woman ambassador, among other roles.

Ms Lyons said it was important to note than gender equality was beneficial for all.

“It is about providing equal opportunity for women and men to pursue a career if they choose,” she said.

“We just need to level the playing field and utilise all the resources of this great state and nation.

“It is neither a competition nor a fight between the genders. It is just about everyone getting a fair go.”

Rachael Hain - Dress for Success Western Australia co-founder inducted in the Community category. Photo: Karen Wheatland.

Hain targets financial independence

RACHAEL Hain had always been passionate about advancing the status of women, so when the opportunity to start a not-for-profit organisation doing just that arose, she leapt at the chance.

Along with her friend and now fellow co-founder, Kellie Benda, Ms Hain established Ready to Work Inc in 2008 to assist women to become financially independent by providing skills for them to secure employment.

Ready for Work Inc helped more than 2,000 women in Western Australia over the eight years to 2016, at which time the organisation was renamed as Dress for Success Perth, transitioning to be the WA affiliate of New York-based global charity Dress for Success.

Ms Hain’s not for profit now has more than 85 volunteers and six part-time employees providing professional clothing, career development workshops and one-on-one training for job preparation from its location in Subiaco and through its outreach programs.

In 2008, Ms Hain secured a Lotterywest grant to fund the launch of Ready for Work, despite having no prior trading history, and later won two more grants from the funding body.

Ms Hain said her prior financial education had assisted with the successful operation of the charity.

“My training as a CPA, professional development scholarships to UWA Business School’s advanced management program and an Australian Institute of Company Directors course have … provided me with the education and experience to be able to navigate any financial, governance and organisational challenges that the organisations faced,” Ms Hain told Business News.

Dress for Success Perth was rebranded as Dress for Success Western Australia, growing its reach, and delivering virtual styling programs and other services in regional parts of the state and in the Northern Territory.

Dress for Success WA operates a special-purpose van to travel to these remote areas.

“Last year, the Dress for Success Western Australia team travelled to Mandurah, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and Albany,” Ms Hain said.

“This year we have repeat visits scheduled to these locations as demand continues to grow.”

In alignment with the state government’s plan for gender equality framework, Dress for Success WA welcomes people who identify as cis, transgender, and non-binary to access services.

Ms Hain said the organisation’s 15-year history had been tirelessly focused on helping women thrive in both work and life.

“It has been a journey marked by collaboration, dedication, and a shared commitment to empowering women,” she said.

Di Ryder - Noongar elder, former Australian Army NCO inducted in the Culture category. Photo: Karen Wheatland.

Ryder champions spirit of reconciliation

NOONGAR elder Di Ryder is a former Australian Army non-commissioned officer and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal 2023 for her dedication to serving community and improving reconciliation.

Ms Ryder grew up in Toodyay and joined the Australian Army after finishing high school, saying the experience provided her with opportunities she wouldn’t have had in Perth.

“When I think back to why I applied to join the Army it was because I was working at the Native Welfare Department and the policies that were still in place at that time were not good for Aboriginal people,” Ms Ryder told Business News.

“I couldn’t see myself having a future in what I was doing at that time.

“I wanted to do something different from family and friends, and by joining the Army then at least I would get to go to Sydney to do recruiting training at the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps School at Georges Heights in Mosman.

“The training was difficult to start off with, but as I got used to what was expected it taught me that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.”

Ms Ryder rose to become staff sergeant and was awarded the Army Australia Day Achievement Medallion in 1990 for her dedication to duty.

After two decades of service, Ms Ryder retired from the Army and began volunteer work in the health, education and cultural sectors in Western Australia, contributing her knowledge and advocating for Indigenous veterans, families and children.

At one point, Ms Ryder was serving on 12 boards concurrently.

She is also involved in organising and delivering a variety of community events, including the Swan Aboriginal Community Celebration and the Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service.

Ms Ryder said hard work, commitment and mutual respect were essential if people were to achieve their goals.

“My belief is that if you don’t try new and different things, and push yourself out of your comfort zone, you will never know what you can achieve,” she said.

“I believe we are only as good as the people around us, and being surrounded by positive, like-minded people will enable us to continue to provide the best we can for our community; to come together not just as Aboriginal people but all people, in the true spirit of reconciliation.”

In addition to the OAM, Ms Ryder won the National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, was nominated for Australian of the Year in 2015 and won Perth NAIDOC Outstanding Achievement Award in 2009.

Carol Dooley - Unlimited ship master, pilot and marine manager inducted in the STEM & TEchnical Trades category. Photo: Karen Wheatland.

Dooley navigates gender divide

CAROL Dooley has led an illustrious career in the maritime industry, starting out on a sail training ship before travelling around the world as the first international female ship master from Western Australia.

Ms Dooley is also a qualified marine pilot, responsible for bringing ships in and out of ports along the north-west coast of WA and at offshore facilities.

Ms Dooley told Business News she learned to build patiently on her experiences in order to reach her aspirations.

“In sail training, character building and teamwork are the focus [and] my confidence grew through that,” she said.

“When I climbed the rope ladder up the side of my first VLCC (tanker) off the coast of Fujairah [a city in the United Arab Emirates] in the Strait of Hormuz as a second mate, I felt totally unready for the switch from sailing ship to tanker, and yet there I was.

“From there it was not too many years later that I took command on LNG carrier ships and sailed worldwide with a ship’s complement of thirty-three officers and crew.”

Ms Dooley has served more than three years as a board director for nationally recognised maritime university Australian Maritime College, which is part of the University of Tasmania.

Ms Dooley said the Australian maritime industry was in decline when she joined the board in 2014, with opportunities for young people to enter the sector becoming increasingly difficult amid a diminishing national fleet.

Taking up the board position enabled Ms Dooley to not only contribute her expertise to the industry, but to represent women in a typically male-dominated sector.

Ms Dooley believes everyone has the capability to overcome obstacles and personal doubts to achieve their ambitions.

“When I left school it never occurred to me that there was a male-female divide in opportunities,” she said.

“And although I soon learned there was an attitude out there, I could never see why that should stop me or anyone else from reaching for and attaining the life they were interested in leading.

“It is important to realise you have to consciously work at reaching your goals, make and take opportunities, focus on what you need to do to get there and keep on taking the next step.

“Broken down into small steps, what looks like an impossible giant leap, becomes manageable stages.”