Gender equality improves in legal fraternity

I have always maintained that any improvement to gender parity and inequality issues will come through men taking the lead and becoming a role model to our younger generation.

It was great to talk to Brisbane Legal about the WLAQ Inter-Professional Evening and give my views on gender equality in the legal profession.

The full article can be found here.

Thank you again to the women I work with at MinterEllison for supporting me in organsing the event and coming along.

Andre Cois Photography

 

WLAQ Inter-Professional Evening 2016

It was absolutely amazing to host the 2016 WLAQ Inter-Professional evening last night.  This year, we invited Dr Kirstin Ferguson as our guest speaker.

Below is a recap of my introduction for Kirstin given in my capacity as Vice-President.

Andre Cois Photography 

Following on from Amelia's welcome, thank you all for attending tonight.

When I was looking for some inspiration on what I wanted my message to be for tonight's introduction, I came across an article in Women's Agenda today confirming that a portion of the cost of our work handbag may be tax deductible.  I completely digressed from the task and found myself on the Burberry website contemplating a rather expensive purchase.

I didn't go through with the purchase because my attention was diverted, correctly, back to the issue at hand.  Why are we, in 2016 still having to contemplate different arrangements for men and women.  There has never been any questions or debate raised over a men's ability to claim for his briefcase.  This is an issue I struggle with.  The ideas of feminism, along with the negative connotations post 1903 era of Emily Plunkett's radical feminism seem to have progressed, but our action in actually effecting change and achieving parity has not.

So much so it was reported this week in the PwC Women in Work Index that Australia has dropped from 17th to 20th (out of 33) in terms of female economic empowerment.  Of note, New Zealand is 4th and UK jumped from 21 to 16.  It is not that Australia is no longer taking action, it's just that the rest of the world is taking even moreaction.

This time last year, we were hosting our first Inter-Professional event with the newly appointed Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman.  I spoke about how women no longer accepted "good enough", and with the taste of success, it was incumbent upon us all to selflessly work together, because we must continue to build on the success of the dedicated women before us.

I am pleased to say that progress for women in the legal profession in Queensland, particularly at the Bar, has not regressed, with the latest Supreme Court Annual Report confirming an increase in appearances by women in the Court of Appeal, criminal matters and civil matters. 

While my next comment may be interpreted as biased, I have no hesitation in stating that WLAQ continues to achieve success in advocating for women in the legal profession under the leadership of our current President.

It is through our deliberate action that we host tonight's event and allow our members an opportunity to network with other mid to senior professional businesswomen in Brisbane, to discuss the issues facing our everyday work life, enjoy a well earned wine, and to hear from a now former member of the legal profession, who, if I may be so bold to say, is absolutely killing it in the Boardroom.

Kirstin Ferguson is a lady who has a seat at the table and her career alone is an example of action that can be taken to achieve parity.  I first came across Kirstin through Twitter as we were both tweeting about union. 

I had an online stalk, and when reading through her resume, my immediate reaction was I need to meet this woman.  Currently on the Board for the ABC, the Queensland Theatre Company, previously Chairwoman of Thiess, and the first female director of Reds Rugby Union.  I wanted in on her inner circle, or in line with the latest buzz word – her squad!

With a PhD to go along side her degrees in Law and Arts (both of which she obtained with Honours), it is no surprise that Kirstin was named in the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence in 2014.

I am very much looking forward to hearing from Kirstin, and ask that you please make her welcome.

International Women's Day 2016

8 March.  The internationally recognised day celebrating women. 

Some may still view this day with the same level of disdain the Asquith era did. 

However, feminism has grown with the times.  1903 would be the height of radical feminism, where lives were lost, property damaged and instead of inciting respect for their cause, the radicals fuelled hate.  I personally don't think inciting riots or protests brings about change or positive awareness to a cause, however caveat that in saying there could be a time and place where it may.  But Emily Pankhurt's efforts were not in vain, and as society developed so did the feminist movement. 

I have grown up in an era where the "feminism" and "feminist" have developed from negative connotations and comparisonsbetween Mary Wollstonecraft and Germaine Greer, to empowerment and thought leaders such as Emma Watson and closer to home, Elizabeth Broderick.  It is acceptable now, not only for females, but for men, to align themselves with the feminist movement and pledge for parity, the IWD 2016 theme.

To me, it's not about one gender being more superior than another.  It is about me, and in years to come, my daughter and granddaughter having the same level of support, the same access to resources, and the same pay for the same work.  I clearly subscribe to the more liberal feminist movement.  For me, it is not about rewriting the rules of etiquette it is about recognising that in 2016 we have to actually do something.  It is not just about writing blogs such as this, it is about getting out there and making a change.  This needs to be done collectively, and with the same purpose in mind.

2133.  That is when the World Economic Forum says that parity will be reached.  You can't tell me we went from Nokia's to iPhone's in the space of 7 years, but it will take 230 years since Pankhurt first founded the Women's Social and Political Union to reach parity.  That is just ignorance from the upper echelons.

I still maintain change will come sooner with the help of Gen Y.  Our levels of "unconscious" bias are lower than that of our parents and we have greater awareness of the impact equality issues can have.  I hope that the Male Champions of Change continue with their efforts, but take younger male role models on board and help them champion the cause.

If you see an IWD post this week, take a moment to reflect on how far we have come, but how much further we still have to go.  Find a way to make a difference for future generations.  To take from the IWD website, "Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity."

Happy International Women's Day 2016.