Women At Work

I asked ChatGPT, and it told me that men still hold 70-80% of formal positions of power, across most domains, globally. And because of that very power imbalance, women can't achieve equality on our own. We need men to be involved, and to use the power our current systems grant them, to  shift things. And that's exactly what Champions of Change Coalition do, led by today's guest, CEO Annika Freyer...

Spoiler alert: when women leaders leave organisations after having kids, it's not because they "lack confidence" or "opt out." But the reality is, organisations are struggling to recruit and retain women in leadership, and women are struggling to stay. Dr Amanda Sterling's groundbreaking PhD research exposes how the denial of women's physical experiences (pregnancy, breastfeeding, sleep deprivatio...

We talk about changing the system, not the women. Sometimes we're talking about workplaces when we discuss structural change, and today we're talking about the government's role in gender equity with Kate Thwaites MP , the Assistant Minister for Women. Kate co-wrote Enough is Enough , about the pervasive culture of sexual violence and harassment within Australia's Parliament House, and her portfol...

Karina Kallio has a background as a fashion designer, then had a bit of an awakening to the impact of the industry and a calling to what is her role in the world – all of which was strengthened by being a mother. Karina believes we exist best in community - a theme that comes through often in this podcast. The power of community in thriving and driving change. She talks about life's longing for it...

Lael Stone is a parenting expert, but really she's a humaning expert. I've shared her conversation with the Imperfects about parenting yourself first more than any podcast I have ever listened to. She has worked as a birth educator, post-natal trauma counsellor, a parenting educator, with teens around sexuality, she created Woodline primary school an innovative new school based on emotional well-b...

I have to confess I'm technologically challenged. Or, as today's guest Katherine Boiciuc , also known as KB, puts it, I'm a technology teenager. Learning every day but throwing tantrums about it. KB is EY's Oceania Chief Technology and Innovation Officer. We met at a conference, and when she was on stage she said everyone in the company works in IT but not everyone knows it, and I thought it was t...

The average cost of daycare in Sydney is around $180 per day. If you have a child in care 4 days a week, that's more than $33k a year on daycare before the subsidy. For one child. And that's if you can even access it, which is an increasing issue in regional areas of Australia where there are childcare deserts, but also in major cities where people are registering their kids before they are even b...

According to Peter Dutton, the housewives of Australia are at home doing their household budgets. According to Allegra Spender, women are out in the world demanding leadership who don't expect them to be at home ironing. Allegra is the Independent MP for Wentworth, focusing on bringing humanity back into politics, climate action, building a kinder, more inclusive society, and making sure those 'wo...

When you look up Professor Rae Cooper on Google Scholar, there are 2659 citations. Rae is Professor at the University of Sydney, where she is the founding Director of the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work. She also has multiple fellowships, collaborations with groups like the Australian Human Rights Commission and the OECD, and is generally incredibly impressive and knowle...

I currently have plantar fasciitis, which is essentially a sore heel, and I've been told it can be symptom of perimenopause. But what can NOT be a symptom of perimenopause I ask!? Well, on this episode I am joined by Dr. Charlotte Middleton. She's an integrative GP with over 25 years of expertise, specialising in women's health. She founded Dr Charlotte's Web , focused on mothers and their babies,...

Joy Adan is a Filipino-born presenter, writer and artist from Western Sydney. She's passionate about challenging the status quo, and said after she had children she sat down with her husband and said, 'whatever this partnership is, the terms have now changed." If you want some honest truths – like I love my child AND I find this really hard – are interested to know what it looks like to rewrite cu...

Jane Caro is a renowned feminist author and social commentator, known for saying exactly what's on her mind. She's known for her sharp wit, her humour and fearless advocacy for gender equality, and is a pioneering feminist in Australia who's name you most likely already know. Jane is a Walkley Award winner, a Member of the Order of Australia, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a beef producer and a...

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Koa Beck  episode from 2021*   

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Jess Hill episode from 2021*  Investigative journalist Jess Hill wrote the award-winning See What You Made Me Do, about the national emergency of domestic abuse in Australia. It's a riveting but deeply distressing look at the real-life stories of women and children, how the justice system enables abusers, and hope for reducin...

Diversity Council of Australia CEO Lisa Annese is a self-described feminist and activist, working to improve gender equality in Australian workplaces. She is passionate about the connection between the gendered roles we still expect at home with a lack of progress for women in workplaces.  Lisa shared research from the DCA that shows men's mental health and wellbeing benefits from being in gender...

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Catherine Fox episode from 2019*  The speed of change with the gender equality, and changes that contribute to hope The Persisterhood The seven myths of women at work The four stages of gender equity awareness The male breadwinner model in Australia and how it impacts progress The importance of financial freedom for women, an...

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Kirstin Ferguson's episode from 2019*  Kirstin Ferguson shared the inspiring stories of 757 women in her #CelebratingWomen movement as a push back against the toxicity of the online world for women. In this conversation we talked about the movement, her resulting book WomenKind, and how we can all advocate for change wherever...

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Jamila Rizvi episode from 2018*  We will rise together or not at all Jamila Rizvia is an author, presenter, political commentator, the newly appointed editor-at-large of Future Women, former editor-in-chief of MamaMia. She has written two books, Not Just Lucky and The Motherhood, and signs off her emails Troublemaker At Large...

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Caroline Patrick episode from 2018*    "I remember those days were just so challenging. He was traveling for work, I was traveling for work...There was a moment where we were just hoping the various planes we were on weren't delayed so that we could pick up the kids!" Caroline Patrick is one of Australia's most passionate mar...

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Tracey Spicer episode from 2018*   Equality starts in the lounge room before the boardroom. Tracey Spicer  is a television presenter, journalist and author. Recently appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for her work in journalism and for her ambassadorships for social welfare and charitable organisations. She led...

It started with the question, 'how do you do it all?'. As my understanding of the systemic barriers that women face, structural inequalities at work and in our homes, and what we can do to change it evolved, so, too, has the conversation. Now, I speak to thought leaders in the gender equity industry, women making waves through their activism, and women who work in big jobs and aren't afraid to spe...

Mary Wooldridge is the CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Her career goals have all been about making an impact and driving change, and although change is slow, she hopes to accelerate it in the future. In this episode, we cover: The recent (slight) reduction in the gender pay gap, driven by increases in aged-care industry salaries The benefits of part-time and flexible work Men, parenta...

Mundanara is the Managing Director/ Co-Founder and workshop facilitator of the BlackCard PtyLtd, a 100% Aboriginal owned business certified with Supply Nation. BlackCard's co-founder is Dr Lilla Watson, a respected Aboriginal elder, artist and educator.  BlackCard's purpose is working with people, not for people, with the genius of Aboriginal Knowledge. In this episode we cover: How to introduce o...

Imogen Hewitt is Chief Media Officer of Publicis Media and CEO of Spark Foundry, having spent 25 years in creative agencies.  Recently, she was named #3 in Mediaweek Australia's 2023 Agency 50 Power List and has been recognised on the B&T Women In Media Power List every year since 2017. She was also previously named as one of Campaign Asia's 'Women to Watch' in 2017 and 2020. The themes throughout...

Lisa Grinham  runs the  Sydney Women's Fund , founded on the idea that when you invest in women, communities benefit. Leaving her corporate career behind Lisa moved into the charitable sector, and loves that her work makes a maningful impact. We talked about the challenges women are facing right now and how SWF supports them, the importance of community and creating solutions from within, the bais...