Media release
Embargoed until 12:01am 12 November 2014
2014 leaders in workplace gender equality announced
12 November 2014, Sydney: The Workplace Gender Equality Agency has today announced the inaugural list
of Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation holders with 76 organisations receiving the
prestigious citation.
WGEA Director Helen Conway said it was fantastic to see such a diverse mix of organisations raising the bar
in their efforts to improve gender equality. “The spread of industries and organisational size in this year’s list
of citation holders is truly impressive and highlights that it’s not just the big of end town that realises the
value of taking a strategic and systematic approach to achieving a gender diverse workforce,” she said.
The new citation, developed in consultation with past citation holders and launched in November 2013,
substantially raised the expected level of performance while being sensitive to commercial realities.
WGEA Director Helen Conway said: “We know sustained and multi-faceted interventions are required to
address the structural and cultural barriers that prevent women and men from equally participating at all
levels of an organisation. This year’s citation holders have each demonstrated their commitment to
maximising the full potential of their entire talent pool.”
“Future job seekers, investors and procurement officers who are committed to working for, investing in and
buying from organisations with best practice talent management strategies should refer to this list first.
These organisations are the best of the best,” Ms Conway said.
The 2014 applications highlight a growing recognition of the need to integrate men into diversity initiatives
with a focus on promoting acceptance around men taking parental leave and working flexibly.
“Achieving gender equality depends on men taking a more active caring role and this necessarily requires
more active support from employers to change norms so that flexibility and caring is not a career killer for
women and men,” Ms Conway said.
In interviews conducted with CEOs of each successful applicant, leaders consistently revealed the
importance of maintaining momentum.
“Best practice CEOs know they must not let their achievements in the area of gender equality breed
complacency; they know it’s essential to maintain and indeed accelerate their efforts if they are to achieve
sustainable change. Importantly, the EOCGE citation and in particular future pre-requisites point to what’s
required to continue to lead this agenda and capture the competitive advantage a diverse workforce brings,”
Ms Conway said.
Reflecting the more rigorous requirements, 76 organisations have been awarded the 2014 EOCGE citation,
down from 125 recipients when the predecessor citation, the EOWA Employer of Choice for Women, was
last awarded in 2012.
“We know a number of the organisations who were not eligible to apply this year have their sights set on
2015. The citation provides a clear roadmap to inform their gender strategies over the coming year while the
Agency’s education and innovation program provides detailed support and guidance for employers,” Ms
Conway said.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency | www.wgea.gov.au
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For more information contact
Yolanda Beattie, Public Affairs Executive Manager, Workplace Gender Equality Agency
02 9432 7053 or 0477 336 690
[email protected]
About the Workplace Gender Equality Agency
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency is an Australian Government statutory agency charged with promoting and improving gender
equality in Australian workplaces. The Agency is responsible for administering the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. The Agency’s
vision is for women and men to be equally represented, valued and rewarded in the workplace. The Agency was formerly known as the
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. More information is available at www.wgea.gov.au
2014 Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holders
AGL Energy
Alcoa of Australia Limited
Allens
Allianz Australia Services Pty
Limited
Deloitte Touche Tomatsu
Origin Energy Limited
DLA Piper Australia
Peoplebank Australia Limited
EY
PepsiCo
GHD Services Pty Ltd
Queensland Country Credit
Union Limited
Gilbert and Tobin
Arc@UNSW
Griffith University
Queensland University of
Technology
Arup Pty Limited
Hays Specialist Recruitment
(Australia) Pty Limited
Shell Australia
Ashurst Australia
Australia and New Zealand
Banking Group Limited
Henry Davis York
Holding Redlich
Australian Catholic University
HSBC Bank Australia Limited
AustralianSuper
K&L Gates
B & McK Services Trust
KPMG Australia Services
Baker & McKenzie
Lauriston Girls' School
Bankwest
Little Company of Mary Health
Care Limited
Becton Dickinson Pty. Ltd.
Benetas
Maddocks
BP Australia Pty Ltd
McCullough Robertson
Lawyers
Callista Software Services Pty
Ltd
McDonald's Australia Limited
Campus Life
Citigroup Pty Limited
Clayton Utz
Commonwealth Bank of
Australia
ConocoPhillips Australia
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Credit Union Australia Ltd
Curtin University
Deakin University
mecwacare
Merck Serono Australia Pty
Ltd
Mercy Health
Minter Ellison
Mirvac Group
Monash University
National Australia Bank
Limited
Norton Rose Fulbright
Australia
Workplace Gender Equality Agency | www.wgea.gov.au
St Barbara Limited
St Michael's Grammar School
Stockland
Suncorp
Swinburne University of
Technology
TAL Services Limited
Teachers Federation Health
Ltd
Telstra Corporation Limited
Transurban Limited
UBS AG
University of Canberra
University of Newcastle
University of Technology
Sydney
University of Western Sydney
UOWC LTD
Villa Maria Society
VMware Australia Pty Ltd
Westpac Group
YWCA of Canberra
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