Champions lead change in property industry

Champions lead change in property industryIn the lead up to International Women’s Day on Sunday, the Property Council of Australia rolled out the first in a series of events as part of the Property Male Champions of Change (PMCC) initiative.A total of 22 CEOs and one chair have now signed on to the first sector-specific program to accelerate gender equality in the historically male-dominated property industry.Building on the Male Champions of Change strategy, founded by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, the number of CEOs who have signed on as Property Male Champions of Change has more than doubled since its launch last October.Property Council of Australia Chief Executive Ken Morrison attended launch events in Canberra, Melbourne and Perth last week, with events in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane to come, and said the lack of women in leadership roles was a very practical problem and one the property industry was well placed to act on.”Having more women in leadership roles makes good business sense,” Morrison said. “The question now is how do we best and most quickly achieve it.”The property and construction industries are known for their pragmatism and innovation. We have embedded strong safety practices and leading practice sustainability across the sector.”It’s this pragmatism we now need to bring the question of women in leadership roles.”Fifteen years of global research has consistently found that companies with gender diverse boards and leadership teams outperform their competitors. “Property Male Champions of Change is a deeply practical initiative that seeks to build on, and is guided by, the foundation work of leading women in our industry, including that of its convenor Carol Schwartz AM.”This initiative recognises that our Property Male Champions of Change are best placed in their respective companies to drive the organisational change needed to realise gender equality outcomes.”It should not solely be the responsibility of leading businesswomen to bring about change. Leading businessmen must also own this issue and use their positions of influence to drive change.”Launching the Male Champions of Change’s new website and first progress report this month, Broderick said: “Through the Male Champions of Change strategy decent, powerful men work together to understand gender equality issues and lead action to accelerate progress.”They step up beside women and work collectively to disrupt the status quoTogether we can help create unstoppable momentum for a gender equal world,” Broderick concluded.You can hear directly from the Property Male Champions of Change and get an update on their progress at the upcoming Women in Property Lunch on 29 April in Sydney. For more details visit hereFind out more about Male Champions of Change here