Diversity drives business strategy

Diversity drives business strategyWhen a shopping centre lies at the heart of a community, the workforce must reflect the diversity found within that community, says Scentre Group’s Rachel Duggan.Centre manager for Westfield Knox in Victoria, Duggan (pictured) is responsible for a shopping centre about to undergo a $4 million expansion – one which will put it on par with the nation’s biggest shopping centre, Chadstone.”For 40 years, Westfield Knox has been the heartbeat of the community. It’s not just the geographical centre of the community and a place that people go to shop – it’s where they go to socialise and connect with each other,” Duggan says.”Our business is more than the physical buildings that we own – and we understand that we must reflect the community’s diversity in our centres, in our workforce and in everything we do.”Gender diversity is currently a focus area for Scentre Group. Last year, chief executive officer Peter Allen, a Property Male Champion of Change, introduced generous parental leave policies, flexible working arrangements and an annual reimbursement of $20 in childcare costs, among other measures.The flexibility policies at Scentre Group have opened the door to new workplace practices, including teleworking and job sharing.”A key element of a flexible workforce is having the right tools to enable it – and it’s been a real organisational priority to invest in tools that enhance mobility,” Duggan says.A Diversity and Inclusion Council has been established to champion diversity strategy, plans and policies throughout the business, and a practical mentoring, coaching and networking program, Connect, has been established to promote female leadership.”Connect is about building confidence – a critical factor in fostering the next generation of female leaders.”Duggan applauds the work of the Property Council and its 100 Women in Property program, which is currently supporting a number of Scentre Group employees.”The Property Council is really leading the way and showing other businesses what they should be doing in the diversity space,” Duggan says.But Duggan is quick to point out that diversity initiatives aren’t restricted to gender, and Scentre Group is focused on inclusive recruitment and promotion policies, mental health and wellbeing programs, unconscious bias training and an indigenous employment program born out of its Reconciliation Action Plan.Scentre Group finalised its RAP (?) last month, and is now in the process of rolling out an indigenous employment strategy throughout the country. “Reconciliation is important for all Australians, and as our centres play a central role in the communities that they serve throughout Australia, we have recognised that we have an important role to play,” Duggan explains.”Scentre Group continues to build on the Westfield legacy of establishing meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at a local level, with a particular focus on employment opportunities.”Diversity and flexibility go hand in hand, and Scentre Group also offers substantial paternity leave. Duggan says male employees in the business have the opportunity to take 12 months off to care for children.”This is about everyone having choice,” she says.”All of us should have a level playing field in the workplace and at home, with every opportunity to participate fully in both areas. It’s simply about having access to the same opportunities and resources, regardless of our gender.”Most important of all is that the leaders in our business are modelling diversity and inclusion, and leading the change – which they do.”