Shifting the diversity dial
The inaugural Moulis Legal Award for Diversity sends a clear message – strong leadership and a systems approach are critical success factors in shifting the dial on gender equality, says lead judge Narelle Hooper.
Awarded for the first time in 2016 at the Property Council of Australia Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards, it recognises the positive contributions made by organisations that demonstrate a holistic and long-term commitment to gender balance and diversity within the sector.
Entries were received from 19 companies, with the 10 shortlisted finalists interviewed by a panel of judges to determine the overall winner. It was a very tight result. The final three were very close and Australian business could learn from their systems approach to driving change.
The overall winner was real estate group Mirvac, one of only two ASX 200 listed companies to have / gender balance at board level. Chairman John Mulcahy and CEO Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz are committed to building an inclusive culture and mainstream flexibility.
Entrants were scored across three criteria: leadership, building talent and innovation. The judges were looking for a clear strategy led from the top, consistency, good data and examples, and a clear expression of how the organisation’s diversity strategy was linked to the business and performance.
The interview process also aimed to test the degree to which an organisation was “walking the talk” through its business, for examples of fresh thinking in tackling issues and applied learning.
Firms that scored highest had a number of elements in common. They had explicit gender diversity and inclusion strategies that were linked to better company performance, not just a set of policies. Strong leadership commitment and communication was evident from the top and was supported by systemic approaches to measurement and accountability and specific initiatives to recruit, retain and promote women.
Inclusive cultures and a shift to flexible work practices for all employees were common and there were good examples of employee-led initiatives. They were also using their influence to drive change beyond the firm. Companies led by CEOs who were part of the Property Council of Australia’s leading Property Male Champions of Change program featured strongly in the finalists.
Mirvac showed it was walking the talk on diversity and inclusion powerfully and visibly, starting with a gender-balanced board. It insists that per cent of candidates on leadership shortlists be female and that the proportion of female applicants shortlisted are tracked each month in a report to the CEO.
The company used its shift to new headquarters to drive different ways of working and mainstreaming flexible work practices.
It has also applied diversity principles to innovation that has helped generate ideas and products that are saving money and time and improving customer satisfaction. Hatch, its award-winning internal innovation program, works by pulling together diverse teams from across the business to become innovation champions.
Externally, the company helped shake up the public discussion around men working flexibly as one of the partners in the Equilibrium Challenge, a popular micro-documentary series aimed at busting the notion that flexible work was only for mums.
“In the first year of these awards, the aim was to gauge the efforts by companies in improving gender balance and the impact on their businesses,” said co-judge Virginia Briggs, a partner at Minter Ellison.
“It was encouraging to see substantial work being done by organisations that went beyond gender equality. There were outstanding examples of companies working to build diversity and inclusion more broadly, including programs to boost indigenous employment and leadership, racial and ethnic diversity, LGBTI, mature age workers and people with disabilities. It was pleasing to see the focus and progress on these issues at such an important time.”
The finalists included Lendlease, Commonwealth Bank Property Group, Dexus Property Group, Stockland, Herbert Smith Freehills, Star Entertainment Group, Scentre Group, Crown Resorts and Jacobs.
Narelle Hooper was chair of the finalists’ judging panel for the inaugural Moulis Legal Award for Diversity in 2016. She was former editor of BOSS Magazine and founding co-chair of the Australian Financial Review – Westpac Women of Influence Awards and is co-author of New Women, New Men, New Economy (Federation Press).