Presentation summary

Despite significant progress in advancing women’s representation in the workplace, The World Economic Forum recently found progress towards closing the economic gender gap has declined. Globally, we are now 135 years away from closing this gap at current rates of change.

In fact, there are more Andrews than women running the largest organisations in the country.

Organisations have a key role to play in creating an equal playing field that will help close this gap. The economic benefits of gender equality are clear. Last year an Australian study found an increase of 10% or more representation of women in key executive positions leads to a 6.6% increase in market value (equivalent to AUD $104.7m for the average company).

Understanding and dismantling the barriers that impede gender equality in the workplace is an important starting point. In this session a model will be presented identifying the three types of barriers impeding gender balance at the top of organisations, along with strategies for addressing these.

At the conclusion of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

• Identify the 3 types of barriers impeding gender equality
• Identify actions that organisations can take to address gender equality
• Identify actions that individual leaders and women can take to address gender equality

Biography

Sharon is the founder and CEO of Shape Talent – a gender diversity coaching and consultancy business with a mission to accelerate significantly more women into senior leadership roles in business.  She is an experienced diversity and talent management leader with over 25 years' experience working in and with global businesses across developed and emerging markets.

Sharon is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and executive coach and works with organisations to help them build more gender equal workplaces using the Shape Talent proprietary ‘3 Barriers model’.  She is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and a member of the International Women’s Forum.

A dual Australian/ British citizen, Sharon grew up in Australia and lives in London with her husband and daughter. Her out-of-work interests include scuba diving, big cats and wildlife conservation and she is a board member of leading wildlife chartiy Born Free.

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