From large employers like Coles and Capgemini, we heard how sustained efforts in leadership accountability, inclusive hiring, and everyday actions are laying the groundwork for change.

Belinda Perisec from Coulter Legal shared a standout practice: building a career pipeline that supports progression on merit—regardless of parental leave status. No more pausing promotions because someone is caring for a newborn. Equity in action.

From Barwon Water, Shaun Cumming reminded us that attracting women into non-traditional roles—like field workers—starts with visibility. “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.” He reinforced that inclusion, not just diversity, is the metric that really matters. Inclusion is where belonging begins.

In response to the new National Higher Education Code to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, Deakin University’s Mel Martinelli and Rhiannon Tanner spotlighted the power of collaboration across sectors. Embedding a safe and respectful culture at work isn’t one team’s job—it requires shared ownership and systems change.

The takeaway? Inequity in the workplace is still a work in progress. But with bold leadership, systems change, and a willingness to listen, it is progress.