Organized by the ANZSOG Institute for Governance as part of the Parliamentary Triangle seminar series.

The scientific case for gender equality in the workplace has been won. The evidence is clear: there are no significant differences in cognition that give males an advantage. The economic case is also clear: more women and more diversity in leadership is good for organisational outcomes. However, the social case is less clear: perceptions and expectations are far stronger indicators than objectively measured differences between men and women. The statistical evidence is compelling: women are generally under-represented in senior positions in the APS and this under-representation is compounded in traditional male domains of activity.

At this Parliamentary Triangle Forum you will hear from the Institute, the differing perceptions of SES and EL women and men about what they consider to be the barriers to senior womens’ career progression in the APS. You will also hear from representatives of the departments about what can and will be done to address those findings.

The forum will be facilitated by award winning journalist and commentator Virginia Haussegger and feature the following panel members:

• Mark Evans, Director of the ANZSOG Institute for Governance and a specialist in institution-building and governance.
• Deborah May, Fulbright Scholar, graduating from the only business school in the world specifically designed for women, Simmons Graduate School of Management, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
• Meredith Edwards, Emeritus Professor at the University of Canberra.
• Tony Marks, head of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer for Geoscience Australia (GA).
• Jan Mason, Deputy Secretary of the Business, Procurement and Asset Management Group in the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance).
• Renée Leon, Deputy Secretary of the Governance Group in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.