Unconscious discrimination, the ‘boys club’ and gender bias pay were just a few of the topics discussed yesterday during the first Women in Tourism Leadership Lunch of 2016.
Held in conjunction with International Women’s Day, the event attracted some 100 Sydney-based females keen to discuss and debate gender equality and pledge their support for parity.
Event organiser and MC, Holly Galbraith, told attendees this month’s theme was particularly fitting after a recent study revealed women in Australia are earning around 17 percent less than their male counterparts.
She said she hoped that the lunch would encourage attendees to open dialogue about this type of inequality and together find possible solutions.
“In Australia women earn less than men and are less likely to advance in their career plus they’re more likely to spend their final year in poverty.”
Holly Galbraith, Women in Tourism Leadership Lunch Organiser
“This is the case despite research showing that gender balance across all levels increases performance.”
In addition to enjoying canapes, lunch and dessert, attendees were also given a little insight from three successful women – Penny Lion, GM of Business Events Australia at Tourism Australia; Anna Cesarano, CEO Doltone House; and Renee Bianchi, Barrister and Vice President of the NSW Young Lawyers Association.
During the panel, it became clear that although tourism still has room for improvement in leadership, women in the industry are experiencing a lot less bias compared to women in law.
Bianchi revealed that the gender pay gap between male and female lawyers is around 38 percent and the further you climb the career ladder, the fewer women you’ll find at the top.
In fact, the law industry has a fair bit of catching up to do when it comes to gender equality and only recently agreed to introduce unconscious gender bias training.
However, Lion from Tourism Australia said the tourism bureau is two thirds women and they’re given the same opportunities to climb the ranks as their male colleagues.
Keep an eye on KarryOn for information on the next Women in Tourism Leadership Lunch.
