Gender equality isn't hard

These appointments realise gender equality on the Mirvac board – a 50/50 split.

A lot of attention is paid to the ASX200 on this issue. These are some of the large employers and organisations with significant clout.

It is the businesses further down the list, or not on the Exchange, that need to pull their weight.

When the Workplace Gender Equality Agency releases data on women in listed companies the focus is on the market leaders. Often the organisations I get most concerned about are far lower. Look at the companies between the ASX1000-200, a failure to do much on gender equality.

Progress on gender equality is not a game of soloists, we all must push forward.

No, finding women to sit on boards or to undertake leadership roles is not difficult. It merely requires that recruiters and managers undertake a broad search and tell the market that is what they want.

Gender equality can easily be achieved, it just takes some drive.

Pursuing diversity is not a 'nice thing' to do, it is the right thing. It is the right thing for organisations, shareholders and the economy at large.

I am bored of the discussions that put gender equality and diversity in the too-hard pile.

Gender equality can be achieved, but it will only come to fruition when we want it.

This desire must be accomplished – without women being fully involved in the workforce our economy can only be so strong. We will not be as innovative and productive as we need to be in an increasingly complex global economic environment.

The most frustrating thing though is that it is entirely achievable. Organisational and civic leaders need to stand up and prioritise this.