Gender equality isn't hard

Yes, sometimes concession will need to be made to rectify this. Support systems and quotas have a role here to combat the pervasive and persistent challenges here.

That may not be ideal, but we cannot sit here and think that the sum of all intelligence, innovation and wisdom sits in the hands of university-educated white men – an increasingly small part of the population.

If John Mulcahy can achieve this, all corporations can.

There are a bevy of talented and willing women who want to and can step up.

It might be a bit harsh, but those recruiting should try harder to support gender equality. Because if you cannot find a suitable woman, you are not trying hard enough.

The excuses against supporting women are stale and flop in the face of logic.

The Prime Minister and captains of industry must use these quieter weeks to consider what they can do to support women next year.