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Mentoring essential for gender equality say top business women
Embargoed until 9 November, 2010 – Top Australian business women believe that
mentoring young women would prove more valuable than quotas in improving gender
equality at senior levels of business.
Almost three quarters of respondents (72 per cent) to a survey of state winners and finalists
of the 2010 Telstra Business Women’s Awards nominated mentoring programs for talented
young women as vital for greater gender equality.
Eighty-three per cent of the women surveyed said mentoring should be an essential
component of a positive business culture while almost two-thirds of the women (65 per
cent) said they have enjoyed the benefits of a mentor during their business careers.
Only 15 per cent favoured gender quotas in the hiring, retaining or development of women
as an initiative to aid gender equality. The second-highest ranked measure was flexible
working conditions and locations (60 per cent) while 40 per cent of respondents nominated
practices that encourage women to apply for new roles.
The survey conducted during the past fortnight and consisting of 68 successful business
women from across Australia, was released as five women from NSW prepare to attend the
Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards in Melbourne this week following their earlier
success in the NSW Awards.
The responses were split almost equally on the question of whether business should comply
with government-enforceable quotas, if established, on the number of senior and middle
management positions occupied by women, subject to competency standards.
Thirty-nine per cent supported the proposition but 42 per cent said business should not
have to comply with quotas. While 34 per cent of those surveyed believed it should be
mandatory for businesses to set publicly-reported, measurable targets for the number of
women at senior and middle management, 54 per cent did not agree.
When asked to nominate the biggest obstacles to women progressing to senior roles:
68 per cent chose the difficulties of juggling work and life responsibilities;
57 per cent said women’s confidence held them back; and
35 per cent nominated a lack of awareness about the value that gender equality can
deliver to business performance.
Lack of affordable, reliable childcare was nominated by 71 per cent of those surveyed as
one of the biggest obstacles to women returning to work after having children. Sixty-three
per cent chose a lack of flexible working arrangements while 38 per cent said the paucity of
female role models managing senior business roles was another of the key barriers.
Forty-five per cent of those surveyed said they had experienced barriers in their career
advancement that they attributed to gender bias.
Telstra Chief Marketing Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador Kate
McKenzie said the 2010 Awards finalists and winners surveyed were successful business
women whose views provided a valuable insight into issues currently facing women in the
workplace.
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“These outstanding women are business owners or managers in a diverse range of
industries, government and not-for-profit organisations whose achievements inspire others.”
The national finals of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, now in their 16th year, will be
held in Melbourne on 11 November, where the 2010 Telstra Australian Business Woman of
the Year will be announced.
State and territory winners and national winners of the TBWAs will share more than
$200,000 in overall cash and prizes and join an alumni of outstanding past winners.
National finalists for the 2010 Telstra Business Women’s Awards
COMMONWEALTH BANK BUSINESS OWNER AWARD
NOKIA BUSINESS INNOVATION AWARD
Yvette Adams, The Creative Collective
QLD
Brenda Ainsworth, ACT Health
ACT
Corinne Bot, Polyglot Group Pty Ltd
NSW
Jessica Blackwell, Equestricare
WA
Jan Ford, Jan Ford Real Estate
WA
Marnie Douglas, Ergoworks Physiotherapy
and Consulting
NSW
Heather Malone, Penny’s Fancy Dress
NT
Dr Kirsten Heimann, School of Marine and
Tropical Biology, James Cook University
QLD
Melissa Mellen, Murray F. Young & Associates
(MFR)
SA
Robyn Lewis, VisitVineyards.com
TAS
Sharon Pearson, The Coaching Institute
VIC
Kris Lloyd, Woodside Cheese Wrights
SA
Kristi Seymour, 41 Degrees Real Estate
TAS
Louise McCormick, Department of
Construction and Infrastructure
NT
Kate Sykes, CareerMums Pty Ltd
ACT
Alexandra Wardle, Minki Moop Pty Ltd
(Qubies)
VIC
HUDSON PRIVATE AND CORPORATE SECTOR AWARD
MARIE CLAIRE YOUNG BUSINESS WOMENS AWARD
Karin Adcock, Pandora Jewelry
NSW
Lee Broomhall, Workpower Incorporated
WA
Jane Bennett, Ashgrove Cheese
TAS
Lauren Brown, Pulse Marketing Group
NSW
Jill Coombe, Bridge Clinic
SA
Janet Buhagiar, St Vincent de Paul Society
NT
Denise Goldsworthy, Rio Tinto
WA
Melanie Gordon, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi
Alliance
QLD
Megan Houghton, City Smart
QLD
Peta Mantzarapis, Maloney Field Services
SA
Janet Matton, IBM Australia Ltd
VIC
Kate Morris, Adore Beauty
VIC
Carol Sawyer, Canberra Southern Cross Club Ltd
ACT
Teena O'Keefe, Dance Fit
TAS
Carly-Jane Tozer, CJ’s Style
ACT
WHITE PAGES COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT AWARD
TELSTRA AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS WOMAN
Janet Buhagiar, St Vincent de Paul Society
NT
Karin Adcock, Pandora Jewelry
NSW
Catherine Carter, Property Council of Australia
ACT
Jane Bennett, Ashgrove Cheese
TAS
Margaret Flynn, CentaCare, Wilcannia-Forbes
NSW
Denise Goldsworthy, Rio Tinto
WA
Jo Harrison-Ward, Fire and Emergency Services
Authority (FESA)
WA
Megan Houghton, City Smart
QLD
Nicole Highet, beyondblue
VIC
Heather Malone, Penny’s Fancy Dress
NT
Debra Howe, Toowoomba Regional Council
QLD
Janet Matton, IBM Australia Ltd
VIC
Tanya Monro, Institute for Photonics & Advanced
Sensing
SA
Melissa Mellen, Murray F. Young & Associates
(MFR)
SA
Amanda Quealy, The Hobart Clinic
TAS
Kate Sykes, CareerMums Pty Ltd
ACT
Media contacts:
Telstra – Kathryn McFarlane: 0419 850 201
Lighthouse Communications Group – Natasha Ciesielski: 0428 480 710 / 02 9262 3868
Reference: 398/2010
NEWS 
