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Below you'll find a range of initiatives in the water sector and other sectors that are driving diversity, inclusion and equality. 

Male Champions of Change release first combined Impact Report
Male Champions of Change (MCC) have released their first combined Impact Report (FY2017-18) detailing progress on actions to achieve gender equality and advance more women into leadership positions. The report tracks 142 organisations, and shows that 68% of MCC members have achieved or improved gender balance in key management personnel since their first MCC report. 41% of organisations achieved gender balance in their workforce overall this year, however there is still more work required to face the complex issues that result in gender inequality. Read the full report here.

UNSW recognised for advancing gender equality in STEMM
UNSW Sydney has been awarded the inaugural Athena SWAN Bronze Institution Award for its work in advancing gender equity and diversity in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) disciplines in higher education and research. The achievement is the result of a rigorous, two-year process in which UNSW was required to generate and analyse data demonstrating that it has a solid foundation for eliminating gender bias and is developing an inclusive culture that values all staff. Read more here.

New Aurecon chief Louise Adams' bid to build workforce of the future
Aurecon's new head Louise Adams will focus on creating the workplace of the future as digital disruption increases skill pressures and forces engineers to learn how to code. Ms Adams was announced as managing director of the engineering consulting firm's Australian and New Zealand arms on Thursday in a rare breakthrough for women in a male-dominated industry. Read more here.

Women in the Workplace 2018
Companies report that they are highly committed to gender diversity. But that commitment has not translated into meaningful progress. Progress isn’t just slow. It’s stalled. The Women in the Workplace 2018 study was conducted by McKinsey in partnership with LeanIn.Org. They found that to achieve equality, companies must turn good intentions into concrete action. Have a read here.

“I’m Not Disabled Until You Put Stairs In Front Of Me”
In this personal post, Rhonda Brighton-Hall, CEO and Founder of mwah shares some inspiring words about inclusion and how it is in our hands to invent a better, more inclusive society. Read it here.

Sue Murphy details the why for gender diversity at the Water Corporation
Check out this video from CEOs for Gender Equity where Sue Murphy talks about why Water Corporation is committed to gender diversity. Watch it here.

The Art of Inclusion Podcast Series
The Art of Inclusion is Diversity Council Australia's own podcast where they peer into the lives of fascinating people, whose stories shed light on the wider social issues facing Australia, and the world. Over six episodes, they'll share the experiences of politicians, journalists, athletes and executives on how to master The Art of Inclusion. Check it out here.

How to make flexible work successful
Almost a third of all employed Australians regularly work from home. Flexible work is not without its challenges but both the Australian Taxation Office and the City of Melbourne have made a successful go of it. Read the full article here.

How to help employees transition back to work
A fantastic article from South East Water's Bridget Thakrar on creating a culture of inclusion at work. In it, she questions why many leaders still believe Monday-Friday, 9-5 is the only option for work, and challenges organisations to try flexibility on for size. Read the full LinkedIn article here.

ABC News: Are aid programs aimed at empowering women doing more harm than good?
Type the words "sewing machine" and "empowerment" into a search engine and you'll yield hundreds of thousands of results. That's because non-profit organisations and aid programs have led us to believe that small-scale business ventures — via sewing machines, microloans and even goats — empower women in developing nations, known collectively as the Global South. Read the full article here.

Female leaders in NSW Public Sector honoured last night
50 of NSW’s top performers in the state’s Public Sector were honoured and recognised for their work as they were named on the inaugural Top 50 Public Sector Women (NSW) List. Congratulations to member, Angela Tsoukatos, A/General Manager, Customer, Strategy and Regulation, Sydney Water Corporation her contributions. Read more here.

Diversity is an Innovation Metric
This article, by Grasshopper Herder, discusses why a lack of diversity is terrible for innovation capacity, and why we should think about measuring diversity as an innovation metric. Click here to read the full article.

The Women's Agenda Emerging Leaders Playbook
Got leadership ambitions? Women's Agenda in partnership with Charles Sturt University are here to help! The Women's Agenda Emerging Leaders Playbook features tips and strategies for accelerating your leadership capabilities and success. Click here to read more.

The 20 Best Australian Workplaces for New Dads 2018 revealed
Great to see so many of our members listed in the top 20. See the full list here.

Gender Equality Top 100
Apolitical have compiled a list of the 100 most influential people in gender policy around the world. Read more here. 

Alexis George appointed to Deputy CEO of ANZ
Congratulations Alexis. Read more about her appointment here, here or here.

Major career study shows young Australian women being hung out to dry
Employers need to commit and act to create workplaces where women are respected and valued for their expertise. There will be more women than robots in the future of work. It’s time that households, government, businesses and employers listen to them. Read more here.

2018 leaders in workplace gender equality announced
WGEA has announced the list of 2017 – 18 WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) with a record 120 organisations receiving the citation this year. Congratulations to all 120 organisations including a number of our members. To read more about EOCGE click here or to view the full list of citation holders click here.

Jacobs colours is launched in Australia
Jacobs launched the inaugural Jacobs Colours Happy Hour reinforcing the firm's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Jacobs Colours has been operating in the UK for the past couple of years and Jacobs Australia is delighted to be able to bring this initiative to Australia. Read more about Jacobs Colours here.

Manufacturers' Monthly - Diversifying the Australian workforce
Australia is seeking to become an innovation nation, yet industry advocates insist a lack of workforce diversity is creating obstacles. Read more from the Manufacturers’ Monthly reports here.

IBM - I work where I make an impact on accessibility
IBM is committed to ensuring an accessible and inclusive workplace for people with disability. With four million Australians identifying as having a disability, IBM recognises that this is a large talent pool from which to attract and recruit a diverse range of skills and experience. Watch IBM's video IBM: AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE and hear from five employees who are flourishing at IBM and don't see their disability holding them back. Read more about IBM's inclusion program here.

AECOM - #BeBoldforChange
At AECOM, they are committed to driving positive change for women in the global workplace. Read about their involvement with International Women's Day 2017 as well as their #BeBoldForChange stories here.

Spotless - Embracing diversity and inclusion
Spotless has a culture of inclusion and diversity and prides itself on being an affirmative action workplace. Read more about their initiatives as well as hear from Spotless employees as how the diversity and inclusion has helped them.

Unitywater - Setting Standards for Diversity and Inclusiveness
Queensland's Unitywater is leading the change for diversity and inclusiveness in engineering, drawing rave reviews for the environment they are able to provide for women. Read more here about their commitment to fostering gender diversity.
 
PwC - Disrupting the Status Quo
Male leaders who set the rules and stereotypes are the new focus in the battle for gender equality at work. Read more about how Julie McKay, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Partner at PwC Australia is tackling this issue or watch the highlights here. 

Australia's Gender Equality Scorecard
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is an Australian Government statutory agency created by the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 charged with promoting and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces. In November the WGEA released the key findings from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency's 2016-17 reporting data. Click here to read the scorecard.

Diversity Council Australia - Inclusion@work Index 2017 - 2018
Inclusion is more than just the latest buzzword; it has benefits for business and workers too. Read the DCA-Suncorp Inclusion@work report here and find out more about the inclusion@work index here.

Women in Utilities - Charmaine Quick
Charmaine Quick, Executive General Manager - Service at Melbourne Water was recently recognised as one of Victoria's Top 50 Public Sector Women. Read about her career from an article featured in Utility Magazine here.

DFAT - Workplace diversity
DFAT recognises the importance of embracing workplace diversity, specifically valuing the unique qualities, attributes skills and experiences all employees bring to the workplace. In November 2017 DFAT has been recognised by the APS Diversity and Gender Equality Awards for their commitment to achieving a gender equal workplace. To find out more about the commitments and changes they’ve made, and continue to make click here or view this video.