Corporate social responsibility and gender equality

This event will bring together the expertise of several organisations determined to promote these ideals to other corporates.

Panellists include:

Vicki Ditcham: Vicki co-founded EquityJV earlier this year to use the system of finance as a tool for addressing gender based violence. Co-author of the Due Diligence Guide for Australian Investors in October 2020, she has now begun translating this into steps for investors and corporate decision makers to contribute to changing the norms that tolerate sexual, domestic and family violence in our society.

Vicki and EquityJV believe that gender inequity is a root cause of gender-based violence, and therefore a broad, multi-faceted and do no harm approach is needed at a systemic level to shift the dial on what we consider to be our national shame.

Mary Jung: Mary has held her current role for the past 15 years, managing Community Investment for Pinnacle as part of a broad Sustainability agenda, including holding the positions of CEO and Company Secretary for the company’s corporate philanthropy arm - the Pinnacle Charitable Foundation.

Mary's career has focused on an extensive range of marketing and communications disciplines, spanning the private, corporate, government and not for profit sectors. Industries include international shipping (Cunard), international hospitality (Hyatt), international aid (CARE Australia), local government (Northern Territory) and professional services through Corrs (law) and now Pinnacle Investment Management (investment management).

Jennifer Cobley: Jen Cobley is an experienced leader of strategic corporate and community partnerships and programs, driving social and commercial outcomes. She has a demonstrated history of working in the insurance industry and in building cross sector partnerships.

As Executive Manager, Disaster Resilience at IAG, Jen leads a team responsible for developing and executing activities that enable communities in Australia and New Zealand to better prepare for and respond to natural hazards, contributing to IAG’s purpose to ‘make your world a safer place’.

Anne-Marie Elias: Anne-Marie is a respected and trusted adviser across government, NGO, industry and academia. Anne-Marie maintains solid networks cultivated over three decades across political parties, social impact, innovation and change.

Anne-Marie is passionate, committed and results driven and has been described by peers and stakeholders as “an influencer, an inspiration, and a strategic thinker.” She is a leader in the innovation, entrepreneur, start-up and tech ecosystem.

Her expertise in government, strategy, stakeholder engagement and advocacy has allowed her to be part of the delivery of significant programs and reforms.

Daisy Gardener: Daisy has 15 years' experience leading successful business and human rights initiatives across Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia and Bangladesh. She has worked on corporate accountability in mining, tax, land rights and workers rights and published widely on corporate accountability and gender justice.

Sexual harassment poses operational, legal, reputational and financial risks for companies. In this session Daisy will talk about how communicating Respect@Work prevention and response measures can demonstrate a systematic and thorough approach to investors, staff and other stakeholders.