Challenging Change

Last month, CMTG Director Mia Filpo attended Business News’ Challenging Change breakfast event at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre.

Initially planned for International Women’s Day but postponed due to COVID-19, the event importantly brought together some of WA’s prominent leaders and businesspeople alike to discuss and consider the wide-ranging contribution of women in our great state and exploring pathways for future action.

Upon close of event, Mia shared her key takeaway: reform is happening, but more needs to be done to work towards gender parity.

“Our country’s leaders are reforming change to make return to work more viable for women, however many women still retain the majority of home and childcare responsibilities,” she said.

“To be able to return to work, these responsibilities need to be shared fairly between parents.”

Mia said it’s not just about reforming change so women can go back to work after having a child, it’s also about making it attainable for men to contribute to home life.

“As business owners, we can do this by being more flexible to grant men the option to work part-time or adjust start times so fathers can take on an equal share of the home and childcare responsibilities,” she said.

Panel speakers at the event included Zip Co Chair Diane Smith-Gander AO, Leader of the Opposition Hon Mia Davies MLA, Rio Tinto Managing Director Rail, Port and Core Services Richard Cohen, Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations Chief Executive Rebecca Tomkinson and Clough Vice President Strategy and Development Carl Titchmarch.

In particular, Mia embraced a comment from Mr Titchmarch.

“His comment to ‘be brave’ and put yourself forward really resonated with me. As women, we really need to show up, put our hands up, and get ourselves out there.”