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Melissa Coade
Pay equity will be championed by the regional managing partner of a global firm following her appointment as ambassador to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
Pay equity will be championed by the regional managing partner of a global firm following her appointment as ambassador to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has announced that one of its leading partners, Sue Gilchrist, will be the firm’s pay equity ambassador to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
The appointment is another feather in the cap for Ms Gilchrist, who is also the joint regional managing partner for HSF. She has dedicated a long and successful career to improving gender diversity within the profession and global firm.
Ms Gilchrist said she was proud to step into a role that championed the objectives of the WGEA.
“Taking the pay equity pledge is a reflection of my commitment to work towards the agency’s goal of making gender pay equity a standard business practice,” Ms Gilchrist said.
“I am proud to be a WGEA pay equity ambassador. The work the agency does is essential to ensure that the issue of the gender pay gap is being proactively addressed by the business community within Australia,” she said.
In a statement released by the global firm, HSF described the partner’s pledge as part of a wider agenda to promote workplace diversity and inclusivity. A 30 per cent target for women in partnership and leadership roles by 2019 was highlighted as one of its core aims. Business initiatives including KPIs, sponsorship, talent development and monitoring were also flagged by HSF as supporting the overall agenda of cultural change.
“In addition to our gender targets, we also have programs in place to address the issue from a practical perspective, including unconscious bias and inclusive leadership training,” Ms Gilchrist said.
“We understand the importance of actively supporting flexible working arrangements within the firm, to support our people to feel more engaged while ensuring optimal client service.”
