SUPPORTING one another was a key message to come from an International Women’s Day breakfast, organised by the Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia.
The event was held at Ryne Restaurant in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy North.
Keynote speaker and workplace sociologist Marie-Claire Ross emphasised the need for women to support one another, noting some of her early female managers had been the opposite.
She also argued the need to value those skills unique to women.
“We need to really value these skills and realise that what makes us different is actually a great thing,” Ms Ross said.
“I’m not here to say that male leadership is terrible, what I want to see is more of a balance.
“There are some fantastic male leaders out there and there are some fantastic female leaders.
“It is really about combining masculine and feminine leadership skills. And women need to support one another.”
SCLAA chairman Amanda O’Brien also addressed the gathering, arguing the importance of working together for gender parity across the social, economic, political and cultural spheres.
Ms O’Brien noted only 14% of women in logistics were employed at senior levels and the average wage for women in the industry was 15.3% less than men.
She also noted the lack of progress in bringing more women onto corporate boards.
Expanding her theme internationally, Ms O’Brien said 71% of those living in slavery today were female.
She urged women to “call it out” in regards behaviour and the issues that were holding them back. “We have a long way to go. We need to trust each other,” Ms O’Brien concluded.
