Huge congratulations to our partners Westpac, ANZ and Bell Gully for winning categories at the White Camellia Awards evening last Thursday.
Driven by the EEO Trust, the White Camellia Awards recognise organisations that are promoting gender equity through the seven international United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) – awarding one New Zealand company for each principle.
Global Women major partner ANZ won the award for Principle 5: Enterprise Development, Supply Chain and Marketing Practices, in recognition of their work/efforts to implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women.
Global Women major partner Westpac won the award for Principle 2: Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Non-discrimination, in recognition of their work/efforts to treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and non-discrimination.
Global Women support partner Bell Gully won the award for Principle 6: Community Leadership and Engagement, in recognition of their work/efforts to promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.WEPs Committee member and EEO Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue says companies who commit to the seven principles create a platform for true gender equity in their organisation.
“To make progress toward these principles requires planned actions and targeted policies by CEOs and organisations.”
ANZ described themselves as incredibly ambitious about achieving gender equality and challenged other companies to make some of the changes they have including making “every role flexible”, specifying that all recruitment shortlists must include women candidates, and topping up KiwiSaver contributions for employees on maternity leave.
Other winners at this year’s White Camellia Awards include Coca Cola Amatil NZ (awarded Supreme Winner), Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Chapman Tripp, Sovereign, and Simpson Grierson. The awards were launched in 2013 and this year attracted 25 percent more entries.
United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principals
The WEPs are based on sound business practices and have inspired companies internationally either to establish new programmes or to adapt existing policies to realise women’s empowerment.
They are:
Principle 1 – Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality Principle 2 – Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and non- discrimination Principle 3 – Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers Principle 4 – Promote education, training and professional development for women Principle 5 – Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women Principle 6 – Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy Principle 7 – Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality
www.weprinciples.org
Photo: Westpac’s GM HR Gina Dellabarca with EEO commissioner Jackie Blue; Bell Gully partner Ian Gault with Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Barnett; ANZ’s GM HR Felicity Evans with EEO Trust CEO Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie