Global Women CEO Agnes Naera connected in with Dale Husband at Waatea News to talk about our 15 Years Gala, and the mahi Global Women undertakes for the advancement of women in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“[Global Women] was set up by many of the women who were first, the first prime minister, the first governor general, the first judge…” says Agnes. “It started off as a place of safety for them to have conversations without being judged or asked to do something.”
In addition to creating a network where women are able to connect, share ideas and support one another, Global Women is dedicated to advancing gender equity in the workplace.
Global Women’s 40:40:20 campaign aims to see a ratio of 40% women, 40% men, 20% any gender in senior leadership teams and governance Boards.
“We’ve just done a seven-year trend report around [40:40:20],” says Agnes. “What it tells us definitely is that it is a journey, not a destination. The seven founding partners have all reached that 40:40.”
In addition to the 40:40:20 campaign, Global Women has led the charge in raising awareness and advocating for change for women in business, including key campaigns around the motherhood penalty and the gender pay gap.
Over the past 15 years, the focus on gender has expanded into other areas of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with Agnes speaking to Global Women’s commitment to wāhine Māori and Treaty partnership.
“This year we took our own membership, which is about 400, to Waitangi. That was a really transformational experience for us all,” says Agnes. “We are really clear that Māori wāhine are part of our strategic plan, as are the corporates that we work with.”
The anniversary gala, celebrating 15 years of impact and shaping the next 15, once again featured Auckland Girls Grammar’s Ngā Tūmanako o Kahurangi, who performed waiata tautoko for the evening. The evening featured key speakers Dame Jenny Shipley (founding member), The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon (previous partner and Champion for Change while CEO at Air New Zealand) and Dame Theresa Gattung (Global Women Chair and Champions for Change Vice-Chair).
“Every day I do my work I remember the wāhine, and what it must have taken to start this up,” says Agnes. “It’s a time for us to all come together… people who are like-minded. We don’t always look alike, but we are certain about a nation where our girls and our women flourish alongside others.”
Listen to the full interview below: