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Champions for Change, a collective of over 80 leading CEOs and Chairs, are warning New Zealand business leaders that they will fall behind if they are not taking steps to prioritise diversity, equity and inclusion now.
This one of the loudest echoes in the freshly-launched ‘Lighting the Pathway to Change’ — the annual insights on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Impact by the Champions for Change, which has launched on 13 July 2023.
The Champions track their progress year upon year through this report, demonstrating the group’s commitment to transparency and accountability in line with the collective’s joint Kaupapa and workstreams.
“Businesses who are not creating working environments… that are attractive to the full talent pool of our country may soon flounder”
The Champions tracks its member’s progress against a number of key DE&I measures.
It’s these very measures that have created this cautionary note for all of Aotearoa New Zealand’s organisations.
Our rapidly changing demographic profile means that businesses who are not creating working environments, business models, policies and cultures that are attractive to the full talent pool of our country may soon flounder.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways organisations can open their apertures to new, improved and ultimately equitable ways of operating — ones that both enhance their competitiveness advantage while remaining relevant to the shifting landscape.
With the Champions continuing to report shifts as a collective. Key figures from this year’s report include:
- Champions for Change reported a 2% YoY increase as a collective of women on boards this year
- This is an increase from increase from 37% in 2022 to 39% in 2023
- 14% more Champion organisations now have at least 40% of women on boards compared to last year (54% overall)
- 28% of Champions organisations have female CEOs, this is up 2% from last year
- This compares favourably to NZX50 organisations who only have 12% female CEOs or 6 out of 50
- Champions organisations are also reporting a higher proportion of ethnically diverse people than the NZ population
“We can’t be creating our businesses based on what’s worked in the past or what’s even working now. We need to be looking at the future” — Antonia Watson, CEO of ANZ New Zealand and Co-Chair of Champions for Change.
Antonia Watson, CEO of ANZ New Zealand and Co-Chair of Champions for Change says:
“The principles of diversity, equity and inclusion is important to Aotearoa New Zealand because of the incredibly diverse society that we are, and that we’re becoming even more so by the day.
“We can’t be creating our businesses based on what’s worked in the past or what’s even working now. We need to be looking at the future – who are our future workforces, what do they value, how can we inspire them and enable them to reach their potential – and make those changes now.”
“They’ll probably need to ask themselves some uncomfortable questions and look at some uncomfortable figures – but that’s progress.”
“To do this, leaders need to have a laser-focus on DE&I and scrutinise how these values show up in their workplaces. Where are the gaps – literally, they’ll probably need to ask themselves some uncomfortable questions and look at some uncomfortable figures – but that’s progress.”
“As a people, I truly believe that we have a real sense of fairness and see the importance of giving everyone a fair shot” — Matt Prichard Executive Chair, KPMG and Co-Chair of Champions for Change
Matt Prichard Executive Chair, KPMG and Co-Chair of Champions for Change says:
“The businesses that will thrive in the next few years will be those who have actively taken the steps to ensure their business is fit-for-purpose to employ and service the New Zealand of the future.
“As a people, I truly believe that we have a real sense of fairness and see the importance of giving everyone a fair shot. This means we want to foster workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and grow and feel like it’s a place where they belong.
“The progress Champions for Change members have achieved in their organisations and businesses over the years shows how impactful an intentional focus on diversity, equity and inclusion can be. I hope this spurs more businesses and organisations to join us in our mission.”
This years’ Champions For Change ‘Lighting the Pathways to Change’ Diversity and Inclusion Report 2023 can be found here: https://championsforchange.globalwomen.org.nz