A diverse and inclusive workplace is essential for innovation, growth and achieving our mission to create exceptional places for Western Australians. As Chief Executive Officer, I am committed to advancing gender equity within DevelopmentWA and across the business community. That's why we are proud members of CEOs for Gender Equity.

Our journey towards gender equity began with the development and implementation of our Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management Plan 2023-2026. This plan provides a framework for fostering a workplace culture that values diversity at all levels. We focused on creating fair practices and behaviours, improving employment access and providing EEO training for all staff. This foundational work has been instrumental in shaping our approach.

I am pleased to share some of our recent achievements. We have surpassed our target of 40% women in senior leadership, achieving 46% representation. We are also committed to pay parity and have implemented strategies, including continuous gender gap reporting and annual reviews. Furthermore, we have invested in programs like our Women in Leadership initiative, including participation in the Property Council’s 500 Women in Property program, to support the development and advancement of women within DevelopmentWA and the broader property industry.

We also recognise the importance of work-life balance and offer a range of flexible working arrangements, including generous parental leave policies and the ROAR program to support employees returning from parental leave. While we are proud of these achievements, we recognise that the journey towards true gender equity is ongoing. We will continue to monitor our progress and identify areas for improvement.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to building on our progress. We will continue to focus on recruiting and supporting women in project development and leadership roles and ensure our policies and programs continue to support the diverse needs of our workforce. We will also continue to promote and encourage the uptake of flexible work arrangements for all employees.

I firmly believe that achieving gender equity is not just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. Together, we can build a more equitable and prosperous future for Western Australia