Elizabeth Broderick

Elizabeth Broderick on the left (2013)

Elizabeth Broderick AO is an Australian lawyer, who was the Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner for over eight years from 2007 to 2015.[1] She is a former partner and head of legal technology at Ashurst Australia (then called Blake Dawson Waldron), a global commercial law firm.[2]

Early life

Broderick grew up in Caringbah, New South Wales as the daughter of a doctor and physiotherapist, Frank and Margot. She has two sisters including an identical twin—Jane Latimer.[2]

Career

As a Lawyer

Broderick is trained as a lawyer. She has spoken publicly about her own experiences of sexual harassment by a client as a young lawyer.[3]

At law firm Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst), Broderick worked part-time for twelve years while she was a partner - the first partner at the firm to work part-time.[4] This was a "revolutionary change in law-firm culture". She also created a database giving people legal advice at low cost. Broderick was named "Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year" (2000–2001) as a result of these achievements.[2]

As Sex Discrimination Commissioner

As Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Broderick worked on equal-pay cases, "proposed a model for the paid parental leave scheme", and commented publicly on sexual harassment cases.[2]

Male Champions of Change (MCC)

This was one of Broderick's signature initiatives as Commissioner. She persuaded many of "the most powerful men in the country" to publicly commit to being part of the group and take action on gender inequality.[3] The group is still active and has inspired the creation of many MCC groups in other sectors, including architecture,[5] property,[6] elite sports[7] and in Victoria.[8] Current members of the Founding MCC group include, Alan Joyce, Mike Smith, Ian Narev, Kevin McCann, Elmer Funke Kupper, Martin Parkinson, David Thodey and Lieutenant General David Morrison.[9]

The Male Champions of Change have released progress reports in 2011,[10] 2013[11] and 2014.[12] They also partnered with Chief Executive Women to develop a model for leaders to use in order to examine their own actions and 'Leadership Shadow'.[13]

Australian Defence Force Investigation

In 2014, she published a fourth and final report on gender-discriminatory practices in the Australian Defence Force.[14]

Anne Summers Conversations

In April 2015, Elizabeth Broderick was invited to speak to Australian journalist and former advisor to the Hawke and Keating governments, Anne Summers, on stage at an Anne Summers Conversations event to speak about gender inequality and the past 8 years of her position as Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

References

  1. ↑ "Farewell to Elizabeth Broderick | Australian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Keenan, Catherine (4 March 2011). "Meet Elizabeth Broderick, the woman who can walk into any boardroom and strike a deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Frankly Speaking With Elizabeth Broderick". Marie Claire. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Thinkers No 4: Elizabeth Broderick". The Power Index. Crikey.
  5. ↑ "Champions of Change | ACA - Association of Consulting Architects Australia". www.aca.org.au. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  6. ↑ "Property Male Champions of change". www.propertycouncil.com.au. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  7. ↑ "Elite sports CEOs committed to promoting women in leadership". Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  8. ↑ "Leading men to champion workplace gender equality - Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission". www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  9. ↑ "Champions - Male Champions of Change". Male Champions of Change. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  10. ↑ "Resources & Reports - Male Champions of Change". Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  11. ↑ "Accelerating the advancement of women in leadership: Listening, Learning, Leading | Australian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  12. ↑ "Male Champions of Change - Progress Report 2014 | Australian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  13. ↑ "It starts with us - The Leadership Shadow | Australian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  14. ↑ Snow, Deborah (26 March 2014). "'Significant progress' but Elizabeth Broderick warns of backlash in Defence over boosting women in the ranks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
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