This project was set up with a view to help the partners understand, and to respond to, why women were progressing to partnership in lesser numbers, proportionately, than the numbers in which they join the firm as graduates.
A presentation on these issues was made to the partners which included a challenging and compelling presentation from Ann Sherry (then Chief Executive Officer, Westpac Group Executive, New Zealand and Pacific) on steps taken at Westpac to address similar issues.
Steering Committee
A Steering Committee was established which continues to oversee the implementation of a range of initiatives aimed at ensuring that a greater number of women progress to senior positions, including partnership. The Steering Committee has been working hard towards the development and roll-out of the various initiatives such as the Women@AAR networks and Mentoring Program.
Women@AAR Networks
Our Women@AAR Networks are designed to foster networking, communication and career development opportunities for our women in each of our Australian offices. The networks operate in each of Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and provide Women@AAR (and interested men) with regular opportunities to network with one another and share experiences about their career development and other issues of interest with other women (both inside and outside the firm), access to information, and education to enhance their career development. The networks generally promote the advancement and retention of talented women - just as we are very keen to continue to advance and retain talented men.
Mentoring Program
Under the Mentoring Program, each of the women participants is matched with an external (leading business person) mentor, with a view to supporting them to develop strong professional relationships, providing them with high level support for their career development and facilitating and supporting effective goal setting and career planning to enhance their development and promotion within the Firm.
The Mentoring Program is now in its third year, and has proved to be one of Women@AAR great successes. Feedback from the women participants has been very positive though the program continues to develop and evolve to ensure it continues to meet the diverse needs of our women.
Women in Partnership
This seminar series is our newest offering as part of the suite of programs and initiatives that is Women@AAR.
The series aims to provide a unique opportunity for women partners, special counsel, senior associates and lawyers to get together with women from their professional networks (including clients) in a forum designed to enlighten, challenge and inspire. High calibre speakers drawn from a diverse range of disciplines and specialities will be invited to speak on a breadth of topics ranging from generational change and the evolving nature of the workforce to the challenges faces by business to achieve a sustainable future.
Women in Partnership was launched in Melbourne on 29 May 2007 by Bernard Salt. Bernard led an engaging and informative discussion on generation change, and participants were delighted to receive their own copy of Bernard's latest book, The Big Picture.
We are extremely excited about these initiatives, and believe that they will help us unlock the full potential of our people - for our clients' benefit and for ours.
