(l-r) Kylie Perry, Hayley Dunn, Zara Newton, Melissa Liddle and Brie Agnew​

Last week, employees from Kimberly-Clark Australia attended the National Association for Women in Operations (NAWO) inaugural launch hosted by Coca-Cola Amatil in Adelaide, to celebrate the launch of NAWO expanding to South Australia, and as an opportunity to discuss workplace gender diversity, and the pragmatic and practical actions to attract, retain and develop female talent in operations.

Founded in 2009, NAWO’s primary objective is to develop the pipeline of talented women in operations and support them as they progress, driven by the mission of creating “a world where women and men can be equally represented and valued at every level”. Kimberly-Clark Australia signed a corporate membership with NAWO in 2015, with the organisation expanding to New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and now South Australia.

Attended by South Australia’s operational business leaders, the event provided a valuable opportunity for KCA employee’s to take a tour of the Coca-Cola operations in Adelaide, before listening to a diverse panel of female speakers moderated by Jenny McAuliffe, Executive General Manager People, ARTC, and Chair of the inaugural NAWO SA State Committee, who each discussed their views and experiences on some of the key questions pertaining to female participation in male dominated fields, and share their insights to identify practical actions to address the barriers.

Kate Mason, Chief Transformational Officer, Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) and also Chair of the Starlight Foundation’s NSW Advisory Board and founding member of the Australian Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, presented the keynote address, “Together we succeed”, discussing her honest and heartfelt journey to landing her current role and the challenges faced throughout this journey.  Other panel speakers included:

• Megan McCracken – General Manager – Safety, People & Corporate Affairs, Brookfield Rail; NAWO Board Member
• Genevieve Rueger – Major, Australian Army, and Blackhawk pilot
• Con Tragakis – Chairman of Partners, KPMG South Australia; member of SA Chiefs for Gender Equity Board.

NAWO’s success has hinged on seeking insight into what diversity practices work well, and providing practical tools and mentoring for women’s professional development. With the launch in Adelaide, each state now has a committee of dedicated professionals to centre their approach on four key areas; attract more women, develop individuals as leaders, advise business leaders, advocate and inform.

The event provided a valuable forum for discussing key questions pertaining to female participation in male dominated fields, and sharing insights to identify practical actions to address the barriers. Furthermore, the launch was a great networking opportunity for KCA employees to meet industry professionals and leaders within the operational field, and how industry professionals can work more closely in the future to bridge the gender diversity gap and “inspire women to take the lead”.