Women At Work

In all my conversations with women, the quote most often shared with me is this feeling we have as working mothers that we're expected to work as if we don't have children while raising our children as if we didn't have a job. And today's guest is none other than the original author of that quote, Annabel Crabb, who's influential book The Wife Drought brought words to what women across Australia were – and are still – feeling; that women need wives, and men need lives. Annabel's career spans journalism, television, writing, podcasting, speaking and generally being funny while she talks about smart things. And now she's written a new children's book called There's a Prawn in Parliament House, so all the women who read The Wife Drought have something by their favourite nonfiction author to read to their kids! Today's conversation is a meandering chat through how little has changed since Annabel wrote The Wife Drought in 2014, the progress that has been made, her take on shifting politics due to the influence of women, her new book, and maybe a bit of pop culture.  Enjoy the show!

Today's guest is Dr Ashley McGrath, a self-described eternal optimist, fun friend, mum, step mum, wife, and a woman after my own heart, lives her life seeking forgiveness, not permission. Ashley has a personal mission to have a positive impact on one billion lives. And she's well on her way. As CEO of CEO's for Gender Equity, she brings together over 100 leaders committed to driving change within their businesses, and through the ripple effect outwards from there. As a Doctor of Philosophy, she researched the inclusion of women in the mining industry, what really works, what doesn't, and now shares that insight across multiple industries. Today we're making gender equity personal. Enjoy the show!

Women retire with 28% less super than men on average. Women over the age of 55 are the fastest growing group of homelessness, driven in large part by lower or nil super balances. And that super gap is driven by all the barriers we talk about on this podcast all the time - women are paid less so their compulsory super payments are lower, they take time out of they have children and super paid on that is minimum wage level and zero for extended unpaid leave, they face the motherhood penalty that means their earnings suffer after children, they are more likely to work part time…, whether they have children or not they do the bulk of care, domestic and mental load labour which reduces their workforce participation rates and lifetime earnings, and they have a gender available savings penalty that means it's much harder to catch up with savings and retirement. Today's guest is determined to make a difference to the gender superannuation gap. Lucy Kough worked in advertising, with a superannuation fund client when she learned about the gender gap in super. And now shes come up with a solution. It's called Tap the Gap, and today we're going to learn what, why, and how it can impact you directly.  Enjoy the show!

Australia is one of the wealthiest nations on earth, but your gender can determine how much of that wealth you have. Australian women are almost twice as likely as men to experience financial insecurity, lower levels of financial wellbeing, and poverty throughout our lives as men. Today's guest is Jenny Rolfe-Wallace a qualified teacher and financial educator, and a former financial adviser. She stood for election as an independent in the 2025 federal election and on her own podcast, "It's Not About The Money", Jenny considers why we need to stop telling individuals to solve the problems they didn't create and start investing in systemic solutions. Today, we're talking about money myths, how the system disadvantages women, and what we can do about it. Enjoy the show!

What is a fire investigator? Is the first question I asked when a listener recommended I speak with Vithyaa Thavapalan. I don't know the answer yet, but I know it's a very male dominated industry. Women make up less than 5% of urban firefighters and cultures of toxicity have been exposed. How do you push against gender and cultural expectations to live a life that has meaning for you is another question that is central to my work, and Vithyaa has spent her life doing just that. Born in Western Sydney, to Tamil parents who fled Sri Lanka during the war, she had to defy their expectations to forge her career path – a path that often finds her the only women in the room. And that has also led to environments of sexism and discrimination. Wanting to follow her dreams without having to face toxic behaviour every day, Vithyaa founded her own fire investigations company in 2024, the first fire investigation company to be founded by a woman of colour in the world.  She also founded Brown Boss Babes, Australia's first women's empowerment organisation dedicated to uplifting South Asian women, and South Asian Foundation Australia. All of this, while raising a very energetic toddler and being open about the very real transition into motherhood. Through every challenge and success, Vithyaa has remained committed to breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and inspiring others to forge their own paths. And in her own words, this is only the beginning. Enjoy the show!

This year, the number of women in both houses of Parliament reached a record-making 50.5%, that's the highest number of women in Australian federal politics ever. And as Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made." Today's guest, Licia Heath, shares RBG's sentiment, and has dedicated her work to getting more women into politics. Licia is CEO of not-for-profit, Women for Election, a non-partisan group committed to increasing the number of women in public office at local, state and federal levels. She ran in the high-profile Wentworth by-election in October 2018 and says that she didn't get elected, but she did win. And now she helps others to win. Licia has over 19 years' experience in the finance industry, established an asset management business, and does it all while raising two boys. Enjoy the show!

Artificial Intelligence has a gender gap - Women are being left behind and are up to 40% less likely to use AI. You know what else has a gender gap? Pay. The current gender pay gap in Australia is 21.8%, and every industry has a gender pay gap that sees men earning more than women – including women-dominated industries like retail, and healthcare and social assistance. Well, what might happen if you brought the two together, and use AI to solve your gender pay gap? Today's guest is Sorrel Kesby, and she's doing just that. She is cofounder of EvenBetter.AI, a start up using AI to help companies understand their gender pay gap drivers, and what to do to close the gap. In Sorrel's mind, changing the system is about top down – leaders, executives, and governments changing policies and behaviours, and bottom up – grass roots change and striving for things to be better in our own lives, which has a ripple effect outwards. Sorrel is a single mum with a background in advertising (notoriously difficult for women once they have children) and tech start-ups (also high pressure environments that are usually gender imbalanced) who's on a mission to create real change. Enjoy the show!

Laura Stewart had a big career. Then she had a baby. She went back to work, and it was a disaster – sidelined, treated differently, and a toxic workplace. So, like the rest of the 30% of women who leave their jobs within a year of having a baby, Laura left. But also like the rest of that 30%, she didn't leave the workforce, she just left a job that wasn't compatible with also having a family. She started up a consulting practice called Unravel – helping organisations Unravel complex challenges, and then at the beginning of 2025 joined forces with Vanessa Pilla and co-founded PathMaker – a female-led social enterprise helping organisations drive social value and impact This path, from big corporate to self-employed, is one that more and more women are taking. The number of female-founded small businesses has grown 77% since 1991, and the most-commonly cited reason is balance and flexibility. But it also comes with its challenges! Now, Laura's son is 2 and a half, her business is growing rapidly, and in this episode we're talking about shifting from big corporate to small business, becoming a mum, and what the juggle looks like in her life right now.  Enjoy the show!

Leah Ruppanner is the kind of person every single working mother wants to speak to, because she knows all about how your life feels, and how to fix it. She's debunking outdated gender stereotypes, like women are happier as 'homemakers' and men are bumbling caregivers, often stitching viral tiktok videos to explain, in layman's terms, what the underlying social issue really is. She's about to publish a book about the mental load and how we better share it, and her podcast MissPerceived is in the top 200 in the US and top 25 in Australia for the sciences. A research professor at the University of Melbourne, Leah was Australia's Top Gender Scholar in 2022 and 2023, is Director of The Future of Work Lab & The Gender Equity Initiative, and she's been cited on google scholar over 5000 times. Enjoy the show!

For some people, their authenticity shines through as soon as you meet them, and today's guest Aubrey Blanche-Sarellano is one of those people. With her pink and purple hair, a nose ring, and a big warm smile, she doesn't look like your typical tech person, but she's doing amazing work to embed equitable people & culture (more on what that is later) and responsible AI (more on that later too) into organisations. The world is changing, the workforce is changing, and Aubrey is doing work to make sure everyone can succeed. In this episode we're talking about what it means to construct your career and non-linear pathways, how we each have influence over ourselves and the people around us, and getting clear on what you need.  Enjoy the show!  

Every woman has a story about 'that guy' at work, the who says inappropriate things – or worse. And many women, myself included, have a story about making a complaint and then their contract suddenly comes to an end. In December 2022, Australia's Respect @ Work legislation came into effect, introducing a new positive duty for companies to proactively prevent sexual harassment, not just respond after the fact, and definitely not by firing the woman who made the complaint. Dr Anna Cody is Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission, working at the frontline of how these laws work, where there are gaps, and what we can do about it. She has just released a new report titled Speaking from Experience – The HRC listened to women who have experienced sexual harassment or sex based discrimination, and created 11 recommendations. In the words of one of the woman interviewed, "talking is lovely, but action is what gets it done" So if you want to know what action your organisation can and should be taking, and you want to know what you as an individual can do if you come across 'that guy', alongside lessons in leadership from Dr Cody, this episode's for you! Before becoming the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Cody had a distinguished career as an academic, as a lawyer specialising in discrimination and as a passionate advocate for human rights. She was previously Dean of the School of Law at Western Sydney University, has worked in human rights in Mexico, international development in East Timor and Indonesia, at the Centre for Economic and Social Rights in New York, in community legal education in El Salvador, and worked with Indigenous women in Alice Springs establishing a domestic violence service.   

Here's a career pattern you'll recognise: first, you're young, ambitious and driven, then kids arrive and you step back. A Nobel prize was actually awarded for research into that step back - so it's officially very common.  Side note, Your husband's career carries on uninterrupted while you manage everything. Then as the kids get older, you step forward again. And if you had school-age kids during the pandemic, that was a huge couple of years of homeschooling and – generally – pretty difficult work experiences. This path describes today's guest perfectly. Sarrah Le Marquand is Head of Entertainment at News Corp Australia, founding editor-in-chief of Stellar, and host of the award-winning podcast Something To Talk About. She's also an ambassador for Women's Community Shelters, supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence. Now, she's got teenage kids and is navigating separation - all while running this incredible career she's built back up. She's here to talk about those distinct career chapters, and what comes next when you're not starting over but you are starting fresh.  

This conversation with Susanne Legena exceeded my expectations, and I obviously only invite people on who I expect will be interesting in the first place! Susanne has dedicated her life to supporting equality and rights for girls, as CEO of Plan Australia. Susanne is a passionate feminist and champion of young people, and is navigating her big career whilst raising her own 12 year old daughter. We covered so much in this conversation – from climbing 10,000 steps in Sri Lanka and the life lessons she took away about wanting to stop, taking small breaks, and the value of encouragement and support, to putting herself forward as CEO of Plan so that she would at least be the worst candidate, to the fact that whatever is for you can never really be lost to you – opportunities and the right thing, will come back around. Susanne is enthusiastic, incredibly knowledgeable, and so relatable in the way she shares her passion. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did…

"The truth is you do need to be a superwoman to have a successful career and be a present parent and we need to be honest about this". Wise words from today's guest, Stacey O'Dea. This honesty is exactly what I want to bring to this podcast. Because when you hear that in order for someone to have a big job and a family, they're dropping balls all over the place that you just can't see, then it makes you feel less alone in your own juggle.  Stacey has a few non-negotiables to support her blend of work and family, and – maybe more importantly – to help change things for other working mothers around her. She loudly works flexibly. No hanging a jacket on the back of her chair and pretending she's in a meeting She's honest about the trade offs, and the compromises she's chosen to have a big job and be a present parent She picked (and kept) a partner who supports her career ambitions and does plenty of heavy lifting at home – and she's not afraid to ask, well what is their partner doing at home? When a woman steps back from work I'm so excited to be talking to COO of PWC for the past 5 years, and now Head of Clients and Markets for the firm about what it honestly takes.  

Sally Hasler took a new job when she was 36 weeks pregnant, then immediately went on maternity leave. Far from being the career handbrake we've been led to expect from a move like that, she's now CEO of Women's Health Victoria. And women's health is in focus. Almost $800m was committed in the last budget to fill the gaps in women's healthcare – and let's be honest we all know there have been plenty of gaps! Sally's a first time CEO, on the Board of Lifeline, and a St Johns Ambulance volunteer, all while raising three young kids, so she really gets what it's like to navigate career and family, while also working to positively change things for all women. She's refreshingly honest about the challenges, but also incredibly optimistic about what's possible when you get the right people around the table. In this episode, we're diving into everything from why Australia's women's health system still has massive gaps, to how Sally's approaching leadership differently, to what it's actually like trying to change the system whilst managing school drop-offs.

I tried to cheat and get ChatGPT to help me write today's intro, and it gave me a bunch of waffle about how Chief Executive Women sounds like a group that comes together to drink champagne and whinge about their husbands.  That tells you everything we need to know about AI bias.  In reality, CEW's 1300 members oversee more than $750 billion in revenue, and they're the most senior women in corporate Australia.  Today's guest is their CEO, Lisa Annese. Lisa came on the podcast previously in her role as the CEO of the Diversity Council of Australia, where she spent a decade creating the first National Index on Workplace Diversity and Inclusion, conducting seminal research into the economics of the gender pay gap and so much more.  Now she's working directly with the women who have the power to drive change. Lisa has been named one of the AFR's 100 Women of Influence. She's on the board of non-partisan organization Women for Election. She served on the New South Wales Women's Advisory Council and the Respect@Work Council. She's been awarded a medal for significant contribution to the Australian Public Service and is a member of Chief Executive Women alongside being their CEO. Chief Executive Women's mission is simple: women leaders empowering all women. If you've ever wondered what happens when you put 1,300 of Australia's most successful women in a room together, you're about to find out.

The technology industry has a persistent gender gap. And according to RMIT university, the biggest single opportunity to close Australia's digital skills gap is (drumroll please)… women.  But here's the kicker - this isn't just about tech. This is about power, money, and who gets to shape the future. When women make up only 30% of the technology workforce in an industry that's literally building tomorrow, we're all missing out. And with a critical shortage of skilled workers in tech, fixing this gap isn't just nice to have - it's economic survival. That's exactly what today's guest, Emma Jones, spends her time fighting for. Emma founded Project F with the express purpose of reducing the number of women abandoning technology mid-career - because yes, they're leaving in droves, and it's not because they can't code. She launched Australia's first national industry standards for the tech sector, the T-EDI standards, alongside the Tech Council of Australia. And as a busy mother of four, she embodies the balance between career and family life that she advocates for in the workplace But Emma's not here to give you the usual "get more girls into STEM" speech. This passionate advocate is moving the conversation beyond blaming the pipeline to tackle the real question: why are we losing talented women who've already made it into tech? What are the invisible barriers that push them out? And most importantly - what does this mean for all of us living in a world increasingly run by technology? Whether you work in tech or just live with it every day (spoiler alert: that's everyone), this conversation will change how you think about who gets to build our digital future.

Having a favorite podcast episode is like having a favorite child, so officially I loved all conversations equally, and learned so much from all of the guests. Consistently the guests on Women at Work reject that notion that we need to fix the women and instead agree we need to fix systems and cultures. But while we wait for that to happen, we are individually trying to cobble together solutions and need support with that. What I want from this podcast is for you to feel less alone in the juggle. The topics this season ranged from leadership, to why confidence isn't he solution, to collective action, every woman knowing one of 'that guy', to structural support like childcare, parental leave, flexible working and politics, to anti-racism and intersectionality, to real life stories of managing it all and how we support ourselves through the juggle. Guests this season (in order of appearance) were: Jane Caro, Joy Adan, Dr Charlotte Middleton, Dr Rae Cooper, Allegra Spender, Georgie Dent, Katherine Boicuic, Lael Stone, Karina Kallio, Kate Thwaites, Dr Amanda Stirling, Annika Freyer, Libby Lyons, Claire Harvey, Dr Leonora Risse, Sophie McCarthy, Nareen Young, Louise Baxter, Khayshie Tilak Ramesh   Enjoy the season! 

The first time Kayshie Tilak Ramesh experienced racism was in year three. Later, despite being born in Griffith, NSW and raised in Bendigo, VIC, when she was the multicultural youth commissioner she was asked to share her refugee story. Now, she's changing systems, one conversation at a time. In this conversation, Khayshie will share her recent experiences representing Australia at the United Nations Commission on the Status of women, how workplaces represent our greatest opportunity for systemic change, and we'll dig into conversations about meaningful antiracism. Khayshie's resume is impressive - Senior Industry Fellow with RMIT FORWARD: The Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation Multicultural Youth Commissioner of Victoria Inaugural Youth Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo, Young Citizen of the Year, Law Student of the Year, Premier's Volunteer Leadership Award and Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence for Service to the Victorian Community Now, she runs her own consultancy, alongside a number of board and committee positions.

Louise Baxter had a very successful career in advertising, when she hit a moment of truth, and realised she wanted to do something more meaningful with her life. Fast forward, and Louise has now been CEO of Starlight Foundation for 16 years, proving through action (and results) that a culture of positivity doesn't just feel good — it drives every business metric that matters. Under her leadership, Starlight has topped the AFR's MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES list, landed in the Top 20 Great Places to Work, and built a workplace so relentlessly positive that one team member confessed she kept waiting for the façade to drop… four years later, she's still waiting. Louise also knows the juggle — she's a mum, a leader, and someone who's managed to balance impact, ambition, and the everyday chaos of real life. This is a conversation about values, leadership, workplace culture, and the kind of optimism that's less about slogans and more about systems that actually work.

Professor Nareen Young is Associate Dean, Indigenous Engagement and Leadership at UTS Business School, and leads the Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research. She is one of Australia's most respected workplace diversity practitioners and thinkers. For 15 years, prior to UTS and Jumbunna, Nareen was the Director of PWC Indigenous Consulting, CEO of Diversity Council Australia and Director of the NSW Working Women's Centre, and was nominated for an Australian Human Rights Award and Medal for her work during that time. Nareen is influenced by both her Indigenous and culturally diverse heritages in all her work and has received numerous awards and acknowledgements, including the inaugural Westpac 100 Women of Influence honour for Diversity, and she commentates and publishes her work widely across media and academia. In this episode Nareen mentioned: Talking up to the White Woman, by Aileen Moreton-Robinson Sister Girl, by Jackie Huggins Gari Yala Gendered Insights Report

Sophie McCarthy had some big shoes to fill. Her mother Wendy has been at the forefront of feminist activism for decades, and Sophie picked up the mantle and is making her own huge impact on gender equality. As CEO of McCarthy mentoring, Sophie partners with leading companies to design programs that drive change, engage people and develop leaders. With her upbringing, it's no surprise that Sophie participates in her own advocacy work, As Chair of Sydney Community Foundation, she helps support the most vulnerable women in Sydney, giving a voice to women who don't get heard. Sophie's passionate about doing work that actually makes a difference, and breaking down barriers that prevent equality. 

In Apolitical's list of 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy, you find Jacinda Ardern, former PM of NZ, and you also find today's guest Dr. Leonora Risse. Leonora is an economist who specialises in gender equality. Her focus is women in the workforce, gender pay gaps, why there aren't more women in leadership, societal norms that see women doing the majority of care work, gender biases and resistance to equality initiatives. And she VERY much believes that we need to fix the system, NOT the women. With a PhD focused on paid maternity leave in Australia, she is co-founder of the Women in Economics Network in Australia, a Research Fellow with the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University, and a Research Fellow with the Women's Leadership Institute Australia. She's one of the most passionate advocates for gender equality I've had the privilege to chat with. I hope you enjoy this episode with Dr Leonora Risse!

Claire Harvey has opinions. But as Editorial director of The Australian she's also very good at waiting to hear what you think. With an interest in journalism that started at her parents dining table piled high with newspapers, and the radio and TV news on, she's gone from copy girl working for free to her current role.  Now, she has two kids, leaves work loudly to support mothers and parents following behind her, and has a husband with an equally big career as political staffer.  So she knows what it means to find balance, and she knows the compromises it takes to manage having a big career and a family.  She hosts a daily podcast from the Australian called The Front, 12-minute explorations into a story a day, and when she took her current role, that itself made the news.  I'm so excited to hear about what it takes to manage a family while having a career driven by passion and hard work, and I hope you enjoy the show!

If you look at Apolitical's 100 Most Influential People Working in Gender Policy for 2018 and 2019 you find Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Michelle Obama, the United Nations High Cmomissioner for Human Rights and first female president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet… and today's guest Libby Lyons. Libby started her career as a teacher, working her way all the way to Director of the workplace gender equality agency, to now Chair of SAGE – Science in Australia gender equity, and is a hugely influential Australian woman.  She was featured in the book 200 Women, was awarded Woman of the Decade for Gender Policy by Women Economic Forum in 2019 and has presented multiple times at the United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women. She's positive, high energy, has done it all raising a son in a time when there was no paid parental leave, and a woman after my own heart, has been quoted, "you've just got to have a party because you never know when it's your last one." Living in the moment, whilst driving lasting change, I'm honoured to have the opportunity to speak with Libby, and hope you enjoy the episode.  

I asked ChatGPT, and it told me that men still hold 70-80% of formal positions of power, across most domains, globally. And because of that very power imbalance, women can't achieve equality on our own. We need men to be involved, and to use the power our current systems grant them, to  shift things. And that's exactly what Champions of Change Coalition do, led by today's guest, CEO Annika Freyer. The Coalition aims to achieve gender equality, advance more and diverse women into leadership, and build respectful and inclusive workplaces. But as we know here at Women at Work, you can't increase women's representation without shifting the systems. It's not about fixing the women.   Annika was appointed as the inaugural CEO of the Champions of Change Coalition in 2016, and has grown the coalition from its Founding Group of 10 CEOs to more than 250 members. And she's done that while getting herself to Barry's bootcamp at 5am every morning, and raising two young daughters. I really enjoyed this fun, candid chat with Annika, and I hope you do, too!

Spoiler alert: when women leaders leave organisations after having kids, it's not because they "lack confidence" or "opt out." But the reality is, organisations are struggling to recruit and retain women in leadership, and women are struggling to stay. Dr Amanda Sterling's groundbreaking PhD research exposes how the denial of women's physical experiences (pregnancy, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, menopause) creates impossible conditions for mothers in leadership. As a leadership consultant and neuroscience-trained coach, she's calling bull on trying to "fix the women" and instead shows organisations how to fix their cultures so women can thrive in leadership positions, not just in support roles where so many of us get stuck. Her work has been featured everywhere from Global Women to Radio New Zealand, and she's about to drop some cold, hard truths about what really needs to change to get  - and keep - more women in leadership.

We talk about changing the system, not the women. Sometimes we're talking about workplaces when we discuss structural change, and today we're talking about the government's role in gender equity with Kate Thwaites MP, the Assistant Minister for Women. Kate co-wrote Enough is Enough, about the pervasive culture of sexual violence and harassment within Australia's Parliament House, and her portfolio of work focuses on Women, Ageing, and Social Security. We got the chance to hear about her new bill aiming to make gender equality targets compulsory for large employers, the unique challenges older women face as a historically invisible but increasingly visible part of the workforce, and why it even matters if Parliament is a positive workplace. I believe we need more women in all the rooms where decisions are made (just like Ruth Bader Ginsberg), and Kate is doing just that. Enjoy the show! In this episode we discuss: When women succeed, it's good for the bottom line and other employees. Kate's bill to introduce gender targets for all companies with 200+ people. The increased wages for educators and aged care workers that was recently secured. Labor Government updates to Paid Parental Leave. Kate's work supporting older women who are less financially secure. Workforce shortages Australia is facing, and how to solve for them. Kate Jenkins' Set the Standard review and positive changes. The realities of being a young mum in Parliament. The gift to our children of going after our dreams.  

Karina Kallio has a background as a fashion designer, then had a bit of an awakening to the impact of the industry and a calling to what is her role in the world – all of which was strengthened by being a mother. Karina believes we exist best in community - a theme that comes through often in this podcast. The power of community in thriving and driving change. She talks about life's longing for itself, and how we need to find our role within the world. The systems that we work, parent and live in hold us in isolation but we can't do this work alone, and this is a beautiful conversation about Karina's heart's work, and how she navigates life and work as a mother. In this episode we discuss: Karina's background in fashion, and moving to sustainable fashion. How destructive the fashion industry is - to self esteem, the world, the level of waste, and the feeling of being treated as a number in workplaces. The importance of community  The unique contributions we all make to the circle of life. The interconnectedness of everything, and Karina's 'systems' view of the world. Our obligation to contribute, and to look beyond ourselves. How our role as Mother is to help our children fly out into the world and life fully.   

Lael Stone is a parenting expert, but really she's a humaning expert. I've shared her conversation with the Imperfects about parenting yourself first more than any podcast I have ever listened to. She has worked as a birth educator, post-natal trauma counsellor, a parenting educator, with teens around sexuality, she created Woodline primary school an innovative new school based on emotional well-being and connection, and now speaks about creating wellness in adults through connection and communication. Lael is an educator, TEDx speaker, author, mother, a parenting counsellor, funny lady, and in her words, she speaks for the kids. In this episode we discuss: Creating wellness through connection and community - and what that looks like. There is no perfect parenting, and compassion is one of the most important tools of motherhood. It's important we learn to sit with our kids' big emotions and be present for and with them. Asking the two important questions: What am I making this mean? and, What would I like it to look like? and using our responses to reparent ourselves. The work - as a parent, partner, friend, child - is to be observant and curious. Modelling a better picture of self care for our children. How Lael's children have facilitated her greatest growth. I am so excited that I get to chat with her, I hope you enjoy it too.  

I have to confess I'm technologically challenged. Or, as today's guest Katherine Boiciuc, also known as KB, puts it, I'm a technology teenager. Learning every day but throwing tantrums about it. KB is EY's Oceania Chief Technology and Innovation Officer. We met at a conference, and when she was on stage she said everyone in the company works in IT but not everyone knows it, and I thought it was time to figure a few things out! What better way that to speak to one of Australia's go to professionals in tech, with 20 years experience leading global teams at Telstra and advising Australia's next generation of CTOs at Maximus. KB is a tech industry leader, a woman in a man's world (less than 9% of tech leadership positions are held by women), a mother, an accredited futurist, an AI specialist, and I can't wait to learn from her.

The average cost of daycare in Sydney is around $180 per day. If you have a child in care 4 days a week, that's more than $33k a year on daycare before the subsidy. For one child. And that's if you can even access it, which is an increasing issue in regional areas of Australia where there are childcare deserts, but also in major cities where people are registering their kids before they are even born. Add to that, the motherhood penalty means women face a career and income hit for a decade after they have children. Women in Australia reduce their workforce participation when they have kids, and often never catch up to our global peers. To quote advocacy group, The Parenthood, "While the motherhood penalty persists everywhere, among developed countries few have done as little as Australia to tackle it." This episode is with Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood, Australia's leading parent advocacy organisation representing over 80,000 parents, carers and supporters. Georgie is funny, opinionated, passionate and incredibly smart, and I hope you enjoy this conversation!

According to Peter Dutton, the housewives of Australia are at home doing their household budgets. According to Allegra Spender, women are out in the world demanding leadership who don't expect them to be at home ironing. Allegra is the Independent MP for Wentworth, focusing on bringing humanity back into politics, climate action, building a kinder, more inclusive society, and making sure those 'women at home doing the budgets' don't crumble under the weight of the cost of living crisis we're in right now. Unsprisingly impressive, Allegra has degrees from Cambridge, University of London, Harvard and Dartmouth, deep corporate and public experience, and she's doing it all as a mother of three. We're heading into a federal election this year, and because I think it's so important we're represented by someone who doesn't think our place is in the kitchen, I've invited Allegra to chat with me about her hopes for the future. Full disclosure I campaigned for her last election and will be again this time. But with dual platforms of women and climate change that made her enter Parliament in the first place, I think you'll like this chat even if you don't like her politics.  In today's chat, we speak about: Allegra's mandate to represent the values of her community. The lies that get told during election campaigns (and that it's allowed!). The concern people have about opportunities, housing security, and cost of living. The imperative of climate action after the hottest year on record, and Australia's energy transition. Her belief (like RGB) that women should be equally represented in Parliament and involved in national decision-making. Her war stories in politics - and some of the places she's been able to drive significant change, How she balances work, travel and family, and building her kids' independence. Her belief that it's ok to care about your career, and that doesn't mean you don't also care about your kids. I am so excited to be learning from her today, I hope you enjoy this episode with Allegra Spender.

When you look up Professor Rae Cooper on Google Scholar, there are 2659 citations. Rae is Professor at the University of Sydney, where she is the founding Director of the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work. She also has multiple fellowships, collaborations with groups like the Australian Human Rights Commission and the OECD, and is generally incredibly impressive and knowledgeable. Rae is one of Australia's leading experts on the many aspects of women's working lives. She is an Order of Australia, a mother of two, and she says it like she thinks it.  In today's chat, we speak about: The midlife collision of work, care, the mental load, the physical load, caring for parents, and women are exhausted. Employer solutions like flexibility, and ensuring people aren't penalised for taking it. Government solutions such as Paid Parental Leave and policy architecture. How women feel like they have to do everything twice as well, while their mistakes are amplified. The motherhood penalty, flex work, and how men see their partners being penalised in their careers. What women want: respect, job security, flexibility, and equal pay. The outsize impact your direct and one-up manager have on your work experience. The stories Rae has heard about lack of respect - being talked over, interrupted, and everyday sexism. The power of collective action and professional peers.   I am so excited to be learning from her today, thank you so much for joining me, Rae Cooper!

I currently have plantar fasciitis, which is essentially a sore heel, and I've been told it can be symptom of perimenopause. But what can NOT be a symptom of perimenopause I ask!? Well, on this episode I am joined by Dr. Charlotte Middleton. She's an integrative GP with over 25 years of expertise, specialising in women's health. She founded Dr Charlotte's Web, focused on mothers and their babies, and is about to open a new integrative medicine clinic. I came across her via Biolae – a supplement company – where she is Chief Medical Officer. She's also a mum, navigating a man's world in the medical field. The latest reported gender pay gap for full-time medical specialists was 33.6%. If you want to know what peri-menopause is, how we know if we're in it, and how to deal with the symptoms, as well as a bit of Doctor Charlotte's own story listen on.

Joy Adan is a Filipino-born presenter, writer and artist from Western Sydney. She's passionate about challenging the status quo, and said after she had children she sat down with her husband and said, 'whatever this partnership is, the terms have now changed." If you want some honest truths – like I love my child AND I find this really hard – are interested to know what it looks like to rewrite cultural and gender roles, and you need permission to discard the lessons we've been taught about self sacrifice, Joy is your woman.   

Jane Caro is a renowned feminist author and social commentator, known for saying exactly what's on her mind. She's known for her sharp wit, her humour and fearless advocacy for gender equality, and is a pioneering feminist in Australia who's name you most likely already know. Jane is a Walkley Award winner, a Member of the Order of Australia, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a beef producer and a timber grower. I'm honoured to have the opportunity to speak with her, and I hope you enjoy her passion and humour as she talks about all things feminism. 

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Koa Beck  episode from 2021*   

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Jess Hill episode from 2021*  Investigative journalist Jess Hill wrote the award-winning See What You Made Me Do, about the national emergency of domestic abuse in Australia. It's a riveting but deeply distressing look at the real-life stories of women and children, how the justice system enables abusers, and hope for reducing violence through community intervention. Please note there is a content warning on this episode. It's incredibly important listening, but it's also upsetting at points, and we discuss family violence and child abuse.  

Diversity Council of Australia CEO Lisa Annese is a self-described feminist and activist, working to improve gender equality in Australian workplaces. She is passionate about the connection between the gendered roles we still expect at home with a lack of progress for women in workplaces.  Lisa shared research from the DCA that shows men's mental health and wellbeing benefits from being in gender equal relationships, families and workplaces. The conversation around men's mental health and women wanting flexibility and support in the workplace are two sides of the same coin, and Lisa's deep knowledge around gender issues led us on a fascinating discussion.

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Catherine Fox episode from 2019*  The speed of change with the gender equality, and changes that contribute to hope The Persisterhood The seven myths of women at work The four stages of gender equity awareness The male breadwinner model in Australia and how it impacts progress The importance of financial freedom for women, and teaching that to girls Invisibility of older women and statistics around homelessness How can we make change ourselves, and gathering groups together to drive change Benefits of long daycare for children  

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Kirstin Ferguson's episode from 2019*  Kirstin Ferguson shared the inspiring stories of 757 women in her #CelebratingWomen movement as a push back against the toxicity of the online world for women. In this conversation we talked about the movement, her resulting book WomenKind, and how we can all advocate for change wherever we are.  

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Jamila Rizvi episode from 2018*  We will rise together or not at all Jamila Rizvia is an author, presenter, political commentator, the newly appointed editor-at-large of Future Women, former editor-in-chief of MamaMia. She has written two books, Not Just Lucky and The Motherhood, and signs off her emails Troublemaker At Large, which is a great sign. We discuss: a series of hilarious but also scary statistics, like the fact that there are more men named Andrew than women running ASX200 companies Tips for negotiating, such as focus on what you want, not what you've got The structural inequalities that we live in, and the importance of understanding them so we can see it's not 'just me' Diversity is proven to shift the bottom line in organisations, so how do we make workplaces work better for women A glorious story about how Barak Obama's female staff supported each others ideas and in being heard That we can all be part of the sisterhood and the feminist movement in whatever way works for us as individuals The importance of community How we all need to let go of the pursuit of perfection, and give ourselves a bit of a break Resources We mention some resources throughout the conversation, here is where you can find links to them all! Future Women, where Jamila has taken the helm and is building an amazing community. Jamila's books, Not Just Lucky and The Motherhood And her own website - https://www.jamilarizvi.com.au/  

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Caroline Patrick episode from 2018*    "I remember those days were just so challenging. He was traveling for work, I was traveling for work...There was a moment where we were just hoping the various planes we were on weren't delayed so that we could pick up the kids!" Caroline Patrick is one of Australia's most passionate marketers, ticking off a variety of achievements such as revitalising one of Australia's most loved brands, launching a health fund, and winning Australian Marketing Institute Certified Practising Marketer of the Year Award. Currently, Caroline sits on the Executive Management Team at the Radio Rentals Group and is part of a team driving business transformation. Caroline has been making very deliberate choices aiming for a balanced and fulfilled lifestyle and career, and now  lives in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, supported by her stay at home husband Iain and their two children Amelia, 11 and Cameron, 8. What we cover: Caroline's background and how she accidentally moved to Australia from the UK Why she had to become creative in her job choices and the benefits of bypassing the corporate ladder and pursuing a jungle gym career The importance of having a sense of purpose and alignment of values in work roles Being the only woman on the executive team The process Caroline and her husband Iain went through to make the transition for him to be a stay-at-home dad Making conscious decisions and changes to support those decisions, as opposed to just letting life happen Caroline's experience of Mother Guilt and the double standard for stay-at-home dads in our society The important of putting judgments aside when making decisions that are right for you Caroline's advice to anyone who might be in the two-working-parents juggle right now Why you should ask for what you want and question the status quo The gift of giving yourself permission to outsource the things that make life easier Resources Caroline mentions the FriDads, a group of stay at home Dads from Alice Springs  

*This summer we're re-releasing previous episodes that we loved. Here is Tracey Spicer episode from 2018*   Equality starts in the lounge room before the boardroom. Tracey Spicer is a television presenter, journalist and author. Recently appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for her work in journalism and for her ambassadorships for social welfare and charitable organisations. She led the public voice of the #MeToo movement in Australia, breaking the Don Burke story. Tracey's lifelong passion is amplifying women's voices, and in today's conversation we discuss creating equality in the home and in the workplace. We discuss: ½ of women experience pregnancy discrimination in the workplace Your job is to be prepared by finding out the state and federal legislation and creating a strategy The gender pay gap Tracey didn't ask for a pay rise for 14 years Now she says to always ask for more than you think you're worth The gender pay gap in her own household Do your research and keep notes Know when the best time to ask for a pay rise is Keep a detailed diary of positive feedback, so provide proof of your performance Know what the share price is, and what other people received as bonses Figure out a way to make sure everyone can benefit - it's not a zero sum game How we can change expectations in childhood, which may lead to different outcomes in the gender pay gap Having difficult conversations with your partner long term resentment is a huge risk to a relationship The 30% tipping point for sexual harassment, where it peaks and then drops off Quotas, targets and the inexistence of any true meritocracy There's no such thing as work-life balance Let's change the conversation so MEN are being asked how they manage it all Legislative changes that could be put in place to better support families An invitation from Tracey: Sit down and write out the amount of time it takes you to do your hair, makeup, buy your work wardrobe, and do all the things that come with society's pressure on women to look a certain way Write down how much all of these things cost you financially Consider what else you can do with that money and time, and be deliberate about whether you want to keep spending it on meeting society’s unreasonable expectations of women's looks Have a think about these cultural expectation If you want, then slowly start to pare it back. See if you don't start to feel more authentic and truly yourself Resources We mention some resources throughout the conversation, here is where you can find links to them all! Outspoken Women, for women who want to amplify their voices within the professional environment – Tracey's book, Good Girl Stripped Bare  Tracey's TED Talk on the topic  Mental Load cartoon; Tracey suggests women need to have more difficult conversations with their husbands Jamila Rizvi Not Just Lucky Gender pay gap calculator Amy Cuddy power poses

It started with the question, 'how do you do it all?'. As my understanding of the systemic barriers that women face, structural inequalities at work and in our homes, and what we can do to change it evolved, so, too, has the conversation. Now, I speak to thought leaders in the gender equity industry, women making waves through their activism, and women who work in big jobs and aren't afraid to speak the truth of what it takes. 

Mary Wooldridge is the CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. Her career goals have all been about making an impact and driving change, and although change is slow, she hopes to accelerate it in the future. In this episode, we cover: The recent (slight) reduction in the gender pay gap, driven by increases in aged-care industry salaries The benefits of part-time and flexible work Men, parental leave and valuing care The connection between gender stereotypes and the gender pay gap What women do with their spare time Gender segregated industries  Grasping opportunities to be part of change

Mundanara is the Managing Director/ Co-Founder and workshop facilitator of the BlackCard PtyLtd, a 100% Aboriginal owned business certified with Supply Nation. BlackCard's co-founder is Dr Lilla Watson, a respected Aboriginal elder, artist and educator.  BlackCard's purpose is working with people, not for people, with the genius of Aboriginal Knowledge. In this episode we cover: How to introduce ourselves based on humanness, and who you are is more important than what you do.  Mundanara's work with the BlackCard, reducing conflict and racism within organisations Creating a university-level education where elders are the cultural reference point What it means to live by Aboriginal terms of engagement Some shocking statistics on life expectancy, poverty levels and the Stolen Generation - of which Mundanara's mother is one Breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty Mother guilt, and feeling our emotions Hope she has for the future, and to one day be a grandmother

Imogen Hewitt is Chief Media Officer of Publicis Media and CEO of Spark Foundry, having spent 25 years in creative agencies.  Recently, she was named #3 in Mediaweek Australia's 2023 Agency 50 Power List and has been recognised on the B&T Women In Media Power List every year since 2017. She was also previously named as one of Campaign Asia's 'Women to Watch' in 2017 and 2020. The themes throughout her conversation are presence, imperfection and partnership, to move us towards more happiness on the happy to chaos scale of life.  This was a really fun conversation! In this episode, we discuss: Why telling the truth helps stop unrealistic expectations An illusion of perfection does a disservice to those coming after you The importance of true partnership in realising your dreams and making life better Imogen and her husband tested out both working part-time, each working full-time, and now he's a stay at home parent while she is the full time earner Being flexible in your approach, and stepping back to make space for your partner to do things their way too How perfectionism can drive us to achieve, but letting go of it helps make space in your life Imogen's desire to always be better connected to the people in her life How being vigilant about presence helps Imogen find balance on the happy chaos scale of life The story that working mothers should make up work time in the evening, and that we need downtime too Giving yourself permission to get things wrong The value of tiny transformations Her husband's transition to being the stay at home parent The Andrew Tate-ism of young men, the lack of nuanced conversation, and the challenges facing men The most powerful thing you can be is yourself

Lisa Grinham runs the Sydney Women's Fund, founded on the idea that when you invest in women, communities benefit. Leaving her corporate career behind Lisa moved into the charitable sector, and loves that her work makes a maningful impact. We talked about the challenges women are facing right now and how SWF supports them, the importance of community and creating solutions from within, the bais women still face, and so much more. This was a really fun conversation, I hope the time flies by for you too! In this episode we discuss:   The Sydney Women's Fund's mission to improve the lives of women and their families. They have given out $18m in funding to support women! The Sydney Women's Portrait research that now covers 10 years, looking at the trends of life and experience for women in Sydney For 80% of women, cost of living is currently their greatest concern. 47% of women are overwhelmed, and the same percentage have little time to pursue things that matter to them The imperative of maintaining finacial security and independence, as a lack of access to funds can keep women stuck The introduction of superannuation on parental leave as an important stepping stone The tipping point with domestic and family violence earlier this year, and SWF's appeal to raise money to support women escaping abuse "Pink" jobs, and how they contribute to financial inequality Some of Lisa's own stories of bias (she was once told women are getting all the jobs now!)