Helen Skouteris, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, Claire Blewitt, Darshini Ayton, BMJ Leader, 13 September 2023

23% of Australians claim a non-European ancestry, but only 6.6% of Federal MPs have overseas non-European backgrounds. UN Women recently projected that at the present pace, it will take 300 years to attain gender parity. When we factor in the dimensions of cultural diversity and gender equality, this timeline extends even further into the future.

For this research, five women in senior leadership positions were interviewed about their experiences and the intersectionality between gender and culture: Yoorrook Justice Commissioner and Pathways to Politics participant Sue-Anne Hunter, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Mariam Veiszadeh, CEO of Media Diversity Australia, Her Honour Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis, and Duré Dara OAM.

“The women unanimously agreed that better means diverse women being recognised, included, visible, heard, valued, respected and well-represented in leadership positions across the community, in business, politics, institutions and organisations, as equals…This can only be achieved when the disadvantage that comes with diverse identities is recognised, understood and accepted as a societal issue and responsibility.”

Listen to an interview with research author Darshini Ayton, and participants Sue-Anne Hunter and Mariam Veiszadeh:

• Study finds women from diverse backgrounds still face leadership barriers (8 minutes).