Celebrating International Women’s Day 

A video launched on International Women’s Day celebrates Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s commitment to the success of women in our workforce and community.

Press for Progress is the International Women’s Day theme for 2018, a reminder for communities to think, act and be more gender inclusive.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s Chief Customer Officer, Marnie Baker said the video validates the work the Bank is doing for women in the workplace.

"Gender diversity continues to be a key focus for us, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes good business sense," Ms Baker said.

"By creating an inclusive culture for all staff - including for the 61 percent of women we employ nationally, and our customers - of whom more than half are women, we are able to better connect and support the communities where we work.

'I have been employed at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank for 28 years. Regardless of my age or stage of my life, I have always felt supported to grow and succeed in my career. I am proud to work at a place where I can confidently say the commitment to support women in the workforce is strong," Ms Baker said.

Women are well represented at all levels of the Bank. In 2018, 40 percent of management, and 28.5 percent of senior management roles are held by women. There is also a 42 percent representation of women in the graduate program.

The recent findings of the global gender gap report* found that gender parity is more than 200 years away, making it vital for all businesses to regularly review their policies and practices regarding diversity.

In 2016, the Executive and Board endorsed a Fair Remuneration Strategy. In the first year we reviewed all salaries at all levels and directed salary budget towards addressing the small number of fair pay gaps identified. There are also regular reviews on gender pay equity, and work towards more transparency to empower everyone to have an honest conversation about how they are being rewarded for the value they create.

The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank International Women’s Day video will be launched to the public through social media channels on Thursday 8 March.

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International Women’s Day 2018

transcript

Growing up, I always looked around and saw the inequalities that a lot of women suffered.

I read the World Gender Gap Report. It actually talked about it taking 200 years to reach gender parity.

Any reasonable person will understand that's just not good enough.

If I wasn't confident enough, purely the fact that I'm a female, that would probably stop me from going where I want to be in life.

In order to realise the entire potential in the economy, in the world, we need to look at what skills women have to offer.

If we can keep on empowering our women to say, "Hey, you're doing a great job," we're on the right track.

If there is an imbalance, then make a conscious decision to give women an opportunity.

I was promoted to a fairly senior leadership role when I was seven months pregnant. That act alone actually inspired a lot of other women.

It empowers me to speak my mind and not hold back, but be bold and get out there and say what I'm really thinking.

If each of us makes an effort to change the way we think about gender roles and gender stereotypes, one little thing every day will get us closer.

In order to make the change, it requires all of us to play our part.

We've got such bright, capable, even inspirational women in our organisation, and we need to make a bigger deal about that and celebrate that.

I love being around empowering and powerful women.

(singing)

Women don't even understand the power that they have.

Close transcript

*Data source: World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report