Former Army Chief speaks to big business on gender equality

Former Army Chief speaks to big business on gender equality He was the military officer whose impassioned and unequivocal YouTube video speaking  out against sexual harassment in the Australian Army made headlines around the world  in 2013.

And now White Ribbon Ambassador and former Army Chief Lt General David Morrison 

AO (rtd) will bring his views on creating cultural change towards gender issues as  keynote speaker at a ‘Pathways to Parity’ Symposium.

Organisers Kylie Hillard and Emilie Franklin from the Asia Pacific Professionals  Association Ltd (APPA) said the event was aimed at Australian businesses across the  finance, legal, education and resources sector that have operations in Papua New  Guinea (PNG).

“In 2012 the Australian Government announced a $320 million 10 year aid program to  help women in the Pacific increase their economic, educational and social opportunities,”  they said. “In support of this program, we at APPA have partnered with the Papua New Guinea High Commission to bring Australian businesses with PNG interests together to identify how they can support the PNG women in their workforces.”“Like many Pacific nations, PNG is evolving from traditional gender roles to more and more women entering the corporate workforce and earning their own income. This is a 

significant cultural shift and one that needs to be managed sensitively by employers. 

What our Symposium wants to achieve is to identify the gaps in getting PNG women into 

employment – and how they can be supported to stay there.”Ms Hillard and Ms Franklin said the Pathways to Parity Symposium ultimately aimed to influence both Australian and PNG government policies on issues such as education, law reform and approaches to domestic violence.

“The best and brightest minds in business today will be presenting their ideas at the Symposium, and of course we are so thrilled to have Lt General Morrison AO (rtd) as our keynote speaker,” they said. “There is no doubt Lt General Morrison AO (rtd) knows what he is talking about when it comes to creating cultural change and striving towards achieving parity for women.”

“Any business that attends will surely find inspiration from him of how to create a diverse 

workforce – whether it’s in PNG or here in Australia.”The ANZ I Papua New Guinea Gender Parity Symposium will hold panel discussions in Canberra (13 October), Sydney (14 October) and Brisbane (15 October), with Lt General 

David Morrison AO (rtd) to address delegates at dinners in Sydney and Brisbane. Tickets are available to the public for the Pathways to Parity Dinner, for more information visit 

http://www.asiapacificprofessionals.org/png-gender-parity-symposium-2015/

Media enquiries

Kylie Hillard I Director I Asia Pacific Professionals Association Ltd

khillard@apacprof.org | 0402 004 283

Emilie Franklin I Director I Asia Pacific Professionals Association Ltd

efranklin@apacprof.org I 0439 331 079