Aussie Rep on UN Women’s Leadership Group

Australia’s Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, has been named as co-Chair of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Leadership Group, which provides strategic advice to the UN Global Compact and UN Women on gender equality.

The Global Compact Network Australia said it is delighted to have Australia represented at a leadership level on this growing global platform.

Elizabeth Broderick was appointed for a five year term as Sex Discrimination Commissioner in September 2007. The term has been extended to September 2015.  She was also the Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination from September 2007 until July 2011.

During her term, Broderick said she has been committed to improving gender equality through her advocacy in preventing violence against women and sexual harassment, improving lifetime economic security for women, balancing paid work and unpaid caring responsibilities, promoting women’s representation in leadership and strengthening gender equality laws and agencies.

Broderick has been a key advocate for Australia’s national paid parental leave scheme and domestic violence reform. She has championed the changes to the ASX Corporate Governance Principles to increase the number of women at decision making level.  

She has developed the Male Champions of change strategy and worked with the Australian Government to help strengthen gender equality laws and agencies.

In April 2011, the Government appointed Broderick to lead the Commission’s Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force.She now leads the Commission’s collaborative work with the Australian Defence Force on embedding cultural change across Navy, Army and Air Force.

She is also a member of the World Bank’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development, a member of the Australian Defence Force Gender Equality Advisory Board and Supply Nation. She is an Ambassador for the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children.

Prior to her appointment, Broderick was a partner and board member at law firm Blake Dawson (now Ashurst).