Ahead of the summit, Mortgage Choice’s executive manager, corporate communications, events and franchise marketing, Sally Chadwick, said that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is key to the long-term sustainability of organisations.
“As societies change and grow, so too do consumers’ values and preferences,” she told InvestorDaily.
“Today, consumers’ social values are increasingly shaping their purchasing decisions, and organisations that demonstrate their commitment to inclusive practices are more likely to build trust in the community and attract customers whose values reflect those of the organisation.”
Chadwick noted that, in order to encourage more organisations to take action on DEI, it was critical to showcase how DEI practices benefit workplace culture and business success.
Significant headway has been made in the ASX boards, with ASX 20 and ASX 50 having at least 40 per cent women on boards, according to analysis of board diversity data released earlier this year by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
The ASX 100 and ASX 200 were close to reaching 40 per cent, which the AICD said is considered a best practice gender equality goal, at 39.3 per cent and 37.4 per cent, respectively.
However, there is still room for improvement regarding the number of chairs who are women, as there are only 19 female chairs on the ASX 200 and 34 on the ASX 300, and none on the ASX 20.
Similarly, in the mortgage broking industry, only 26.6 per cent (or 3,547) of the 19,872 brokers in Australia were women, according to the most recent edition of the Industry Intelligence Service Report released by broking association Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).
“At Mortgage Choice, we believe the financial services industry should represent the communities it serves, and we’re passionate about increasing the representation of women in the mortgage broking industry,” Chadwick said.
In 2020, the major brokerage established its Aspire program, a talent-nurturing program that offers professional development opportunities, education and events designed to help women brokers build successful and fulfilling careers in the Mortgage Choice network.
Mortgage Choice has been the principal partner of the Women in Finance Awards since 2022 and also joined the Women in Finance Summit as the principal partner in 2023.
Commenting on the partnership, Chadwick said the major brokerage is thrilled to continue this partnership in 2024.
“Conferences like the Women in Finance Summit play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community in an industry like finance where women remain underrepresented,” she said.
“This summit creates a dedicated space for women to be inspired, connect with their peers and learn from the thought leaders and role models who are elevating the finance industry.”
The Women in Finance Summit 2024 will be held on Friday, 15 November at The Star, Sydney.
Click here to book tickets and don’t miss out!
For further information, including agenda and speakers, click here.
This summit is produced by Captivate Events. If you need help planning your next event, email director Jim Hall at jim@captivateevents.com.au
