‘We’re not allocating talent’ and that makes us all poorer

Not enough men working in education is holding back the sector’s productivity, as much as the lack of women in mining does.

Myriam RobinSenior writer

Apr 11, 2025 – 11.47am

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Australia’s unusually high level of gender segregation in the workforce when compared to similar economies is a drag on productivity that makes us all poorer, says the chief executive of the Grattan Institute, Dr Aruna Sathanapally.

Speaking to some 900 mostly female C-suite leaders at the Chief Executive Women annual dinner on Thursday night, the head of the public policy think tank said few in the room needed to be lectured by economists on the importance of matching talent to the right role.

Myriam Robin is a senior writer based in the Melbourne newsroom. She has previously been a Rear Window columnist and editor, and before that reported on financial markets and media.