When will International Women’s Day become obsolete?

RCF Innovation managing director Anna Shave

When do we get to stop polite golf claps for women forging strong career paths in male dominated industries?

Perhaps that needs to be the measure of our success as a nation when the need to push forward women who have done well to champion the cause for others is over.

As we face another International Women’s Day, it’s clear the above still does need to occur.

The gender pay gap remains massive at 21.7 per cent. Statistics show working from home measures introduced during pandemic lockdowns mean women are now doing even more of the free work around the house and still getting paid less than their male counterparts.

Women only account for 9 per cent of the CEO positions on the ASX300, according to Chief Executive Woman, and 82 per cent of pipeline roles for people likely become CEOS are also held by men.

And yet IWD celebrations often feel patronising. Particularly for those who are nailing their chosen paths.

Former investment banker come venture capitalist Anna Shave says the day will come when this day is no longer needed.

“I think we are seeing a shift change, which is generational and we happen to be part of a generation in that crossover period of time,” says Shave, who works for global mining investment firm Resource Capital Funds, and sits on a number of boards.

Shave started her career in banking before working for two of Australia’s most prominent ‘big name’ men Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest at Fortescue and John Wylie at Tanarra Capital.

“For me, it was never a decision around ‘do I go and work with a powerful man?,’ it was a decision around working in a space that I’m challenged in, that is interesting, that provides a forum to grow and learn.

As for when there will be more powerful women that fit that bill for young women to go work for, Shave says they are there now, “but you just have to look for them.” She names Macquarie Group chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake and Tesla chair Robyn Denholm as examples.

“We have evolved… my daughter and my son will have a lot more opportunity in terms of the different types of people that they choose to work with, whether that’s men, women, faith, culture, age. It’s a generational thing.”

Dr Katharine Giles

As for whether being a woman has ever held her back, Shave says no. The only times she has felt restricted has been in board settings where she was the only woman and often the youngest.

“There have been board settings where I haven’t felt as comfortable with being as vocal,” says Shave. “I’ve really tried hard, at least in the boards that I’m involved with now, to be a part of groups that are more diverse. I’m less likely to want to participate in a group which isn’t constructed like that.”

Katharine Giles, venture partner at Brandon Capital, who heads up the federal Government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corp. says she too “looks forward to a time that we won’t need to have,” IWD.

“But I do think that it creates a day where we have more awareness and an opportunity to showcase some role models… that people can hopefully be inspired by,” says Giles.

On her list of generational change that is starting to happen but needs to accelerate is “equal parenting rights.” And by that she is not referring to fathers receiving paid parental leave, but the whole gamut that comes with raising children.

“One of the critical things is, as a woman, if you’re the only one who gets the call when the kids are sick at school, or the only one who’s able to go to be there for them at a sports event or anything like that then it makes it very difficult to fully engage with your career.”

I think flexibility that enables working parents to engage in the workforce is incredibly important to be able to create change.

Kylie Gerrard, who heads up the venture capital fund Purpose Ventures, says IWD can be used as a forum to discuss issues that can hold women back, as well as highlighting inspirational stories.

“What is really valuable about it is that it creates awareness and a conversation. And so much of what we’re seeing at the moment is about getting that transparent narrative and conversation out there.

Gerrard says in her career she “never felt that my gender was the limiting factor in the opportunities I was given.”

It’s a view shared by both Shave and Giles.

But it stumps them all as to why then women are being paid less than men.

“People should be compensated for the work that they do. And clearly, if there are discrepancies, then, you know, there’s going to need to be advocacy and leadership around this,” says Gerrard.

Verve Super CEO Christina Hobbs recently declared women should stop work on IDW at 3.14pm because it represents the proportional amount they get paid compared to their male peers.

One could argue it’s a good idea. Gives those who have families time to get the grocery shopping done and cook dinner for the house.