In an industry dominated by men and plagued by allegations of sexual harassment, Sydney hospitality charity Women and Revolution uplifts and supports women to overcome gender barriers.

Led by president Bridget Raffal of acclaimed Marrickville wine bar Where’s Nick, the organisation was the first recipient of the Good Food Guideaward for Cultural Change Champion, presented during the 40th annual awards ceremony at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night.

The award was developed in response to an ongoing The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Food investigation, which revealed allegations of sexual assault, harassment, drug use and misogyny within prominent Sydney hospitality venues.

“We write about a lot more than food and drink when we write about restaurants. But if the reporting this year has shown us anything, it’s that we – food media, the dining public – also need to engage much more deeply and consistently on how venues are treating their staff,” said Good Food Guide co-editor David Matthews.

“The Cultural Change Champion award was brought in with an aim to shine a light on the people advocating for real change.”

Raffal, accompanied by WAR board members Zoe Brunto (Lil Sis), Saranya Kundasamy (Human Rights Commission) and Ella Stenning, took the stage to loud applause from a crowd of more than 500.

“I am not going to stand here and pretend [the hospitality industry is] anywhere near where we would like [it] to be, but I am encouraged,” Raffal said, as she called on her peers to maintain the momentum generated by media coverage.

“If we want this industry to be a safe place, a professional place, and a place where people see some sort of career … then everybody in this room has to raise the bar.

“You need to think about who you support, who you promote, who you platform, where you have lunch today [and] if you compromise your values for a good time or an easy time.”

Women and Revolution (WAR) stood out to the judging panel (lead by Petrina Baker of hospitality business consultancy Baker & Frost) for its multi-faceted approach to overcoming gender barriers.

Women and gender-diverse individuals are supported with coaching and mentoring sessions, courses developing public speaking and negotiation skills, and community-building events, among other initiatives.

“If we want this industry to be a safe place, a professional place, and a place where people see some sort of career … then everybody in this room has to raise the bar.”

Bridget Raffal

This year, the Good Food Guide implemented a policy to exclude venues identified as part of misconduct investigations by The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Food journalists.

The charity also partnered with the Australian Human Rights Commission in September, to gather first-person accounts of people affected by sexual harassment within the hospitality industry, to inform policy action, develop resources and implement wider change.

“I know some people think that it’s not the Good Food Guide’s responsibility to have an opinion on a restaurant’s workplace culture. The Guide should be objective – tell readers what the food and service is like and otherwise stay in its lane,” Guide co-editor Callan Boys said in his opening speech.

“But hospitality means looking after people, and if you can’t look after your staff, we can’t recommend you.”