CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOMEN

The more than 1,200 members of Chief Executive Women (CEW) hold leading roles in Australia’s largest organisations. They oversee more than 1.3 million employees and A$749 billion (US$487 billion) in revenue. They have a combined market capitalisation greater than A$1.1 trillion, contributing more than A$249 billion to Australia’s GDP.

Since 1985, CEW has influenced and engaged all levels of Australian business and government to achieve gender balance. Through advocacy, research, targeted programmes and scholarships, CEW helps remove barriers to women’s progression and ensure equal opportunity for prosperity. CEW members work to realise a community where women and men have equal economic and social choices and responsibilities.

The CEW leaders programme is designed to equip women to fulfil their leadership potential, providing opportunities to sit at any decision-making table so organisations can deliver the best outcomes for customers, shareholders and the community. CEW’s scholarship programme supports the ongoing development of women leaders.

Together with its partners, CEW also offers senior executive women the opportunity to attend leadership courses at leading international business schools.

CEW’s shared mission is “women leaders enabling all women”. Its four beliefs are:

• Having gender-balanced leadership positions is better for all because having diverse women leaders at every decisionmaking table is proven to deliver better outcomes.
• If we achieve gender-balanced leadership everywhere, women’s workforce participation will increase across all sectors, which will drive economic and social benefits for everyone.
• In order to enable all of this we need to build inclusive, flexible and respectful workplaces.
• If we do this, women will be economically secure and free from violence across their life course.

The CEW census – published in September 2023 – outlines that the rate of progress to gender balance and equality is still too slow. CEW is leading a call to action, asking members, partners and sponsors to:

1. Set a 40:40:20 by 2030 gender target with clear accountabilities.
2. Create diverse gender-balanced talent pipelines and invest in their success.
3. Build inclusive, flexible and respectful workplaces.

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

ANNUAL DINNER SPONSORS

CEW was founded in 1985 as a branch of a Paris-based organisation, Women Chiefs of Enterprise, with a passion to get a fairer deal for women leaders. CEW also provided a haven for women seeking to share their experiences as pioneers in the boardrooms and C-suites of Australia. The membership has become a rich environment of learning and energy with an agenda to drive the expansion of women leaders in Australia.

The organisation has an unwavering focus on including the most senior women in Australia as CEW members. Membership is offered to women who meet the CEW membership criteria throughout their lifetime. Women must be endorsed by a current member and fulfil a selection criterion based on their leadership sphere.

The group works with organisations that make donations in the form of skill, time and thought leadership. This has resulted in powerful research and insights into women’s representation in leadership and gender equality, and has enabled CEW to make meaningful contributions to public discourse.

CEW’s annual dinner is one of the most prestigious events in Australia’s corporate calendar. It is attended by CEOs and their management teams from across the country. Funds from the dinner are used to support the scholarships and programmes run by CEW to enable more women leaders in Australia.

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