Exclusive Interview with Tanya Plibersek
 SWB 2008 Program Announced
 Top Women Watch
 News Update
 Spirit of Your Wellbeing
 Women Giving: by Kristie Mansfield
 I want it all and I want it now!
 Updates from Foundation Partners
 SNV useful links

A Note from 2008 Conference Chairperson, Megan Dalla-Camina

Welcome to the third edition of Serious News and Views for 2008. We are now in the final planning stages for the 2008 SWB event, and in this issue, you will find exciting information about the program, and the announcement of both the international and domestic key note speakers, which we trust will inspire you to register for the conference! This year's event has been named Unique Connections, and through the program we will explore the many ways women interact with each other, and with the world we all live in. You will also see new additions to the program, extended pre-workshop options, and other special inclusions that we have been working on to ensure that you have the best and most memorable experience possible.

As always, we would love to hear from you as we put the final touches on the program, so please contact me directly or any of the committee members, with any feedback you may have.

I hope you enjoy the newsletter, and I look forward to seeing you at the event in October.

Be well
Megan

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Tanya Plibersek, federal Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women

In this exclusive interview Tanya Plibersek revealed that she has directed EOWA to tighten up the eligibility criteria for the Employer of Choice for Women Awards. "That's coming for the first time this year," she told SNV. "That was in the pipeline before we took over, to be fair to them. But we've had some people complaining that they didn't like the tighter criteria". She has disregarded these complaints.

Minister Plibersek said that while her overriding goal is "for all Australian women [to] have maximum choice in their lives and choice in opportunity" she has also identified two over-riding priorities for her first year: economic security and violence against women. "These are ones that I think sit very well with that idea that women deserve to have the maximum range of options in their lives and maximum range of freedom to pursue what they want to do in their lives," she said.

Addressing the role of the Office for Women which under the Howard government was demoted and disempowered, Plibersek said: "I want the Office to be a much harder-edged policy driver than it has been in recent years so that it engages at a very high level with other departments like Employment and Education, Health, Human Services, all of those areas".

She also said she and the government would not be "shy" about commenting on the lack of women's representation in senior levels in corporations. She is giving consideration to various measures to encourage the promotion of more women to senior positions, and has asked EOWA to work closely with the Office for Women to address issues such as the gender pay gap.

Plibersek is working closely with Elizabeth Broderick, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, who has also identified violence against women as an urgent priority. Plibersek is confident that, finally, something can be done to reduce the toll of violence. "It seemed to me to be an area that governments are frightened of in a way because the problems seem too large," she told SNV. "We're used to imagining that we can only have limited impact on something that has been so prevalent in our society for such a long time but I actually don't necessarily agree with that. I think that with the right policy we can reduce rates of violence over time. We can certainly improve our responses in the short term".

She has established a National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children and asked it to come up with a national plan by the end of the year. Plibersek says the plan will cover federal and state governments as well as non-government organisations and community groups. She plans to use a public health approach, much as was adopted against smoking and against drink-driving, in order to drive home the message that violence against women is a crime and is totally unacceptable in our society.

UNVEILED: 2008 SWB Program

Our 2008 program unveiled. October 27 - 29, Grand Hyatt, Melbourne

Our theme: Unique Connections - we will explore the many ways women interact with each other and with the world.

Our Keynote speakers:
International - Zarine Aziz, President and CEO, First Women Bank of Pakistan, which was founded by the late Benazir Bhutto when she was Prime Minister to empower the women of Pakistan. The bank lends only to women-owned or managed businesses - and is very profitable.

Domestic - Dr Dawn Casey, Director of Sydney's Powerhouse Museum, and formerly the inaugural director of the National Museum in Canberra 

Panellists who have already signed up for SWB08 include Dr Carmen Lawrence, former Premier of Western Australia and former federal Health Minister; Major-General Elizabeth Cosson, the most highly-ranked woman in the Australian Defence Force; Lesley Alway, Managing Director of Sotheby's; Barbara Livesey, CEO of Reconciliation Australia; Katherine Keating, political consultant; Senator Christine Milne; Megan Davis, Director, Indigenous Law Centre, University of New South Wales; and Anna Rose, climate campaigner for Get-Up.

Full details of the program to date are available on the website: www.swb.com.au and will be described in detail in the next issue of SNV in September.

Top Women Watch - who is doing what in the world

o Erin Callan
o Penny Wensley
o Hillary Clinton
o Women in the Australian Senate
o Jimmy Choo (no, this is not a misprint!)



Top US women CEOs mentor rising stars from the developing world
A special program brought new and old talent together in New York in May
Read what happened

Wall Street's top woman hits the dust
In June, Erin Callan, CFO of Lehman Brothers, fell on her sword
Read what happened

Penny Wensley to be governor of Queensland
Penny is a career diplomat who has been Australian ambassador to France, was the first woman to head Australia's permanent mission to the United Nations and until recently headed up the Europe division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. She replaces Quentin Bryce AC who in September will become Australia's first woman Governor General

Hillary's bid to be the first woman US president fails
In early June, Senator Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign for the Presidency and bowed to the inevitability of Barack Obama's winning the nomination for the Democratic Party. To see some of the highlights of her historic campaign, visit her website: http://www.hillaryclinton.com  

One Less woman in the Australian Senate since July 1
As a result of the general election on 25 November 2007, the following six female Senators' terms ended on June 30, 2008:

Allison, Lyn Democrats, Vic Defeated
Kirk, Linda ALP, SA Retired
Nettle, Kerry Greens, NSW Defeated
Patterson, Kay Liberal, Vic Retired
Stott Despoja, Natasha Democrats, SA Retired
Webber, Ruth ALP, WA Retired

These five new female Senators began their terms on July 1, 2008:
Bilyk, Catryna ALP, Tas Elected
Cash, Michaelia Liberal, WA
Hanson-Young, Sarah Greens, SA
Kroger, Helen Liberal, Vic
Pratt, Louise ALP, WA

Imagine: the Jimmy Choo of offices
The fabulous stiletto founder and CEO, Tamara Mellon, puts her talents to work on her own office in London. Read more

SNV News Update

Review of Sex Discrimination Act
The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Trish Crossin from the Northern Territory, has decided to review the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality. It will report on 12 November. Submissions are due on 1 August, so hurry!
For more information and how to make a submission to this inquiry:

Child Care Tax Rebate Increased to 50 per cent
The federal budget in May increased the CCTR from 30 to 50 per cent. Juliet Bourke, from the Task Force on the Cost of Care, says SWB should take some kudos for this. After Juliet spoke to SWB in 2006 and supported her call for this increase, the TOCC took it to the ALP which made it an election policy. The ceiling on the amount of childcare costs that can be claimed has been increased to $7500 per child. The rebate is not income tested.

Reference group to advise Defence Chief on women
The federal government has established a group to advise the Chief of the Defence Force, ACM Angus Houston, on how to improve the recruitment and retention of women in the Defence forces. The group includes Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Christine Nixon, Commissioner of Police in Victoria and Elizabeth Proust, formerly head of Esanda and - like the other two - an SWB alumni. The group met for the first time in Canberra on June 9. For details on the membership of the group and its brief:

National Council to reduce Violence Against Women and Children
Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for the Status of Women, established this Council in May and tasked it with coming up with a national plan by the end of the year. For details of who is on the Council and how to make submissions:

Eating Well When You're Just Too Busy

SWB's resident Health and Wellbeing expert Sherry Strong.

Yesterday I sat around a table of four bright successful women who are now sleeping with their Blackberries on their bedside table, working longer hours, travelling more and really feeling the effects. They like most of us want to feel better and have more energy. They can also see the employees they are responsible for also need resources to feel better, as more and more demands are placed on them.

It's no surprise that working harder and travelling more will cause more physical and emotional stress. It also creates a challenge to eat well however the more strategically you eat, the better you will cope.

Guest column: An Idea Whose Time Has Come 
By Kristie Mansfield*

"When we give in the world what we want the most, we heal the broken part inside each of us." Eve Ensler, creator of The Vagina Monologues

Australia is currently re-shaping her philanthropic voice. The global rise of the "new golden age" in philanthropy has reached us, illustrated by a new style of donor who is socially conscious, engaged and entrepreneurial. Our new donors are joining together with the non profit sector in partnership to grow an infrastructure for social change. Many of these new donors are women or are strongly influenced by women.

Even though the philanthropic movement is growing in Australia, recent statistics still show Australians give five times less than the average person in the US, and three times less than those in the UK and Canada. In 2006, over one third of our high earners ($1+ million) did not claim a tax deduction for any charitable giving.

Despite this, our involvement in social investment has steadily increased, with over 600 new foundations established since 2001 (containing more than $1 billion in assets), recent ground breaking large multi-million dollar investments from individuals around the country, and the emergence of philanthropy as a profession.

In Australia, we're more accustomed to a traditionally conservative and uninvolved "charitable cheque-writing" approach to giving but now women are leading the way towards an embracing, thoughtful, engaged and planned approach to giving.

Today's global movement of women's philanthropy started with early pioneers who cut a pathway for today's remarkable changes and opportunities.

In the 1950s, when the United States government, medical institutions and the pharmaceutical industry ignored contraceptive research, funding for the development of the Pill came from a very unlikely source - a single benefactor. Katharine McCormick provided almost every single dollar necessary to develop the oral contraceptive.

Today, the movement has gathered significant momentum. For the first time in history, women have the power and means to donate their own money or influence their families and partners on where, how much and why money should be invested in social issues that bring about change.

An inspirational example of this is the global community of women who have formed the Women Moving Millions campaign. Their goal is to raise $150 million for women and girls funds around the world. After 12 months, $105 million has been reached, and three anonymous Australian women have given $1 million each to Australian women's funds as part of the campaign. In February 2009, Helen La Kelly Hunt founder of Women Moving Millions will visit Australia to spark major giving from women to woman's trusts that fund women and girls.

I want it all, and i want it now!
by Jac Phillips

Freddie Mercury and I must have been related in a past life. His attitude is my attitude, in fact most people I know share the same sentiment. We have expectations around what we deserve and how quickly we receive it. This of course is all fine and well if we are referring to our daily latte. For example my barista satiates my appetite for efficient caffeine in less than 90 seconds... I've timed him!
 
Shopping is another example of how many of us, that is to say, we of the fairer sex, try to 'have it all' - especially if you're armed with PFC, aka Plastic Fantastic Credit. It's frightening.

I recall being told at the ripe old age of 20 I could no longer have a cheque book as I hadn't quite grasped the concept of putting money into the cheque account before ever so neatly writing out those slender little pieces of bank branded slips. You can imagine the horror when I replied "Fine. How about a credit card then?"

  But today I'm much more experienced, more patient...more of a creative writer! In fact I've just cleared the credit card again after snaffling up those shoes I really did deserve.
All is not lost however, as I have recently become much more aware of the 'S' word. Superannuation.

News and updates from FPs


Freehills' leadership
Freehills is thrilled to announce that they are sponsoring the Diversity Leader for the Advancement of Women Award at the annual EOWA Business Achievement Awards to be held in Melbourne on 19 November. It was a great honour to be asked to sponsor this award as only organisations demonstrating achievement in this area are eligible for sponsorship. Our sponsorship reflects our commitment to the advancement of women into leadership positions. It is this commitment that has allowed us to reach our 20% target of women in the partnership. Although we will not rest until it is a much higher number, and some of the unspoken assumptions that get in the way of women's success are unearthed and overcome, this is a tremendous milestone and reflects both the ability of our lawyers and the increasingly inclusive progression process we have in place. 



KPMG's inspirational women
KPMG will be "famous for its diversity" - that is a core part of the firm's vision according to International Chairman Tim Flynn.
In the Australian firm we are well on our way, with our Diversity Advisory Board working closely with the support of senior leadership and our people to create an environment that is inclusive and respectful of difference, in all of its challenging complexities.
As part of our focus on gender diversity, we continue to organise 'inspirational women' networking functions for our next generation of female leaders. These events give our women a forum to meet other professionals and hear inspiring guest speakers share the highs, lows and insights from their own career and life journeys.



Special Offer for SWB from Hewitt
Hewitt are delighted to provide a 15% discount for SWB Alumni Network Members who would like to attend The Accelerated Development Residential Program to be held 18-21 August. 

The Program is run over 3 days and is aimed at mid-career HR professionals looking to develop a strategic approach to people management and leadership within their organisations.
The program is now in its third year and is offered in conjunction with Dr Roger Collins (Professor Emeritus at the University of NSW and visiting professor at Macquarie Graduate School of Management).





SNV Useful Links


Corporate Women's Networks
Do they work? This 2007 survey from Business Week suggests they do
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_25/b4039069.htm

Australian Women Online
Established in October 2007 this new Australian site contains news on a
range of subjects, from the serious to the frivolous, plus opportunities for blogging with women from around the world
http://www.australianwomenonline.com

Signature strengths and authentic happiness
The acclaimed American psychologist Dr Martin Seligman has developed a range of tools to enable us to check our strengths and measure our happiness. These are being widely used in business today, but we can also access them as individuals if we choose. All are available online.
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

The federal government's Office for Women
News and updates on what the government is doing for women
http://www.ofw.facsia.gov.au

Financial Literacy for Women
Free information sheets on various aspects of understanding money and planning for wealth accumulation and/or retirement - especially targeted to women
http://www.understandingmoney.gov.au