Ramsay pledges to a new gender balance goal

MedTech News: Ramsay Health Care is cementing its commitment to gender equality in senior leadership roles by pledging its support to a national campaign to increase the proportion of executive women across ASX200 companies.

Industry super fund HESTA’s 40:40 Vision seeks to achieve gender balance across senior leadership of all ASX200 companies by 2030. The gender balance goal is 40% women, 40% men and 20% any gender. 

Data released in November 2020 by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) showed a marginal improvement in gender balance at top levels in 2020 – female CEOs increased by 1.2 pp to 18.3% and female representation on boards increased by 1.3 pp to 28.1%.

Ramsay Health Care’s Chief People Officer, Colleen Harris, said the organisation was thrilled to join 40:40 Vision to maintain its proud record of embracing diversity and promoting women into leadership roles. 

“Globally, Ramsay Health Care is a significant employer of women, and we have long been committed to having strong female representation at all levels of the organisation,” Ms Harris said. 

“In Australia, 59% of our facility CEOs are women and 60% of our regional executives are female. Providing a flexible, family-friendly environment for all employees is a vital way to achieve these targets and helps improve the wellbeing of our people. 

“Ramsay is determined to provide a caring and inclusive culture where staff can develop and feel empowered. By supporting 40:40 Vision we hope to encourage other ASX200 companies to achieve gender equality, just as we have,” she said. 

According to Chief Executive Women’s latest census on ASX200 senior executives, the number of women in leadership has flatlined, with just 30 companies having at least 40% women in executive leadership in 2020. 

Ramsay has long recognised the business and social importance of achieving gender diversity. Participating in the 40:40 Vision is a way of furthering this commitment and ensuring the company holds itself accountable to these targets.