
Research
We fund evidence-based research that offers new insights into the experiences of female leaders and progresses our understanding of how to achieve equal voice, equal representation and equal recognition. What are the knowledge and data gaps? What are the causal factors? What measures can be identified to close the gap? Through exploring these areas with expert academics and researchers, we hope to find new ways to address the issues faced, especially in politics, business and the media.
You Can't Be What You Can't See
We are delighted to share with you the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia 2019 Women for Media Report: ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’. Focusing on mainstream Australian digital media sites, the results demonstrate the critical and ongoing need for a stronger women’s presence in the media. As authors Jenna Price and Anne Maree Payne highlight, “Women make up 50.7 per cent of the population; but the stories which appear in the media do not reflect that reality”.
The research provides a snapshot of Australia’s 15 most influential news sites on four consecutive Thursdays in October 2018. Key findings include:
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Women account for 34% of direct sources quoted and 24% of indirect sources (sources named but not directly quoted)
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Approximately 50% of the sites achieved gender parity on the representation of male and female journalists
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Female journalists wrote 76% of celebrity and royals stories, approximately 40% of stories relating to government, politics, business, finance, law, crime and justice, and 12% of sport stories.


LATEST RESEARCH
Research Archive
Resources for gaining a greater understanding of the challenges we face, and proposing solutions.
Fellowships
Through advocacy, policy and research fellowships, we are building a community of leaders focused on achieving equal numbers of women and men sharing power and influence in Australia, especially in politics, business and the media.
We are supporting this cohort of exceptional women to accelerate their work, elevate their voice and demonstrate what’s possible. These women are leaders in their respective fields with innovative approaches and the courage, conviction and capacity to create real change.
Current and past fellowship recipients include:
WLIA’s previous scholarship program
From 2010-2015, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia partnered with Chief Executive Women to award two full scholarships to exceptional Australian women leaders to the Women’s Leadership Forum at Harvard Business School. One scholarship was awarded to a woman in the corporate sector and the second scholarship to a woman working in the government or not-for-profit sectors.
Harvard Women's Leadership Forum Scholarship Recipients
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2015 Kate Gunn, Chief Operating Officer, ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO), University of Sydney
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2015 Julie Shuttleworth, General Manager (Solomon Mine), Fortescue Metals Group
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2014 Brigadier Alison Creagh (Australian Defence Force) and Kate Munnings (Transfield)
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2013 Jill Charker (ComSuper) and Katie Cooper (Northern Territory Airports)
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2012 Suzanne Dvorak (Save the Children) and Dr Bronwyn Evans (Cochlear)
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2011 Christine Holgate (Blackmores)
