Inaugural Women in Water event held in Victoria

Victoria’s water sector is embracing gender diversity with the inaugural Women in Water event, held last week in Traralgon and attended by over 150 women from across the local industry.

Women in Water is a collaboration between the five Gippsland-based water corporations, including South Gippsland, Westernport, Gippsland, East Gippsland and Southern Rural Water. The initiative provides a networking and learning opportunity for women in the water industry and aims to celebrate the role women play in the sector.

Victorian Minister for Water Lisa Neville announced at the event that the Andrews government will again co-sponsor the Peter Cullen Trust leadership program, targeted specifically at women. She also used the event to outline the government’s plan to deliver a diverse and inclusive water sector.

Water for Victoria recognises the need for more women to be employed in the sector and includes an emphasis on investigating real and tangible ways to strengthen gender equality in the workplace, including:

• ensuring there is a continued focus on maintaining gender and culturally diverse boards;
• focusing on diversity in executive leadership positions across the sector; and
• establishing a Women in Water Leadership Program to train women in the sector.

The government is looking to drive an all-inclusive appointment process for the state’s water corporations, with the aim of increasing the number of skilled female and Indigenous members at board level. The process is aimed at ensuring water boards better reflect the diversity of the communities in which they operate.

“It was a real privilege to be part of the first Women in Water event. It’s inspirational to see the strength and diversity in our sector,” said Neville.

“Today’s event is evidence of the industry’s work on ensuring that women are given the same opportunities as their male counterparts to be leaders in the water sector.”