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Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

Community Controlled Health Sector: A top Australian performer in the representation of women in leadership

| Posted in: Media

Today marks International Women’s Day. The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Community Controlled Health Sector (Sector) has demonstrated again that it is a
top Australian performer in the representation of women in leadership, QAIHC CEO, Neil
Willmett said.

The Sector is made up of 28 member organisations. These multi-million-dollar companies
provide essential health services to over 700,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Queenslanders each year.

QAIHC research shows that of the 28 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Community Controlled Health Services, 55% have a female CEO and 57% have a female
Chairperson. These figures exceed the percentage of positions in the top 200 Australian
companies where female leadership and Board representation is still below 5%.

“Having diverse and inclusive workforces isn’t just a moral imperative, it is just good
business. Our Sector leads by example when it comes to gender equality and on
International Women’s Day we are celebrating our achievements,” Willmett said.

“The experience of our Sector is that the formula for success rests with boards and senior
executives who understand talent management.

“Our boards and CEO’s continue to be forceful and champion diversity. This is the
template to accelerate improvements in female leadership and board representation
across the country,” Willmett said.

Mr Willmett said that it is very clear that Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Services provide more than just health services.

“They deliver female role models, executives and leaders that are a national resource who
have an impact on Australia.

“I urge executive teams and boards to consider how they can learn from our Sector to
accelerate the representation of women at executive levels in business and government,”
he said.