Women's Network Australia Blog

Do We Really Have To PUSH Women On To Boards?

When I first arrived in this country several years ago, I struggled to find anyone who would hire me in a senior management capacity. I found this puzzling since I have two degrees, two professional designations and very solid work experience with recognised international brands. The MAIN reason I was given by organisations was that I “lacked Australian work experience”. I found this reason to be puzzling. 

We live in a world where there are few global trading boundaries. Every business is susceptible to the threat of losing customers to internet-based businesses (which in many cases sell the same products for less) and we need to think outside of the square to compete and maintain market share. Read the rest…

Contributed by Rhondalynn Korolak.   Rhondalynn believes that each one of us has the potential and ability to SEE, DO and HAVE anything we set our minds to! From humble beginnings and despite formidable obstacles, to success as a leader, writer and entrepreneur, she as learned what it takes to succeed in business (and in life). She is a fully qualified lawyer, chartered accountant, clinical hypnotherapist and Master of NLP and is considered a leading expert at business acceleration, the power of influence and mental toughness. She is the author of “On The Shoulders of Giants” and “Financial Foreplay” and is featured regularly on Today Tonight, A Current Affair, Sunday Life magazine, Sydney Morning Herald, 3AW, The Leader newspapers, JoyFM and many North American radio shows and publications.

Rhondalynn Korolak has written 7 article(s) for us.

Visit http://www.imagineeringunlimited.com

Diversity: The old Merit vs Quotas argument

Over the week-end you may have read about the KPMG report that was commissioned to review the role of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. The report is currently being considered by the Federal Government. One of the recommendations seems to have grabbed attention – it’s the one about workplaces being encouraged to have a voluntary 40 percent female representation at all levels within a three to five year period or wear a penalty. Read the rest…

Post Budget Shopping

Well the Federal Budget has now been handed down and the most significant aspect for women in business is the 50% Tax Allowance for the purchase of business assets. So if you need any additional goods/equipment or want to replace existing assets, now is the time to bite the bullet and make your purchase. Read the rest…

Babes are likely to be out of the budget

This week-end the Government will receive the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on Maternity Leave. It appears that after all the carry-on about this idea it’s not going to even get a look-in as part of the May Budget.

It seems the Nation is not in an economic position to implement it – well the Government had heaps of time to think about accommodating this one before giving away $12 billion of the surplus to many people who don’t actually need it. Maternity Leave payments would have achieved the same outcome – women spending money in retail outlets in preparation for the birth of their baby. It’s not rocket science. And in anycase wasn’t the Government funding for the recommendations of the Commission going to be mostly funded by a revamp of the current Baby Bonus package?  Read the rest…

Missing Member Alive and Safe

As most Members are aware, we held grave fears for the safety of WNA Member Denise McCann from Women of Wine who had not been heard of following the complete destruction of her family property in the fires that ripped through Steel’s Creek last Saturday.

I am so very pleased to be reporting that, although traumatised and in a state of shock, Denise has been located alive. On Thursday I had the opportunity to speak with her personally about her amazing escape by car – it’s a drive none of us should ever have to make.

During this call I relayed to Denise that she has the support and prayers of all WNA Members nationally. I pledged my personal support by way of a $500 cash donation which I told her would be used to kick off a WNA fund aimed to support her most immediate needs. If, in addition to the donations you have already made to the public appeals, you can manage to make a donation to Denise, please read here for details on how to go about it. You will see that on this page at our site you can also leave Denise a message of care and support. Read the rest…

Stimulus a no-go for many women

I have received hundreds of emails agreeing with my lack of enthusiasm for the Government’s proposed stimulus package. The consensus of opinion is that one off bonuses are not the way to go, but rather a combination of infrastructure projects, tax cuts and one off payments going only to those crippled by the economic fallout. In other words, much stricter means testing. There’s a definite trend unfolding and this is that we’ve had it with Governments who can only see as far as the next election.

You don’t need to be an economist to know that sinking money into infrastructure will create jobs and bring life back to many of the regional areas currently hurting. I know I want a Government who’s willing to take responsibility for the next 20 – 30 years, not just the next 3 months.  Any bonuses handed out by Governments should only be given to those in most need.  I just find it hard to comprehend that many of the people I know will, at the minimum, each receive at least $950 – whilst on any given Saturday evening dining out in the city they will pass homeless people sleeping in the streets.  Read the rest…

Stimulus needs a re-think

How insignificant the economic woes of the Nation become when one considers the tragedy that’s unfolding in Victoria. Today you would be hard pressed to find anyone anywhere in the country complaining about their loss of employment or weeping over the hit they’ve taken on their investment or superannuation funds. It’s a sobering time for all of us and we should take the opportunity to work through what we truly value and the things we hold close to our hearts.

In life the best laid plans often come undone and none of us are ever privy to what’s around the corner, even for the Nation. In saying this, I hope the Federal Government has the vision to revisit the use of the country’s current surplus through their $42 billion stimulus package. Can’t we drop it back by $5 – 10 billion and, as of today, make the Nation’s top spending priority caring and supporting Australians who, over the last 48 hours, have found themselves displaced, homeless or mourning the loss of loved ones? I know where I would rather see any bonus I am entitled to channelled. How do you feel?

UK Salutes Aussie BusinessWomen

Aussie businesswomen making their mark in the UK are once again being given the opportunity to be recognised for their business success and entrepreneurship. Thousands of women leave Australia each year to participate in the UK economy and it’s those women who the ‘2009 Australian Women of the Year in the UK Awards’ seek to identify. You may not have heard of the awards before, they commenced in 08 and with the support of Advance and Qantas they have grown to be a very impressive affair indeed. If you have a work colleague or friend currently working in the UK and she’s achieving great things then you have until Feb 6 to get her hat into the circle for judging. Dove tailing into International Women’s Day celebrations the winners will be announced at a ceremony being held at Australia House on The Strand on March 6. We look forward to some of our UK based WNA Members receiving accolades whilst working in the UK.

Lynette Palmen AM, Founder and Managing Director speaks to, for and about women in business.  Subscribe FREE to WNA’s women in business list. 

100 Most Powerful Women According to Forbes

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the world’s most powerful woman for the third straight year, topping Forbes magazine’s 2008 list of the top 100 women based on their career, economic impact and media coverage.

There are 54 business executives and 23 politicians on the list, with media personalities and heads of non-profit organizations rounding out the top 100.  Forbes said 45 percent of the women are based outside the United States. 

Personally I was surprised not to see Oprah up there with the best, but in saying that I was very excited to see our very own Gail Kelly, head of Westpac made it into No. 11 place.

Are you surprised not to see Oprah listed as on of the 25 front runners in the most powerful women in the world?

Lynette Palmen AM, Founder and Director, www.womensnetwork.com.au