Twenty years ago I spoke at a conference of five hundred or so business leaders and I asked the question out loud; Where are the women? In 2010, twenty years later, I am still asking the same question. Where are the more than fifty percent of graduates out of law school, medical school, the economics and liberal arts faculties? Why have these high achievers not assumed equality with men in leadership roles in our governments, our corporate boardrooms, universities and other institutions and organizations? Alongside the issues of pay parity, sexual health, active discrimination and unconscious bias, the insidious yet constant dearth of women in leadership positions has not been given the attention it deserves. The Women's Leadership Institute Australia has been established, with the support and encouragement of many extraordinary individuals, to provide a focal point for the challenge of limited representation of women in leadership roles. I feel very strongly that the time is now right, through collaboration and effective partnerships, to source, create and deliver bold initiatives that will result in systematic change in our country. Carol Schwartz, AM July 2010

OUR MISSION:

WLIA is committed to Australia's women. We are bold in our desires for women to be better represented in leadership positions and know that Australian women are also bold in their desires to harness their capabilities into these roles. We are dedicated to breaking through the uniquely Australian barriers of expectations, unconscious bias and structural issues to ensure equality of opportunity for women into leadership positions.

We are aware that there are many issues, many preferences, many stakeholders - and all need to be mindfully yet intelligently addressed. Recognising this complexity we know that there is no one person, organisation or perspective that can break through on giving women an opportunity to have a seat at the table: it needs to be a collaborative response. Our conscious efforts need to be applied on many fronts. We therefore may choose to not agree with all nor act as expected, yet we will expect that respect for the principle of equality of opportunity will be revered.

Women are not a minority - women are 50% of the adult population. However, due to the modest power and representation relative to men in our society, women are outsiders. As Australians, we miss out on so much economic, personal and social value when we don't create the environment to allow women to succeed all the way to the top. This is therefore not a woman's organisation: we extend, and expect, the input and commitment of both Australian males and females in this initiative.

Our response to this challenge is to collaborate relentlessly with all parties that seek to offer the vital support and tools that women need to attain and excel in leadership roles. We intend to involve ourselves in practical activities: new policy proposals, tools, networks or programs that are ambitious yet achievable. We are not prescriptive in who, where or when an idea has originated. Our independence of political affiliation and funding relationships means that we are not restricted in our activities: we are drawn to initiatives that offer an unusual promise for significant impact.

Success will be measured by the swift achievement of equality milestones and celebrated with the many women and men who will have created a fairer, wiser and just Australia.