The 18th Women, Management and Employee Relations Conference was held over two days, Thursday 27 and Friday 28 July 2006, in the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney. Over 180  delegates attended from around Australia as well as New Zealand. The prestigious annual event, considered  Australia's leading women's conference, attracted professional women and men from 67 organisations including the Department of Defence, State Emergency Services, EOWA, NSW Premier's Department, Diversity Council Australia, Commonwealth Bank, IBM and universities.

It was a whirlwind two days. Nineteen  papers were presented  on topics including employment relations, negotiation, bridging the age gap, leadership, managing depression in the workplace and diversity strategies. High on the list of 'hot' topics were the finer points of negotiation, 'Negotiation in a Tough World' session;  and the Beyondblue session,  'Managing Distress at Work'. 'Women Breaking Through'  sessions showcased women leaders in non-traditional areas: Robyn Hind rising to the rank of Captain on Boeing 737s at Qantas; Rosalind Fischl becoming President of the Great Synagogue and Melanie Stutsel  heading environment and social policy for the Minerals Council of Australia.

There were many high points among the diverse presentations. Four stood out among the crowd: Ann Sherry's Key Note Address, Dr Nicole Highet, Deputy CEO, beyondblue,  Melanie O'Connor, Managing Director, The Academy Network and Brigadier Elizabeth Cosson, CSC, Australian Defence Force. O'Connor's 'no punches pulled' paper, 'Leadership is Women's Business', addressed some myths and impediments.

The audience was roused by practical anecdotes about negotiating all those 'dead cats under the table' and offered hard-hitting advice for the way forward. Brigadier Cosson generously shared both her operational and corporate experiences as a high- ranking defence leader.

The Key Note Address was delivered by Ann Sherry,AO, Chief Executive, Westpac NZ, at the Conference Dinner. It was dazzling and inspirational in its reflections on the EEO debate since the 1980s. "One thing that has definitely changed is that we 've all become way too respectable. In the old days EEO was a lefty feminist's preoccupation and people like me - like many of us - were viewed as ratbags and radicals. Great days indeed. Now we're just solid pillars of the establishment. Every top banker and businessman and politician has discovered that EEO is good for business. Diversity is the favoured word on every corporate charter. Everyone wants to be a part of it. I feel like rushing out and getting a tattoo" Sherry said.

Sherry went on to remind the audience that "while the broad agenda is now mainstream, the urgency and importance of EEO has not diminished."  In May the ABS released a report showing that women still hold only 10.2% of executive management positions in the ASX200 companies and 8.6% of board positions. She also spoke about the shifting EEO agenda which is "focusing on recognising individuality and finding ways to maximise each person's capacities and contributions." Go to the papers area on the LMSF website to download the full Address.

Feedback from delegates has been extremely positive, with many commenting on the opportunity to hear first-hand, the 'secrets of success', from influential women such as Senator The Hon Helen Coonan and Ann Sherry. "This is an opportunity like no other. It is a highlight of my year, and I always go back to work with new ideas."

Co-Directors of the Conference, Professor Ed Davis, AM, Professor Valerie Pratt, AM, and Pam Morpeth were grateful for the support of long-standing Conference delegates and the generosity of sponsors.

"We are particularly pleased by the quality of this year's speakers, the currency of issues and the wide representation of organisations. Real-life examples have been a stand -out feature, common themes from very different viewpoints," Davis said. "We welcomed many first-time delegates and look forward to hearing their feedback."


The Conference Organising Committee gratefully acknowledges its many sponsors.

Many presentations and papers are now available on the conference website.

A web photo album of the conference is now available.

Contact: Skaidy Gulbis

Phone: 61 2 9850 4774