Scentre, CBRE in Bloomberg Gender Equality Index

Four Australian-headquartered companies have been recognised for their commitment to supporting workplace equality and data transparency.

Gender equality has remained a key focus at the top levels of global workplaces, with many aiming to balance the share of women employees and executives while also bridging the gender pay gap.

As part of Bloomberg's gender-equality index, 325 companies headquartered across 42 countries and regions within 50 industries were recognised.

The index aims to help investors evaluate how firms are tackling gender equality in the workplace and in their local communities.

The index measures gender equality across five pillars: women leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, sexual harassment policies, and pro-women brand.

Westfield Australia and New Zealand owner Scentre Group was recognised for the company’s focus on talent, diversity and inclusion.

“We are addressing gender equality on a number of fronts to ensure we drive strong employee engagement and retention and improve our productivity and business performance,” Scentre Group chief executive Peter Allen said.

This includes a board-endorsed diversity and inclusion policy, an executive team endorsed diversity strategy and an active diversity council driven by employee-led working groups.

“We provide equitable pay for like roles by gender and have continued to increase the proportion of women at all levels of management, with women currently representing 44 per cent of all people managers and 28 per cent at senior executive level.”

Scentre is listed on the ASX with a $21.1 billion market capitalisation and made $2.64 billion in revenue last year.

Its biggest shareholders include UniSuper and passive funds managed by Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street.

Three of Australia's big four, Westpac Banking Corporation, NAB and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia also made the index.

Commonwealth Bank has been vocal over recent years with its targets to achieve 40 per cent representation of women in executive manager positions and the CBA Board by 2020.

While US-headquartered, one of Australia's largest commercial real estate agencies CBRE also made the index.

“A diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our strategy,” CBRE chief executive Bob Sulentic said.

“We are at our best when people of all backgrounds and life experiences come together to create great outcomes for our clients and our people.”

Across the pond, New Zealand-based technology company Xero was also recognised, with 43 per cent of its board and employees represented by women as well as 42 per cent of its leadership team.

Hero Image: Taken from Xero's International Women’s Day event.