The Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia congratulates Patron Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner from 2007 to 2015, and powerful advocate for gender equality, who was a finalist in the 2016 Australian of the Year Award announced on January 25. Elizabeth was named the New South Wales Australian of the Year and National Finalist in the 2016 Australian of the Year for her many years of advocacy on behalf of women, lobbying for paid parental leave and more women in leadership roles and the boardroom. She has also been a key advocate against sexual harassment and domestic violence. Elizabeth was also the Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination from 2007 to 2011.
Elizabeth’s Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force led to fundamental change in the Army, Navy and Air Force, and her establishment of Male Champions for Change has enlisted male executives from the corporate world to tackle gender equality in the workplace. Elizabeth is an adviser to the United Nations, the World Bank and NATO. She believes that “gender is not a battle of the sexes, it’s a battle for equality”.
Elizabeth attended Meriden School (NSW) where she was School Captain in 1978. She completed a Bachelor of Arts and Law at the University of New South Wales and then began championing the cause of women while practising law. In 2001 Elizabeth was named the Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year and was also awarded a Centenary Medal for services to Australian society in business leadership. Elizabeth was named the overall winner of the 100 Women of Influence awards in 2014.