March 21, 2017
There are many different actions happening right across the world in relation to LGBTI rights - and one of the trailblazing regions has long been Australia.
This month saw an outstanding inaugural event - the Australian LGBTI Awards - held at one of Australia's greatest cultural icons - the Sydney Opera House.
Hundreds of people attended a gala dinner which included many of Australia's LGBTI leaders and heroes.
Forward thinking
| Silke Bader |
From earlier beginnings as owner of her own LGBTI travel business, Bader's business interests now span the globe, including ownership of two of the most influential lesbian media titles in the world - Curve in the USA and LOTL in Australia.
In the middle of 2016, Bader decided to coordinate with contacts in the UK to bring to Australia a local version of the British LGBT Awards and as a result of that collaboration the 2017 Australian LGBTI Awards was born.
Bader - who is Co-Director of the Australian LGBTI Awards presided over an event which was very well-received, by local LGBTI and business communities. Her involvement was very much hands-on with Bader's decision-taking insights for the event being key to the outcomes achieved. Bader's strong business acumen and experience in serving the needs of LGBTI people in Australia for over two decades is an important part of what many believe was key to the event's overall success.
An extremely diverse group of people attended the event including members of Employee Resource Groups at some of Australia's leading companies as well as 'LGBTI icons' including Magda Szubanski (loved the world over for her roles in 'Babe' and 'Kath and Kim'), Matthew Mitcham (gold medal Olympian) and Ian 'Molly' Meldrum - an Australian star of the television and music industries who was openly gay decades before many other celebrities dared be so.
Better Business - What's Next for LGBTI Diversity?
| Ian Johnson |
Ian Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Out Now analysed the latest LGBTI inclusion data from Australian workplaces and from across the world.
Johnson also previewed a brand new LGBT inclusion resource being launched next month by Out Now called How.LGBT - providing a wealth of new resources to assist LGBT people, their workplace allies and supporting employers right across the world.
Johnson impressed on the group attending that key to LGBT inclusion in 2018 is 'LGBT Activation' - focusing on how to turn great policies into real results in the workplace which can be measured and - as a result - improve over time. He stressed the core belief of Out Now that 'LGBT spells people'.
Johnson concluded by showing how LGBT activation is a core component at the heart of the new How.LGBT online platform initiative developed by Out Now, one which builds a new paradigm to further advance LGBT inclusion outcomes in Australia - and across the world.
You can download global data reports presented at this breakfast at Bloomberg, Sydney by Out Now from this link.
The Australian LGBTI Awards returns in 2018 - details and contact information can be found at the event's website. For more information on the launch of How.LGBT, contact Out Now.
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