This month’s Women in Leadership Summit held in Perth was one of the best conferences I’ve been to for a long time. The summit was attended by 120 fabulous women in leadership roles in state, national and international industries, including mining, health and community support services, finance sports and retail. Organised by Aventedge, it was held at the Pan Pacific Hotel. While it is unfair to single any one speaker out, it must be said the story told by Kim Travers APM, Superintendent Judicial Services, WA Police really struck a chord.

Not only was there a thrilling array of speakers, many high performing women leaders and a few males, but every presentation was made so generously and with such authenticity, that the event was compelling. I looked around several times throughout what can be long periods of sitting and listening, and was struck by the rapt attention paid to speakers and remarkably low reference to mobile devices. There were so many lessons to take on board.

And some challenging facts eg:

· The widening pay gap in WA, now 30.9%

· The 14%, on average, female participation in the mining industry

· The fact that Richard Goyder and the senior team at Wesfarmers missed out on a bonus for failing to achieve an annual target of a 2% increase in women in management roles – bravo Wesfarmers all the same!

· Despite policy, frameworks, and programs of mentoring and acceleration undertaken by one multinational firm, women still accounted for only 17% of partners - the same gap for years

· Research shows that there was at least a 20% gap in between women and men actually expressing interest (when asked if anything were possible) in senior executive positions

However, it was uplifting to focus on the positive messages shared by speakers. Most spoke of battles won through persistence. Several had benefitted from being tapped on the shoulder by male sponsors.

I was fortunate to lead three roundtable discussions on the relative benefits of mentoring and sponsorship for women. At the end of the second day, all tables were filled. Honestly, what I found to be the most uplifting take-out from this conference was the calibre, commitment and generosity of the participants. To use a word I generally avoid, truly awesome.

A few other key take-outs to share include:

· This isn’t a workplace battle but a societal one and the crucial element is breaking down unconscious bias, which cements stereotypes not only of our ‘bosses’, but male and females in working and stay-at-home roles. As one speaker put it, the need to fight ‘against being defined by gender’.

· The imperative to redefine the concept of merit; hiring for potential not just experience

· Establish flexible conditions for all staff, male and female, and - importantly under that banner – to establish legitimate job sharing at senior levels and to overcome the bias against part-time workers

· The need for women to have courage, take managed risks and overcome fear of failure and a desire to be liked. As Gail McGowan , DG WA Department of Planning, called it: ‘Jump off the diving board and then learn to swim’.

· The need for women to promote themselves and we discussed in my roundtables the option of ‘Presence training’, and most importantly

· The need for widespread effective sponsorship of high potential women by senior male and female leaders, which has a measurable effect on women’s careers.

Thanks Aventedge and good luck to all those who attended as they move forward to face their leadership challenges.

Catching up with Lyn Beazley AO, former Chief Scientist of WA.