Australian businesswomen thinking green

According to Australian Women in Business – New Insights, commissioned by Westpac and conducted by research agency TNS, almost 40 per cent of women surveyed said that they would like to learn more about how their business can be more sustainable.

The findings show that operating an environmentally-friendly business runs only second to attracting and retaining quality employees in a wish list of skills sets that Australian businesswomen would like to know more about. According to Westpac’s Head of Women’s Markets, Larke Riemer, the findings inspired Westpac’s new ‘Learn, Lead and Succeed’ Business Events for Australian businesswomen, to be held in five capital cities throughout this August and September.

"The business landscape is changing and our research is showing us that Australian women are leading the way in developing new models which incorporate a ‘triple bottom line’ approach to financial, social and environmental responsibility," Ms Riemer said.

"Based on the strong interest in the area, women attending the upcoming ‘Learn, Lead and Succeed’ business event will be hearing from a leading environmental expert on the issue of how to make your business more sustainable.

"Westpac’s new business events were created to both celebrate the achievements of Australia’s female business community and offer women in business a forum for exchanging fresh ideas and gaining new inspiration. "Event topics will include HR and Staff Retention, PR and Marketing, Beyond Survival – Going for Growth (Seven Secrets to a Successful Business) and Superannuation."

Speaking on the issue of sustainability will be the Director of Green Team Australia, Heather Rose. Green Team Australia is the nation’s first integrated communications agency to focus on the greening of corporate Australia and is the leading think-tank on the Awakening Consumer™, Australia’s key resource to a marketplace reacting to global climate change.