Powerco's Chief Executive, James Kilty, shares his thoughts on making positive change in the energy sector.
Better together - bridging the gap
The face of energy in Aotearoa New Zealand is changing. And it needs to keep doing so, fast. We need a wide talent pool of people to leverage our extraordinarily low carbon electricity system to support continued electrification in order to grow the economy and deliver this country’s net-zero 2050 goals. We need to make sure everyone feels welcome and valued in our sector if we are to enable New Zealand to grow to zero.
That includes making the sector an attractive career option for women. A critical component of that is shrinking the pay gap. While our industry has made gains in narrowing the gap, I acknowledge there is still work to do.
‘No Pay Day’ on 2 December, was a timely reminder of the pay gap between men and women in thousands of businesses throughout the country.
No Pay Day signified that, from 2 December until the end of the year, the average Kiwi woman is essentially working for free. It’s calculated on the country’s overall gender pay gap of 8.2%. The average Kiwi woman is paid 336 days for the equivalent 366 days for men.
When you think about it, it means half our population effectively stopped getting paid because of their gender. This simply is not right.
Setting aside the clear ethical issue, from experience, businesses do better when they have a diverse workforce and an inclusive environment. They solve problems faster and they deliver for customers better, as they more truly reflect the people they serve.
For that reason, I encourage businesses to learn what their gender pay gap is by using the tool on the Ministry for Women’s website.
Businesses across the electricity sector have contributed to a study that provides us with our current participation and gender pay gap. It illustrates that we have work to do. Industry leaders are looking at the same data I am, enhancing their existing plans and making new plans, resourcing them, and going after change. There is great collaboration and real commitment to change. The shared lessons are the same - go back to the basics: know your gender pay data, set yourself targets and work to close the gap, monitor your progress and deliver on it.
Again, I acknowledge the electricity sector has work to do. We are not alone in this. I urge all businesses to just start. It won’t just happen – leaders must actively intervene – to address the gap. We have many challenges and opportunities as a country, and we need all hands to the pump. We are better together.
Know your gender pay gap: making change in the energy sector
Watch James and Brighid Kelly, Executive GM People at Transpower New Zealand, discuss how the energy sector is working hard to be a great sector for women to work in, including by tackling the gender pay gap.
This video was created as part of a Mana Wāhine I Power Women event where energy sector leaders came together to talk about what's needed to increase female participation in the industry and close the gender pay gap.
Read Transpower New Zealand's story about taking action on the gender pay gap.