Transpower New Zealand's Executive GM People, Brighid Kelly, discusses the energy sector's commitment to closing the gender pay gap.
How to close your gender pay gap
Wind back the years, and the electricity sector was a man’s world. That is changing, and the changes need to accelerate to support the developments necessary to deliver on our nation’s net-zero 2050 future.
As a sector, we recognise the challenges of growth require us to work together to ensure that our sector is inclusive of everyone, reflecting the communities we serve. We have established a working group for this purpose, as part of the Global Women, Champion for Change initiative. We are an evidence-based sector and starting with an assessment of our gender participation and gender pay gap was the first step. This has provided us with information to inform the challenges, opportunities and problems to solve.
The gender pay gap is an illustration of the power gap that exists in society.
Taking that first step of assessing the current situation – even if it’s not pretty, is key to informing the job to be done, to create necessary change. The Ministry for Women’s calculator, designed with help from employers and leaders in this area, is easy to use and a great place to start.
Here’s the formula: Have a peek, know your gap, deeply understand the problem, measure even the little successes, aim bigger and begin closing the gap.
Leaders have the responsibility for driving change, for taking action to address challenges and pursue opportunities. To address this challenge, we must examine our current systems and practices to determine how they need to change, to ensure we attract greater numbers of women and have an environment that supports their progression, development and retention.
It’s deeply disappointing that we still have a gender pay gap in any sector in New Zealand, and I’m energised by the progress made in many sectors.
The electricity sector is one that solves complex problems every day, and I am confident that we have the leadership commitment, and capability to address this with the same focus and determination.
Know your gender pay gap: making change in the energy sector
Watch Brighid and James Kilty, Chief Executive of Powerco, 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 Powerco's story about taking action on the gender pay gap.