The ARA is looking for participants for a Champions of Change rail program to advance gender equity in our industry.

Following a briefing facilitated by Champions of Change at the end of last year, the ARA has received commitment from seven CEOs of rail organisations with others indicating strong support.

We are proposing to launch the program for the rail group in the 2024-25 financial year, to allow time to garner sufficient support to commence a Rail Champions of Change group. We require a minimum of 10 members to establish a group.

The Champions of Change Coalition is a globally recognised, innovative strategy for achieving gender equality, advancing more and diverse women in leadership, and building respectful and inclusive workplaces. The ARA recently released its Gender Diversity Data 2024 report, showing that female representation across rail organisations, its sub-sectors and managerial levels is heading in the right direction, albeit incredibly slowly. Systemic change can only be led by the most senior leaders of our industry. Intentionally designing what our future looks like is a critical path to success.

Partnering with the Champions of Change Coalition is an opportunity to help build an industry that not only reflects the diverse society in which we live will also help us set a standard for excellence and inclusivity. By tapping into the collective experience and success of the Champions of Change program, rail organisations can fast-track their progress on gender equality and diversity, avoiding common pitfalls and accelerating the pace of change.

This strategy has yielded tangible results, as evidenced by the Coalition’s annual reports showcasing improved gender equality metrics across member organisations.

For more information on the value proposition, operating model, and what to expect in the first year of the group’s establishment click here

Should you have any further questions about the program, or interest in participating, please contact ARA General Manager – Supply Chain and Diversity Natalie Currey