2 minute read
Diversity & Inclusion Council
WITH RAELENE CASTLE
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“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb
Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle had this powerful message for attendees at a Leadership Summit for The Drinks Association’s Diversity & Inclusion Council where she was the Keynote Speaker. The Summit’s key focus was how the Australian drinks industry can shape itself for the future. Senior leaders attended the summit to show their support for a more inclusive drinks community.
The African proverb shapes the way Castle approaches her work. She believes the key to good leadership is having the ability to relate to everyone in your organisation.
Castle says she has worked hard to have authentic interactions with everyone from five-year-olds on the sidelines of footy matches to business executives.
A panel discussion followed featuring Castle, Patrick Jordon, HR Director at Cola Coca South Pacific, Cathi Scarce, Acting Director of Coles Liquor, and Justine Baker, CEO of Solotel.
Scarce noted that it was important to be a “good human” when it came to effective D&I practice in the workplace.
“The tone is set at the top, the mood is in the middle and the buzz is at the base,” she said.
Baker said cultural change at Solotel was driven by the commercial imperative of needing the organisation to reflect its customer base.
“If we don’t reflect our customers, we’ll be out the door backwards,” she said.
Jordan said it was important that staff felt comfortable to ‘bring their whole self’ to work.
Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Council Denis Brown said, “It was great to hear fantastic examples from everyday life on how leaders can support inclusive environments. I loved the story Raelene told about the Muslim family who wanted to join Petersham Rugby Club to be more connected to their local community and were welcomed so warmly by its President. It was a touching example of an inclusive community and it happens to be Metcash’s Adam Dunne who is President of the club, so it is coincidentally a great example for our industry.
“The panel shared real examples that I feel we can all relate to. It was a terrific conversation. As leaders we influence the conversations that welcome diversity and include all, and as Patrick shared, part of the conversation is being aware of the silence and conversations we tolerate, when perhaps we should speak up.
“I am delighted with the support of the CEOs and Managing Directors who were so willing to invest their time to hear the panel. This is a powerful message from our leaders - leading inclusively and with diverse people is great for culture, customers, business and ultimately our industry.”
L-R: Raelene Castle, Justine Baker, Cathi Scarce and Patrick Jordon
