For the past two days I was a participant in a workshop on The Future of Australia, 2050 at The Academy of Science in Canberra. I assumed that of all of the hats I wear it was my work with Women’s Agenda that led to the invitation. I was partly right.
Organiser Kristin Alford, a futurist who holds the TedxAdelaide licence, selected people who could contribute widely and think beyond their comfort zone as evidenced by their juggling of a number of endeavours.
The group of people that I spent my time with included scientists, academics, strategic thinkers, leaders of cultural groups, a retired Admiral, a former Attorney General and a Federal Judge. The men far outnumbered the women so I found myself throwing diversity as an outcome or a pathway into the discussion at every available opportunity in the way that one of the scientists constantly referenced the impact on Eco-systems.
We were asked to consider four scenarios for Australia in 2050. This is how I believe gender diversity fits into each state.
- Restraint
As this scenario is about pulling back to avoid a likely catastrophe or as the result of some other catalyst, I was able to discuss the Women Power Project run by 1 Million Women that I have been a part of. The idea was to demonstrate how conscious restraint in the home as the result of information can lead to a change in behaviour that results in reduced energy usage and a lower energy bill. There was a discussion around the need for a diverse group to lead the move towards sustainability through thought, communication and implementation. Women are already onto it and creating a movement.
- Transformation
I offered diversity of leadership as an example of a positive transformation that would eventually lead to growth. The evidence for this is stacking up globally. Corporations with women on boards or as CEOs are out-performing those that don’t. The question is can we afford to wait until 2050 for equitable leadership to become a reality? How do we get there from 2013?
- Catastrophe
It would be disastrous for most of us if our living conditions were challenged, if there were food and fuel shortages, if we were suddenly at war or if we were faced with a natural disaster. For some parts of our society many of those examples of collapse are a reality now. There are a number of female entrepreneurs in Australia who have created fantastic businesses out of adversity or necessity. Women who when faced with the very real prospect of not being able to feed their children have harnessed incredible strength to create something from nothing. It would be wise to engage women like that in risk-mitigation strategies for the future.
- Growth
If you view growth as a positive state, as I do, then you might agree that a possible pathway is the ability to think differently due to diversity of thought. Doing the same thing over and over again, thinking the same way time and time again can not only lead to madness but would logically be the antithesis of positive growth over time. The leadership of our country and corporations remains concentrated today in the hands of groups of people who primarily have had similar upbringings and share a world view: the 50-plus Caucasian male. Surely it’s time for a serious injection of women, at the very least, to alter the shape of the trajectory if growth is the scenario we aspire to for 2050.