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25 July 2007

Australian businesswomen thinking green

Environmental concerns are high on the list of priorities of Australian businesswomen, with two fifths of women in business looking for ways in which they and their companies can be more green.

According to Australian Women in Business – New Insights, commissioned by Westpac and conducted by research agency TNS, almost 40 per cent of women surveyed said that they would like to learn more about how their business can be more sustainable.

The findings show that operating an environmentally-friendly business runs only second to attracting and retaining quality employees in a wish list of skills sets that Australian businesswomen would like to know more about.

According to Westpac's Head of Women's Markets, Larke Riemer, the findings inspired Westpac's new 'Learn, Lead and Succeed' Business Events for Australian businesswomen, to be held in five capital cities throughout this August and September.

"The business landscape is changing and our research is showing us that Australian women are leading the way in developing new models which incorporate a 'triple bottom line' approach to financial, social and environmental responsibility," Ms Riemer said.

"Based on the strong interest in the area, women attending the upcoming 'Learn, Lead and Succeed' business event will be hearing from a leading environmental expert on the issue of how to make your business more sustainable.

"Westpac's new business events were created to both celebrate the achievements of Australia's female business community and offer women in business a forum for exchanging fresh ideas and gaining new inspiration.

"Event topics will include HR and Staff Retention, PR and Marketing, Beyond Survival – Going for Growth (Seven Secrets to a Successful Business) and Superannuation."

Speaking on the issue of sustainability will be the Director of Green Team Australia, Heather Rose.

Green Team Australia is the nation's first integrated communications agency to focus on the greening of corporate Australia and is the leading think-tank on the Awakening Consumer™, Australia's key resource to a marketplace reacting to global climate change.

Heather has been a respected environmental advocate since co-founding Tasmanian creative communications agency Coo'ee in 1999 with a focus on corporate social responsibility. Coo'ee has won seventeen international creative awards since it was founded in 1999. Heather is also Chairman of the Coo'ee Network of independent advertising agencies across Australia, New Zealand and through Asia, with partners in Europe and America.

Heather won the Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year Award in 2004 and was named one of BRW's top 50 female entrepreneurs in 2006.

Businesswomen interested in attending Westpac's 'Learn, Lead and Succeed' Business Events should visit www.westpac.com.au/womeninbusiness for more information including details on how to register.

About Westpac's Women's Markets Unit
In 2002, Westpac's Women's Markets Unit was restructured to comprise a dedicated team of female business development managers, who work alongside women to help them build and grow their businesses.

The Women's Markets team is led by Larke Riemer and was established to address the concerns of a growing force in Australian business – female business owners and operators.

It's an independent business unit with its own objectives and client base, creating its own strategies for business acquisition. No other Australian bank has a unit solely dedicated to female customers.

About Australian Women in Business – New Insights Research
A total of 100 interviews were conducted amongst female business owners and financial decision-makers Australia-wide during April 2007. The study was restricted to businesses with turnover greater than $2.5 million, with quotas set to ensure a spread of turnovers. One half of all respondents' businesses had a turnover of more than $10 million, with a quarter $5 - $10 million, and a further 25 per cent between $2.5 - $5 million.