In an industry that faces systemic diversity challenges, and as a major employer of technology roles, NAB is committed to supporting gender diversity and the push for more women in technology jobs.

Ahead of International Women’s Day on Saturday 8 March, Lisa Gray, NAB Group Executive Enterprise Services and Transformation stresses the importance of diversity.

“Diversity of all kinds is vital because it brings richer thinking to organisations,” Lisa Gray said.

“We are committed to creating and maintaining a workforce which is representative of our customers and communities and in which individual differences are valued and respected – it’s good for our employees and good for the business.”

At this week’s inaugural Women in Technology forum, more than 200 NAB technology employees gathered to hear from gender diversity advocates including best-selling author Michelle McQuaid and Marita Cheng, 2012 Young Australian of the Year.

The Women in Technology forum focussed on the need for gender diversity targets, the existing systemic barriers and challenges for women in technology, and highlighted opportunities available through NAB’s diversity agenda.

In 2010, NAB set a series of targets for the number of women in our subsidiary boards, senior leader population and talent development programs. Since setting the targets in 2010 NAB has:

Raised the proportion of Group subsidiary board positions held by women from 14% to 30% by 2015. At Sept 2013, this was increased to 38%.

Increased the number of women in senior management (the top three layers of our organisation) from 23% to 33% by 2015. At Sept 2013: 30% of the Group’s executive management were women.

Strengthen our talent pipeline by creating a 50/50 gender balance in our graduate program intake. At Sept 2013, 47% of the graduates who have accepted positions in the Company’s 2014 graduate program are women.