UOW Enterprises group chief executive and NRMA board member Marisa Mastroianni had plenty to share during an International Women’s Day lunch hosted by Illawarra VIEW clubs.
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Mrs Mastroianni told her story one year after NRMA deputy president Wendy Machin was keynote speaker. At that lunch Mrs Mastroianni was inspired by the work VIEW did with its Learning for Life program. After listening to a sponsored student she decided to provide funds for a scholarship to help VIEW support disadvantaged local young woman.
As a result a three-year $10,000 scholarship was awarded to help a local school leaver attend the UOW College to help them prepare for university. UOWC provides those unable to go directly to university the skills they need to study. The first scholarship recipient was previously supported by The Smith Family and is now studying a Diploma of Nursing at UOW College. Through the scholarship she receives financial assistance and has been matched with a mentor who provides career and study advice.
Speaking at the 2016 lunch Mrs Mastroianni said such support was important. As was the need to keep trying to achieve gender equality in many Australian companies. At UOW Enterprises she heads up a global higher education company with operations in Australia, Dubai and Hong Kong. It involves leading a team of 830 staff, 11,000 enrolled students and has an annual turnover of $120 million. Mrs Mastroianni was appointed to the board of the NRMA in 2015 and is a director of the region’s local health district board. She said it was an honour to be invited to speak at a celebration of the contributions women do make. “But we also have to acknowledge there is still much to be done,” she said.
Gender bias in work practices, differential rates of pay and a lack of representation of women in leadership roles are all ares where parity is still being sought. Mrs Mastroianni made a pledge to VIEW that she would value women’s and men’s contributions equally. She said a study by La Trobe Business School showed that companies who employ more women on their boards make more money. And having parity in Australia’s workforce could increase GDP by 11 per cent. But only 17 per cent of company CEOs are presently women. “Fewer big Australian companies are run by woman by then men named Peter,” she said. “Indeed companies run by a Peter, a Michael, a David or an Andrew outnumber those run women four to one. We have much change still to occur. I believe in my organisation I have an obligation to ensure there is gender equality in career progression and that women receive equal pay for their contribution”.
Mrs Mastroianni congratulated VIEW women for their commitment to providing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children and families. “It gives me pleasure to announced that UOW College will provide another $10,000 scholarship to VIEW Club to award to a recipient it chooses”.
