BHP Billiton sees 2.9% increase in female representation

BHP Billiton has significantly improved its work on creating a more gender equal workforce, the company’s latest statistics reveal.

The global giant has set itself an ambitious target to achieve gender balance globally by 2025. This goal, Andrew Mackenzie, CEO, BHP Billiton, admits did raise a few eyebrows when it was revealed.

“I have to admit our aspirational target raised a few eyebrows. Real change needs passion. We’ve had leadership at all levels of our organisation push us forward. But not everyone moves at the same pace. We’ve also heard some reservations and scepticism during our progress,” he notes.

“We need to feel uncomfortable about the targets we set ourselves to know we’ve pushed hard enough. I am proud of how our people have responded.”

Over the last year, BHP recorded an increase of 2.9% increase in female representation, which fell just shy of its 3% target.

In that same period, the company hired 1,000 more women and saw the number of female leaders rise to 18%.

That’s 100 more female leaders in the company.

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“We still have a long way to go as we embark on our second year of change. This is not a linear process. We’re changing 130 years of industry convention,” says Mackenzie.

“Gender balance is a challenge for all industries but if a mining company like ours can achieve this progress I am hopeful of what can be achieved throughout society more broadly. We do not have a silver bullet, but we will step up to the challenge.”