Welcome to Season Six of Retail Therapy, where we delve into Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. We're thrilled to kick off this season with a powerhouse guest, Lisa Annese (she/her), CEO of Diversity Council Australia.

Lisa was named one of the AFR’s 100 Women of Influence in 2018. In 2019 she was elected to the Board of Amnesty International Australia and in 2021 to the Board of the non-partisan organisation, Women for Election. Under Lisa’s leadership, the Diversity Council has produced a broad array of groundbreaking, evidence-based research around diversity, equality and inclusion. With her wealth of expertise, Lisa is the perfect guest to inaugurate Season Six, offering invaluable insights into this crucial conversation.

This episode explores:

• Lisa's journey into her career path and what motivated her


• Tackling gendered harassment, discrimination, and violence - the remaining challenges


• Resolving the persistent gender pay gap and necessary changes


• Advocating for a public register of gender pay discrepancies for corporate accountability


• First Nations inclusivity and thoughts on the Voice discourse


• Progress in addressing racial hurdles or ongoing concerns


• Supporting the LGBTIQ+ community's inclusion in businesses


• Encouraging employers to consider hiring individuals with disabilities or neurodivergence


• Balancing religious and cultural diversity within the context of DE&I


• The role of the retail industry in driving and exemplifying societal change

Thank you to our Principal Partner American Express for supporting this season of Retail Therapy.

Learn more about American Express: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/merchant/accept-amex-cards.html

ABOUT THE ARA: The Australian Retailers Association is the oldest, largest and most diverse national retail body. We represent a $420 billion sector that employs more than 1.4 million Australians and is the largest private sector employer in the country. As Australia’s peak retail body, representing more than 120,000 retail shop fronts and online stores, the ARA informs, advocates, educates, protects and unifies our independent, national and international retail community.