East Fremantle’s Diane Smith-Gander inducted into WA Women’s Hall of Fame

DIANE Smith-Gander is busy woman.

Not only does the East Fremantle resident have a successful career in banking and management consulting both nationally and overseas, she is also a non-executive director at AGL Energy and Wesfarmers Limited and is chair of Safe Work Australia and the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council.

Always working hard to help others, the spotlight was turned on Ms Smith-Gander on Wednesday when she was one of 15 women to be inducted into the International Women’s Day (IWD) WA Women’s Hall of Fame.

A celebration of women who have made significant contributions to the state, Ms Smith-Gander said she was delighted to be inducted.

“Women in WA have been trailblazers since Edith Cowan, our first Australian female legislator,” she said.

“She worked for women’s economic independence more than 100 years ago, I’m working on it today and I am glad this is recognised.

“We all know role modelling is one of the most important ways people learn the art of the possible.

“To be a role model you have to be visible and so this recognition is critical so both young men and women see the diversity of women’s achievement.”

She said despite the growing importance of International Women’s Day, there was still plenty more to do.

“Until we get to 50-50 leadership being real gender equity we need to keep focused on the fact that women don’t have equal opportunity and IWD is a key part of doing this,” she said.

“If women can’t be fully engaged in society we are leaving half of the talent pool on the table-that doesn’t make much sense to me and it’s not fair either.”