EOWA would like to thank the following sponsors of the 2009 EOWA Business Achievement Awards (in alphabetical order):

Australian Industry Group
The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) is Australia's leading industry organisation representing 10,000 employers across a broad and expanding range of sectors. Our members operate businesses of all sizes throughout Australia and employ almost half a million people. We provide practical information, advice and assistance to help members run their businesses more effectively and to become more competitive on a domestic and international level. We also ensure our members have a voice in all levels of government, by representing and promoting their interests on current and emerging issues.

For more information on the Australian Industry Group, click here...

Commonwealth Bank of Australia
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia aims to build a diverse team by recognising the value of the varied perspectives, skills and approaches to work that employees bring. Valuing and respecting these differences is fundamental to providing excellent customer service to a diverse community and allows our employees to contribute to their full potential.

For more information on the Commonwealth Bank, click here...
 

ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil realises that success depends on attracting and retaining the best, most innovative, most results-oriented employees. Their view is "our people are our competitive advantage and the key factor in achieving our goals".

The organisation is therefore very serious about the people they choose to recruit and develop and so they aim to provide an environment where the right type of person can grow and succeed.
 

Freehills
Freehills is committed to a creating and supporting a high performance culture and our key strategic priority is making it possible for all people to take on roles that fulfil and challenge them. We have a significant focus on creating an inclusive work environment that enables all our people to be successful and fulfilled. Integral in achieving this is our vision -  to create an exceptional experience for our people and our clients.

We have a long history of leading the legal industry in its support of women and their career development, and have a strong focus on encouraging diversity. We are proud that we were the first major Australian law firm to appoint a woman partner in 1978, and remain focused on creating a work environment that enables women to be successful, fulfilled and to take on leadership roles.

Our 'Women at Freehills' initiative that specifically supports this objective includes partner development programs focusing on improving career conversations, challenging mindsets and assumptions about gender; coaching programs; focus groups; setting partner targets;  parental support programs; flexible working plans; and regular policy reviews.

 For more information about Freehills, click here...

IBM
IBM Corporation is the world's largest Information Technology (IT) and business consulting company, with solutions and services spanning all major industries.

With over 350,000 employees worldwide in 174 countries, including over 15,000 employees in Australia and New Zealand, it's easy to see why diversity and inclusion have been integral parts of the corporation's culture for more than 80 years.

IBM values diversity and recognises the need to capitalise on the skills and talents of all segments of its workforce. IBM's programs and policies encourage, develop and support diversity for all employees. Well-known for being an Employer of Choice, IBM Australia has won several prestigious awards since 1997. More recent awards include:

IBM is the only organisation to be named a finalist in the Australian Prime Minister's Employer of the Year Award for its commitment to disability employment.

For more information on IBM, click here...