About this Event
The Leaders We Need
Hosted by EY Brisbane
The conversation about workforce strategy in most organisations is happening at the top: AI roadmaps, workforce restructuring, automation investment. But women hold just 24.4% of managerial roles globally, and only 12.2% of C-suite positions in STEM-related fields. That means women are largely absent from the rooms where the biggest decisions about the future of work, especially regarding AI, are being made.
This is not a future problem. It is happening now. And the consequences will shape careers, industries, and economies for the next decade.
The Leaders We Need brings together senior leaders and practitioners to explore the intersection of technology, AI, leadership, and gender equity. This panel will challenge the narrative that the future of work is simply a matter of technical upskilling, and instead position it as a leadership opportunity that women must own, shape, and drive.
Key Themes
1. Stepping into leadership, not waiting for permission
The women who will advance in the next three years are the ones stepping up to own AI strategy in their teams and organisations. This is not about waiting to be reskilled. It is about claiming a seat at the decision-making table and shaping how AI is adopted, governed, and deployed. The panel will explore how women can position themselves as the leaders their organisations need right now.
2. Structural barriers in professional development
Too many upskilling programmes are overwhelmingly optional, self-paced, and conducted outside working hours. These formats structurally disadvantage those balancing unpaid care responsibilities, which disproportionately falls on women. If upskilling pathways are not redesigned with inclusion at their core, women will continue to be excluded from the AI-ready workforce.
3. From motivation to momentum: the role of targeted skills planning
Workers are motivated to upskill, but without targeted skills planning and clear career development pathways that account for the changing skills required during the current AI impact, this motivation finds no productive outlet. Organisations need to move beyond generic training catalogues and build intentional development pathways that connect emerging capability with career progression.
Why This Matters
Women represent just 24.4% of managerial roles globally and only 12.2% of C-suite positions in STEM. AI decisions are being made without women in the room.
The design of most AI and professional development upskilling programmes excludes those with greater unpaid care responsibilities, entrenching existing gaps rather than closing them.
Organisations that fail to include diverse perspectives in strategic planning, risk building systems that reflect narrow viewpoints, with consequences for customers, communities, and workforces.
The window to act is now. The leadership gap in AI decision-making will only widen unless intentional action is taken.
What Attendees Will Walk Away With
- A clear understanding of why strategic leadership, not just technical and AI literacy, is the critical capability for the next decade
- Practical strategies to advocate for inclusive professional development and upskilling within their organisations
- Confidence to step into strategy conversations and decision-making roles
Event details:
Location: EY Brisbane, 111 Eagle St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Date: Wednesday 22 July, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Inclusions: Networking & panel and light refreshments
General Admission: $30 + Fees & GST (non-members)
WID Members: Free (members-only)*
* This discount is available to all Women in Digital Members who have an active membership with Women in Digital. You can learn more about our .
Event format:
5:15pm Doors open
5:30pm Networking
6:00pm Panel commences
7:00pm Audience Q&A
7:30pm Event close
Speakers:
- To be announced shortly!
💡 Have a question, feedback or suggestion for our future meetups? Send us an email at [email protected]
We welcome all champions of diversity, manbassadors included!
If you're looking to connect with like-minded diversity-championing humans, expand your network and learn from other professionals in the digital industry, this is the place to be!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
EY, 111 Eagle Street, Brisbane City, Australia
AUD 0.00 to AUD 35.24
