The University of Sydney Business School’s Professor Marian Baird has been named one of the world’s most influential people in gender equality policy by Apolitical, a London based network, which assists public servants to resolve major social challenges.
Professor Baird shares the top 100 list with Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Malala Yousafzai; UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed; former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard; Lord Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
All have been recognised for their pioneering work in gender policy in government, politics, academia, philanthropy, international organisations, NGOs and advocacy.
“It’s time to celebrate the people making our societies fairer and better to live in for everybody,” said Apolitical CEO Robyn Scott.
The Dean of the Business School, Professor Greg Whitwell, congratulated Professor Baird on the Apolitical listing and commended her devotion to gender equality.
“Professor Baird’s work strongly reflects the Business School’s commitment to gender as well as cultural diversity and inclusion,” Professor Whitwell said.
Professor Baird is Professor of Gender and Employment Relations, Head of the Business School’s Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies and Co-Director of the Women, Work & Leadership Research Group.
She is also a Pro-Chancellor of the University of Sydney and a Fellow of the University’s Senate.
Professor Baird has long been recognised as one of Australia’s leading researchers in the field of women, work and family. In 2016 she was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for “outstanding services to improving the quality of women’s working lives and for contributions to tertiary education”.
In a message informing her of the listing, Apolitical’s Eve Powell thanked Professor Baird for her “contribution to making our society a fairer and more equal place to live”.
Tweeting her response, Professor Baird said she was “delighted to be named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy in 2018 by Apolitical alongside some of the most incredible women and men from around the world.”
“I would also like to point out that many of the outstanding women listed in the top 100 influencers are Australians,” she said.
Established in 2015, Apolitical is a global internet platform which links a network for public servants in more than 120 countries in a way that allows them to share ideas and solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.