Queen's honours for women in charge of blokey operations
It was hugely important to build bridges between business and the community, she said.
On Monday, two trailblazers for Australian businesswomen, Ms Ridout (pictured left) and the first female chief executive of the Business Council of Australia, Katie Lahey (right), are being appointed Officers of the Order of Australia.
Ms Ridout was the respected face of industry for years, arguing the case of businesses in a range of industries, from manufacturing and mining equipment to call centres. "I was somewhat surprised when I ended up being leader of the organisation," she said of the position she held for eight years.
"I was fortunate to be in an organisation that was incredibly industrial and male dominated but at the same time was enlightened and gave me the opportunity to end up being the very first female chief executive.
"[The] group had a very big role in those big public policy debates and my interests were hugely aligned with the job: the economy; industrial relations; the environment; skills formation and infrastructure."
The lot of women in business improved greatly in her 30-year career with the organisation, she said, but it still had a long way to go because she was the sole female board director in recent years.
Ms Ridout is still deeply involved in public policy formation, as a director of the Reserve Bank and Australian Super, and she sits on the board of listed company Sims Metal.
Fellow AO recipient Ms Lahey has lobbied for minimum numbers of women on the boards of the top companies because it is not happening quickly enough.
Many Australians did not know how lucky they were in faring better economically than most of the rest of the world, Ms Fahey said, but the non-resources parts of the economy had to step up.
Ms Lahey was the Business Council's chief executive for a decade until 2011. She rose to the top of Australian business circles after coming to Australia on a working holiday as a 21-year-old.
Today, Ms Lahey is managing director of executive search firm Korn/Ferry International Australasia. On the way to leading the BCA, she was chief executive of Sydney City Council and the Victorian Tourism Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Heather Ridout and Katie Lahey are senior Australian business figures honoured as Officers of the Order of Australia. Ridout was the first woman to run the Australian Industry Group and is known for long involvement in public policy; Lahey was the first female chief executive of the Business Council of Australia and is now managing director of Korn/Ferry International Australasia.
According to the article, Heather Ridout is a director of the Reserve Bank and AustralianSuper and sits on the board of listed company Sims Metal. Katie Lahey is managing director of executive search firm Korn/Ferry International Australasia and was formerly chief executive of the Business Council of Australia—roles that connect to corporate governance, leadership appointment processes and public policy.
The article highlights Ridout’s trailblazing role in a traditionally male-dominated organisation and her long involvement in public policy (economy, industrial relations, environment, skills and infrastructure). For investors, that background signals experience in industry advocacy and governance issues relevant to companies across manufacturing, mining equipment and services.
The article says Katie Lahey has lobbied for minimum numbers of women on the boards of top companies because progress is perceived as too slow. Board diversity is an investor-relevant governance topic because it affects board composition, decision-making and public expectations of corporate leadership.
Heather Ridout sits on the board of listed company Sims Metal, as noted in the article. Her board role links her public-policy and industry experience to the governance of a listed business—information investors may consider when assessing board expertise and oversight.
The article frames the honours as recognition of trailblazing businesswomen who have played major roles in public policy debates and industry representation. That public-policy involvement underscores the influence some corporate leaders have beyond their companies, which can be relevant to investors tracking regulatory and economic trends.
Heather Ridout argued for businesses across a range of industries including manufacturing, mining equipment and call centres. She also focused on public-policy areas such as the economy, industrial relations, the environment, skills formation and infrastructure.
As shown in the article, national honours can spotlight leaders who influence corporate governance, board appointments and public policy. For investors, that visibility can highlight which individuals are shaping business debates, serving on significant boards (for example, Reserve Bank, AustralianSuper, listed companies like Sims Metal), or driving governance reforms such as board diversity.
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
