AWEI Fireside Chat: Executive Leadership Award 2025

Join Pride in Diversity for an inaugural series called AWEI Fireside Chats: Winners of the LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards!

There is an array of Awards given at the annual Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards, based on the results of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Submissions and additional nominated categories. This series will focus on the winners in these categories, where each award nomination recognises outstanding advocacy, support and/or contribution to LGBTQ+ inclusion within the workplace by leaders, role models, allies and more.

The winner of the 2025 Executive Leadership Award was Rebecca Bennett from Murdoch University.

This nomination recognises the outstanding contribution(s) to LGBTQ+ inclusion from an executive and senior leader within an organisation.

Culture is led from the top, so Executive support for LGBTQ+ inclusion speaks volumes to employees. Their contributions should include both internal and external work, sending strong messages to potential employees, customers, stakeholders, LGBTQ+ people who engage with your organisation, and the general LGBTQ+ public.

Annual AWEI Employees Survey data shows that the visible, active senior allies has a significant impact within an organisation, on employee support for organisational LGBTQ+ inclusion initiatives, and specific support for LGBTQ+ employees. Visible support from executive/leadership teams positively impacts health and wellbeing, inclusion, and acceptance. It reduces incidents of bullying and harassment and contributes to an environment where people feel safer to deal with negative behaviours.

About the Winner:

Associate Professor Bennett, an out and proud lesbian and the only openly LGBTIQA+ member of Murdoch University’s Senior Leadership Team, has dedicated her career to advancing social justice and inclusion for marginalised communities.

As Chair of the University’s LGBTIQA+ Advisory Group, she spearheaded the push for AWEI accreditation and established the first LGBTIQA+-focused paid role on campus – transforming the university’s approach to inclusion. In 2023, her appointment as the inaugural Pro Vice Chancellor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (PVC EDI) enabled her to embed LGBTIQA+ priorities into the University’s EDI Sub-Strategy, while securing dedicated staff and funding to drive initiatives. Through her advocacy, research, and public engagement – including securing research grants, publishing academic papers, and speaking at national events – she has significantly advanced LGBTIQA+ inclusion in higher education.

Her impact has also been recognised with an Athena Swan Cygnet Award for LGBTIQA+ inclusion, a testament to her leadership and vision.

About this Session:

Join Pride in Diversity and Murdoch University for a conversation on the critical role of proactive and visible executive support in driving LGBTQ+ inclusion. Discover how leadership commitment can shape organisational culture, influence policy, and empower teams to create lasting change. Learn from real-world examples, practical strategies, and proven approaches that demonstrate why executive engagement is not just valuable – but essential – for meaningful progress.

Pride in Diversity Co-hosts:

·       Will Reilly (he/him), Index Project Manager

·        Alyce Schotte (she/her), Senior Relationship Manager

Guest Panellists Murdoch University:

·       Rebecca Bennett (she/her), Pro Vice Chancellor (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)

·       Em Readman (they/them), Strategic Projects Coordinator and LGBTIQA+ Advisory Group Chair

This session will be online.

Registration links will be sent out the morning of the event.

About the Australian Workplace Equality Index:

The AWEI now stands as the definitive national benchmark on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and comprises the largest and only national employee survey designed to gauge the overall impact of inclusion initiatives on organisational culture.

To learn more about the AWEI Submissions, head to our website.

Your organisation can also register for participation in:

·       The 2025 – 2026 AWEI Submissions

·       The AWEI Employee Survey

To learn more about nominating a colleague or campaign for outstanding contributions to LGBTQ+ inclusion within your organisation, check out our Award Nomination categories.