Elizabeth Broderick facts for kids
Elizabeth Broderick is an Australian lawyer. She worked as the Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner for more than eight years, from 2007 to 2015. Since 2017, she has also been a United Nations special rapporteur for Discrimination against Women and Girls. Before these roles, she was a partner at a big law firm called Ashurst Australia.
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Early Life and Education
Elizabeth Broderick grew up in Caringbah, New South Wales. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a physiotherapist. She has two sisters, including her identical twin, Jane Latimer. Elizabeth was the head girl at Meriden School in 1978. Her twin sister, Jane, was also a head girl at MLC School in the same year.
Elizabeth Broderick's Career
Elizabeth Broderick is trained as a lawyer. She has spoken about the importance of preventing unfair treatment in the workplace.
At the law firm Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst), Elizabeth was the first partner to work part-time. She worked part-time for twelve years. She also created a special database to help people get legal advice at a low cost. In 2000–2001, she was named "Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year."
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Role
In 2007, the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, chose Elizabeth Broderick to be the Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Her time in this important role was extended twice. As Commissioner, she worked on many important issues.
She helped with cases about equal pay for men and women. She also suggested a plan for a paid parental leave scheme. This scheme helps parents take time off work when they have a new baby. She also spoke publicly about cases involving unfair treatment.
Male Champions of Change
Elizabeth Broderick convinced many powerful men in Australia to join a group called Male Champions of Change (MCC). These men promised to work towards gender equality. This means making sure everyone, no matter their gender, has fair opportunities.
The MCC group is still active today. It has inspired similar groups in other areas like sports and architecture. Some members of the first MCC group include Alan Joyce and Lieutenant General David Morrison.
The Male Champions of Change have shared reports on their progress. They also worked with another group, Chief Executive Women. Together, they created a way for leaders to check their own actions and how they influence others.
In 2014, Elizabeth Broderick wrote a report about unfair practices in the Australian Defence Force. She finished her role as Sex Discrimination Commissioner in 2015.
United Nations Work
After leaving her role in Australia, Elizabeth Broderick started her own company. It focused on gender equality. In 2017, the United Nations appointed her as a Special Rapporteur. She joined a group of five female experts. They reported to the Human Rights Council about discrimination against women and girls worldwide. She served in this role until 2023.
In 2018, Elizabeth Broderick launched the Male Champions of Change idea around the world.
Awards and Recognition
- 2014: She won the Diversity category and was the overall winner of the Women of Influence Award.
- 2015: She received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of New South Wales. This was for her great service to Australia and the world.
- 2016: She was named New South Wales Australian of the Year. This was for being a strong voice for gender equality.
- 2017: She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. This is a very high honor in Australia.
