The event was designed to increase awareness and address the current challenges women are facing in the financial sectors in New Zealand.
Event organiser and lecturer Dr Mona Yaghoubi said ‘The symposium focused on the gender wage gap in the financial sector; the low female representation in senior management; and the fact that women are too harsh on themselves both when applying for a job and doing the job.’
More than 40 attendees participated in the symposium supported by CFA/INFINZ. Prof Jedrzej Bialkowski, who was initiator of the event back in 2018, commenced with an opening speech. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Sonia Mazey then delivered an interesting and insightful talk on Women and Money. Five panellists from the financial industry (BNZ, PWC, Sharesies and Forsyth Barr) had a constructive discussion with attendees on the key issues.
The event aimed to help female students understand the issues and guide them towards solutions. It also provided male students with a better understanding of the challenges female students face when pursuing a career in finance and encouraged them to support their peers to achieve their potential based on their qualification and not their gender.
The Department of Economics and Finance is committed to hold this event next year, and we hope to see you at our 2020 WiF symposium.