Enthusiasm for issues highlighted on International Women’s Day should be maintained throughout the year, as the corporate world makes slow progress on gender diversity, Allianz Australia Head of Diversity and Inclusion Edyta Torpy says.

“It is great to celebrate International Women’s Day but let’s take up the challenge to have that level of engagement and discussion and motivation every day,” Ms Torpy told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“I would like to see that kind of enthusiasm and engagement for what International Women’s Day stands for throughout the whole year, and being embedded in everyday activity and interaction.”

International Women’s Day was celebrated by the UN for the first time in 1975 and has recently gained momentum, with events held around the world on March 8 to highlight progress made and challenges remaining.

Ms Torpy, who took up the Allianz diversity position in January after working for more than 10 years in consultancy and corporate roles in the area, says it is important to maintain momentum as barriers start to break down in the corporate world.

“We have seen a slow changing of attitudes in terms of ensuring that there is fair representation and more organisations are seeing the benefits of having diversity within their decision-making ranks,” she says.

“We just need to keep going, and keep coming back to the fact that it makes good business sense.”

Allianz has a target of 40% female representation in leadership roles by the end of next year and is approaching that level with 36% at present. The company is still considering targets for further ahead.

Ms Torpy says there are advantages to a 40:40:20 approach, which means 80% of positions are equally split by gender, but which provides flexibility for filling the remainder.

Allianz was last month recognised for a 10th straight year by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency as a leader in workplace equality.

A proactive approach to diversity includes reviewing processes to guard against systemic biases and promoting a culture that is clear about behaviours and that is supported from the leadership down through all levels, Ms Torpy says.

“It is up to all of us to create that environment of inclusion, where no matter who you are, you are valued within that environment, your contribution is valued and you can be yourself,” she says.

Diversity is increasingly acknowledged in business as a driver of innovation and good decisions as different perspectives are brought to the table.

“If you don’t have an inclusive work environment people tend to assimilate and you are losing those experiences and uniqueness that you hired them for in the first place,” Ms Torpy says.