Chief Executive Women CEO Lisa Annese named to the Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards Hall of Fame
Business in Heels
Key Facts:Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre report
With an ongoing gender pay gap of 21.8% according to the latest WGEA figures. For every $1 on average a man makes, women earn 78c. Over the course of a year, that difference adds up to $28,425.
Melbourne, 19 November 2025, The Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards today announced Lisa Annese, Chief Executive Officer of Chief Executive Women (CEW), as an honouree of the Hall of Fame, celebrating her sustained leadership advancing women’s participation and equity across Australian workplaces.
Annese commenced as CEW CEO in January 2025, stepping into the role after more than a decade as CEO of Diversity Council Australia, where she expanded membership to approximately 1,400 organisations and led landmark, evidence-based programs that helped mainstream flexible work, illuminate drivers of the gender pay gap, and build inclusion capability across the economy.
In 2025, Annese has amplified CEW’s public voice, including national media on the CEW Senior Executive Census, and advocacy for stronger accountability mechanisms such as linking gender targets to executive remuneration where progress has stalled.
"Lisa is a long-standing champion of evidence-based inclusion and women’s leadership and truly deserves to be recognised for her national impact," says CEO Business in Heels, presenter of the Awards.
Lisa has had a long career progressing positive change across the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. Earlier in her career, at the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (formerly the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA)), she developed the first-ever census of Australian Women in Leadership, the first-ever Business Achievement Awards, the creation of the Employer of Choice for Women citation and the development and implementation of the policy framework for the EOWA Act 1999 with Australian businesses. For her contribution at EOWA, she was awarded a Medal for Significant Contribution to the Australian Public Service.
About the Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards
The Recalibrate, Gender Equity Awards recognise the organisations and leaders who are making evidence-based, scalable progress on gender equity across Australia. The Hall of Fame honours lifetime contribution and enduring impact.
Recalibrate celebrates organisations and people creating equitable workplaces, audited by KPMG and winners unveiled at Crown, Melbourne on 19th November 6-10pm.
Visit genderequityawards.com to learn more.
About us:
About Business in Heels International.
The Gender Equity Awards honour individuals, organisations, and initiatives that are leading the charge toward more equitable and inclusive workplaces. Now in our third year, these awards shine a spotlight on best practices, celebrate meaningful progress, and inspire action to drive systemic change. By showcasing trailblazers and their impactful strategies, we aim to encourage others to follow their lead, fostering workplaces where diversity thrives and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The company has a vision to create an unlimited future for women. It is known for its work in providing mentoring support across Australia with Mentor Mornings and Leadership Summits to inspire women into senior roles in male-dominated industries and for Recalibrate - Gender Equity Awards for Australia. Today it connects over 200,000.
Contact details:
Lisa Sweeney
CEO Business in Heels
Mob 0409441816