NQBP board director Andrea Ranson's insights on International Women's Day

Q. What is your role and what does a typical day look like?

There is no typical day in the life of a Non-Executive Director. The Board formally meets as a collective on at least 10 occasions per year, with additional strategic planning days and quarterly committee meetings.

Each Director fulfils additional governance duties as a member of two Committees. Directors also attend community, stakeholder, industry events, training and professional development. Board-related travel is an important part of the role. Last year, this travel included Mackay, Brisbane, Sydney, Bowen, Cairns and Weipa.

Directors allocate time to read, digest and prepare in advance of all meetings, and where required respond to out of session approvals. There is one constant, keeping up to date daily with issues that may impact NQBP, its business and trade, stakeholders, industry and community. In recognition of International Women’s Day 2020, I am honoured to be attending an event in Mackay, hosted by a regional industry group.

Q. This year's theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Each for equal’ – an equal world is an enabled world. What does this mean to you?

It is a global call to action that recognises that diversity, inclusion, equity and equality are no longer aspirational goals, they are expectational norms. Skills have no gender. ‘Each for equal’ asks us all, individually and collectively, in business and all walks of life, to respond. What does this look like? Ensuring we are all individually and collectively accountable to challenge thoughts, beliefs, conduct and unconscious bias. Proactively challenging thoughts, processes and policies. An enabled world, like an enabled individual, thrives.

Q. What is the most challenging part of your job?

One of the universal challenges that Directors face is the reality of rapidly changing global economies. Directors need to be agile and progressive in thought and action, which is in turn pivotal to the collective decision-making, necessary to drive sustainable strategic development.

Q. How do you find working in a male-dominated industry?

At normal capacity, NQBP has a Board ratio that is equal 50/50 women to men. It is important that a Board leads by example. What does this look like? Questioning language, processes, procedures, maintaining inclusive succession planning. Asking “if not, why not” in relation to diversity and enabling equality.

Q. What advice do you have for other women pursuing careers in traditionally male-dominated industries?

• Be mentored and mentor others. Strong mentoring relationships are enabling with vocational direction, confidence and resilience. A mentor will assist to quiet inner doubt and provide perspective. Prepare to be uncomfortable. Seek a mentor who will honestly challenge your thoughts and experiences, encourage you to self-reflect, unpack assumptions and be agile. Give back and be a mentor. Use your skills to reframe language or behaviours and support career progression. The greatest honour is to develop a professional to excel beyond your own skill level.
• You are enough. Understand your skill set and truly value it.
• Be ambitious – put your hand up for promotion. Apply for roles that challenge you, do not restrict yourself to roles that you feel you have proven capability in. Embrace both your proven capabilities and your potential.
• Be an advocate for cultural change where you see it. Re-frame dialogue, ask for planned development, ensure your organisation has a set of lived values that supports diversity and equality.