Partners & Sponsorships

Major Partners

DCA partners with key members to demonstrate leadership in diversity and further the diversity agenda in the wider community. DCA’s Major Partner organisations include:

Today’s organisations face increasing demands for responsiveness, adaptability, innovation, speed, and responsible corporate citizenship. No organisation can afford to dismiss the benefits of having a diverse and inclusive culture.

So for Cisco, building an inclusive and diverse organisation is an ongoing and essential business imperative. We believe it is our responsibility to:

  • Empower our teams
  • Eliminate biases
  • Create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued, respected and heard

 

Cisco Logo

Gilbert + Tobin is a leading independent Australian corporate law firm, advising clients on their most significant corporate transactions, regulatory matters, and disputes. We provide commercial and innovative legal solutions for ASX 100 leading companies, major infrastructure and services providers as well as government and public authorities across Australia and around the world.

Internationally recognised for our experience in M&A, private equity, capital markets, competition and regulation, as well as technology and digital matters, we handle complex issues that shape and influence the market.

Our firm is also committed to outstanding citizenship. We have a proud pro bono track record, and we champion important causes, such as marriage equality and reconciliation with First Nations Peoples in Australia.

Gilbert + Tobin is recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, joining an elite group of employers who are recognised for improving and advancing the conditions and outcomes for women in the workplace. We have one of the highest proportions of women partners among major Australian law firms.

Gilbert + Tobin is Diversity Council Australia’s preferred legal provider.

As a business operating in markets all around the world, HSBC believes that diversity brings benefits for customers, business and its people.

HSBC believes that different ideas and perspectives help us innovate, manage risk, and grow the business in a sustainable way.

HSBC views being inclusive as an expression of HSBC’s values to be dependable, open and connected.

HSBC’s diversity program aims to create an environment where people are valued, respected and supported to achieve their potential – and are striving to build an environment where people feel they can speak up to help remove barriers to success, and collaborate and put the best ideas into practice.

KPMG believes a diverse and inclusive approach translates into benefits for its clients, its business and its people.  It is a continuous change program that is about making sustainable improvements to business performance and culture.

Achieving gender equality requires a shift in deeply ingrained mindsets and beliefs, which is why KPMG is embarking on firm-wide culture change program.

Women have been seeking equality in the business world for well over 20 years. Many things have been tried with limited success. Change needs to happen rapidly.

KPMG’s achievements to date:

  • The firm’s leadership is committed to gender equality and all have diversity goals embedded into their business plans;
  • More than 50% of employees at most levels are women;
  • The firm has a strong talent pool of women – and is working on creating gender equality at the top;
  • It has increased the number of women partners from 8% (2000) to 15.5% (2010);
  • The firm has a consistently high return rate from parental leave and is embracing flexible work arrangements;
  • Diversity and inclusion targets are embedded in firm-wide business plans and scorecard; and
  • The firm is embedding diversity into all that it does and is always focusing on ‘what gets measured gets done’.

Sponsorships & partnerships with us

Sponsorship or partnership with DCA is a great way for members to publicly demonstrate their organisational commitment to D&I to their employees, stakeholders, customers and clients. We have a range of sponsorships involving research, major events and other activities that can play a strategic part of your broader diversity plan and provide your organisation with significant profile and branding opportunities to position you as an employer of choice.

Why partner with DCA?

Association with an authoritative and influential voice

  • DCA is the leading voice on diversity and inclusion in Australia
  • We have 1,200+ member organisations (some of whom are Australia’s biggest employers) who employ more than one million Australians or over 15% of the Australian workforce
  • We have a substantial and growing public profile and media influence including:

Exposure to business leaders

  • DCA has strong networks and links with business
  • 25,000+ HR directors and managers, diversity practitioners and business leaders at DCA member and non-member organisations are registered to receive our member eCommunications.

Position yourself as an employer of choice

  • Through significant profile and branding opportunities, you can leverage your diversity and inclusion programs to position your organisation as an employer of choice.

Sponsorship opportunities

The following events and activities are currently sponsored. First right of refusal is afforded to existing event sponsors for the following year, but if you are interested in discussing these opportunities, contact Sue Flockart on sue@dca.org.au:

DCA’s Anna McPhee Memorial Oration honours the late Anna McPhee, DCA’s former Chair and lifetime advocate for diversity and equal opportunity.  The Oration is a thought-leading event staged in Melbourne featuring a high profile and skilled public speaker delivering a keynote address on an important D&I topic.

Past Orators have all given powerful and persuasive addresses including award-winning investigative journalist and author, Jess Hill, who spoke on how to address the scourge of domestic and family violence and abuse in 2022; The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG who spoke about a Bill of Rights in 2019; The Hon. Julia Gillard AC who spoke on mental health in 2018; and political journalist and television presenter, Stan Grant who spoke on Indigenous recognition and reconciliation in 2017.

In 2023, Cisco Australia was the Sponsor of the Oration and it was delivered by Professor Tom Calma AO, Aboriginal Elder, co-author of the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Report and 2023 Senior Australian of the Year, who spoke on why it’s so important for Australians to say ‘Yes!’ to the Voice to Parliament; a ground-breaking and long overdue reform.

The event took take place on Wednesday 30 August 2023 in Melbourne at ZINC at Federation Square, Swanston Street & Flinders Street Melbourne and included a two course corporate lunch.

Major Sponsor benefits include:

  • Major sponsor of the Oration, positioned as a thought leader and partner with DCA in championing diversity & inclusion
  • Event supported by a comprehensive communications strategy in collaboration with DCA, maximising traditional media, social media and stakeholder channels
  • The opportunity to use event as a vehicle to meet your overall D&I objectives, including creating stronger internal engagement
  • One complimentary sponsor table of 10 plus two complimentary seats on DCA head table
  • Opportunity for welcome and profile message 
  • Opportunity for sponsor representative to be a panellist, alongside the Orator, in the moderated panel discussion
  • Significant branding profile at the event
  • Profile in media release and e-communications circulated post-event
  • Additional exposure via the event video featured on DCA website
  • First right of refusal to sponsor next year’s Oration.  

For more information about sponsoring a future Oration, contact us on (03) 9067 8002 or email us on sue@dca.org.au.

DCA’s Diversity Debate is one of the hottest tickets in town and will be staged in Sydney in November 2024.

This favourite DCA event boasts an entertaining evening of networking followed by a two course dinner and very entertaining debate asking a topical and key diversity question.  The format is fun and the debating is fearsome to dissect and canvas all the pros and cons, the fors and against of the issue at hand, resulting in a fully considered discussion of the topic on the night. No stone is left unturned and the result is an entertaining and informative look at D&I by an audience who are invested and passionate about equality, equity and inclusion for the Australian workforce and the community at large.

Each debate team is made up of 3 speakers representing business, academia, subject matter experts or social commentators. Together our 6 high-profile debate speakers unpick the issues being contested on the night. Speakers are led by a master of ceremonies and debate moderator who is able to cross-examine the most seasoned debater, ensuring DCA’s Debate is both hugely entertaining and hard hitting! 

The 2022 Debate was a great success and received rave reviews. See photos, videos & more.

The 2024 DCA Diversity Debate  

  • Date: A date to be advised in November 2024
  • Time: 6pm to 10pm (AEDT)
  • Where: Sydney CBD location TBA
  • Event: Networking, dinner & Debate for approx. 450 guests
  • For more information about the Debate, visit the Debate page of our website.

Sponsor opportunities and benefits

The Major Sponsor of the 2022 Debate was MAX Solutions, the Support Sponsors Deloitte and Ventia, and the Associate Sponsors Hall & Wilcox, IPA and City of Sydney.

  • The Debate opportunities include 1 x Major sponsor, 2 x Support sponsors and 3 x Associate sponsors 
  • All sponsors receive branding & recognition on all communications commensurate with their sponsorship level
  • An extensive communications media strategy and social media plan is in place to maximise attendance and profile our Debate sponsors
  • Sponsors are positioned as leading the debate on D&I in the business and wider community in Australia
  • Sponsors receive a ticketing package, and invitation to the VIP Soiree plus branding & recognition on all communications on the Debate commensurate with their sponsorship level.

First right of refusal is offered to past Debate sponsors.  For further information about the 2024 Diversity Debate sponsorship, contact Senior Manager Events & Sponsorship, Sue Flockart on 0414 531 476 or email sue@dca.org.au

What previous sponsors have said about the Debate:

“On behalf of the NAB we would like to thank you for such an incredible night last night for the debate. The quality of the event, the engaging conversations and the passion that was in the room to support a more inclusive society was fabulous. Working with the DCA has been a pleasure and we thank you for allowing us to be involved. All the best – and thank you for such a great event!” (Major Sponsor 2018)

“It certainly was a terrific evening and a very thought provoking topic for debate. I was pretty sure at the get go of which side of the argument I was in favour but with each speaker I vacillated from one side of the argument to the other. Both teams did a superb job and great choice of topic on the part of you and your team. MLC Life Insurance was delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the event and to partner with the DCA.” Susan Karson, Chief People Officer, MLC Life Insurance (Major Sponsor 2019)

For more information about the event or enquiries about event sponsorship, contact DCA’s Senior Manager Events & Sponsorship, Sue Flockart on 0414 531 476 or email her at sue@dca.org.au

DCA’s Gender Equality Network is the most popular of our networks and is open exclusively to DCA members. The focus of the four quarterly events that makes up the Network is to:

  1. Share knowledge: and hear from member organisations about their strategies, challenges and opportunities on the journey towards gender equality in the workplace
  2. Engage with regulators: connect with regulators such as WGEA and ASX on the latest on gender reporting and resources
  3. Understand leading practice: and gain access to leading thinkers and practitioners in business and academia.

Our long term partner and sponsor of the Gender Equality Network, KPMG Australia have supported leading practice on gender equality since 2018.

Gender Equality Network Sponsor benefits include:

  • Positioning as major sponsor of the network
  • Full recognition and/or branding at 4 events per annum on:
    • event e-invitations sent to full DCA distribution list 25,000+ 
    • event registration pages on website
    • verbal mentioned of sponsor during the event
    • event profiled via DCA’s extensive social media presence 
    • event recording to feature branding on the DCA website 
  • Opportunity for the scheduled events to be held face-to-face at the sponsor’s venue, offering further profiling
  • Opportunity to provide a company profile and event welcome at each event
  • Opportunity to speak feature a panellist at one network event to present case study
  • Opportunity for your organisation to use the sponsorship to generate profile
  • Full sponsor report outlining outcome of sponsorship.

For more information about sponsoring or partnering with DCA, contact us on (03) 9067 8002 or email us on sue@dca.org.au. 

DCA’s Indigenous Network focuses on building workplaces that make the most of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent and features three events annually in the networks series of events. BAE Systems Australia is our partner and sponsor for this network until June 2022 (with first right of refusal to renew the sponsorship on option). 

Exclusively for DCA members, the Indigenous Workplace Network is designed to:

  • Profile leading practice in attraction, retention and promotion of Indigenous talent
  • Improve understanding of Indigenous cultures and issues
  • Build organisational capability in this area
  • Involve both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to share information and build relationships.

Sponsor benefits

  • Positioning as major sponsor of the network
  • Full recognition and/or branding at several events per annum on:
    • event e-invitations sent to full DCA distribution list 25,000+ 
    • event registration pages on website
    • verbally mentioned during the event
    • event profiled via DCA’s extensive social media presence
    • event recording featured on the DCA website following the event
  • Opportunity for the scheduled events to be held face-to-face at the sponsor’s venue, offering further profiling
  • Opportunity to provide a company profile and event welcome at each event
  • Opportunity to speak at one network event as a panellist to present case study
  • Opportunity for your organisation to use the sponsorship to generate profile
  • Full sponsor report outlining outcome of sponsorship.

For more information about sponsoring or partnering with DCA, contact us on (03) 9067 8002 or email us on sue@dca.org.au.

DCA’s new Mental Health Network will deliver two events per year covering topics centered around mental health and wellbeing at work. 

The Mental Health Network has been designed to:  

  • Encourage mentally healthy workplaces 
  • Discuss mental illness and how organisations can provide a supportive working environment 
  • Showcase best practice and storytelling
  • Normalise discussions around mental health and well-being
  • Build organisational capability in this area.

Guest speakers will include experts in mental health, people with lived experience and leading practice organisatons to share insights into how organisations can create mentally healthy workplaces and support staff with mental health conditions. 

Sponsor benefits

  • Positioning as sponsor of the network
  • Full recognition and/or branding at two events per annum on:
    • event e-invitations sent to full DCA distribution list 25,000+ 
    • event registration pages on website
    • verbal mention during events
    • event profiled via DCA’s extensive social media presence
    • event recording featured on the DCA website following the event.
  • Opportunity for events to be held face-to-face at the sponsor’s venue, or via video webinar offering further profiling
  • Opportunity to provide a company profile and event welcome at each event
  • Opportunity to speak at one network event as a panellist to present case study
  • Opportunity for your organisation to use the sponsorship to generate profile
  • Full sponsor report outlining outcome of sponsorship.

For more information about sponsoring or partnering with DCA, contact us on (03) 9067 8002 or email us on sue@dca.org.au.

DCA works in partnership with members to generate groundbreaking diversity research each year. By sponsoring our cutting-edge research projects, DCA member organisations have the opportunity to participate in the following (depending on the level of their sponsorship investment):
  • Have a key role in the development of all aspects of the project
  • Be profiled as a leading practice case study in the research report, where available
  • Be named and promoted as Research Partner with name and brand visibility on all project activities, including promotion to the media, in DCA’s e-publications and on social media
  • Host the national research launch event with profile all event collateral and at the event
  • Be a speaker or perform sponsor welcome at the launch event
  • Feature on DCA’s website and in e-publications with additional profile on social media.
Projects currently seeking sponsorship include:

How Inclusive Are We Really? Australia’s Track Record on Inclusion@Work

DCA’s Inclusion@Work Index is a biennial project that investigates how inclusive the Australian workplace is for a diversity of employees and tracks Australia’s progress in creating inclusion at work overtime. Sponsoring the 2021-22 Index is an exciting opportunity to be part of Australia’s only national benchmarking project that looks at D&I across all diversity dimensions. Some past project highlights have included: FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OR REQUEST A PROPOSAL

Eradicating Racism At Work: The Economic Cost of Racism at Work and How Organisations Can Respond Responsibly

The Black Lives Matter movement is pushing organisations to do better when it comes to confronting racism in the workplace. In this project, DCA aims to:
  • Conduct economic modelling on the cost of racism to workplaces, and/or
  • Produce evidence-based guidelines on how organisations can effectively respond to racism at work
Read more about some of DCA’s recent research projects. For more information or to request a sponsorship proposal contact: admin@dca.org.au. INCLUSION@WORK INDEX logo is a Registered Trade Mark of Diversity Council Australia Limited.

DCA offers Major Partner status to a select group of DCA members who are Australia’s business diversity leaders.

Major Partner status is reserved for DCA members who have shown a high degree of commitment to diversity, both inside and outside their organisation, and wish to showcase their commitment and/or achievements.

Major partners receive premium branding and profile on all DCA activities and have the option of hosting Diversity Leadership Program events and/or contributing to our publications.

DCA’s Major Partners currently include Cisco, Gilbert + Tobin, KPMG and HSBC.

Partner benefits will be tailored to your needs and can include:

  • Premium profile and positioning in all DCA activities including:
    • DCA’s website with special Partner’s profile
    • DCA’s eNews, website and e-publications with additional profile on social media and DCA’s Annual Report
  • Opportunity to host DCA’s Diversity & Inclusion Insights Program event/s with business leaders on a hot diversity topic as agreed providing profile on:
    • all event e-invitations and event registration page
    • during the event
  • Opportunity to be a speaker or perform sponsor welcome at the event/s as preferred
  • Opportunity for your staff members to receive priority attendance at the event/s
  • Opportunity for case study on website or in DCA e-publications
  • Opportunity for your organisation to use the partnership to generate profile
  • Full partner report outlining outcomes of sponsorship.

For more information about sponsoring or partnering with DCA, contact us on (02) 9067 8002 or email us on sue@dca.org.au.