Sydney - Australia – Novotech, the largest biotech specialist CRO in the Asia-Pacific, has been recognized by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE).

“Since its inception in 2014, the WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation has provided a rigorous and evidence-based guide for employers to chart a course towards achieving gender equality in their workplaces.” WGEA Director said.

They said Novotech has demonstrated a deep commitment to gender equality as a strategic imperative for the business.

“This year, we strengthened the eligibility criteria by placing even greater emphasis on accountability, outcomes, evidence and internal reporting processes.

Only 119 organizations achieved the required standards to become a citation holder this year.

They said this is a recognition that Novotech is “at the forefront of the momentum for change towards gender equality in Australian workplaces” and is “a leader showing other Australian businesses how to create a better and more equal future for both women and men”.

Dr John Moller, CEO of Novotech, said:

This is an achievement that the entire Novotech team should be very proud of, as it reflects our collective commitment to gender equality, and to creating an exceptional workplace.

I am absolutely committed to extending our leadership in this area, and while this recognition specifically looks at our practices in Australia, we have chosen to extend these practices to all 11 Novotech offices in the Asia-Pacific and US.

The criteria that WGEA assess includes: leadership, learning and development, gender remuneration gaps, flexible working and other initiatives to support family responsibilities, employee consultation, preventing sex-based harassment and discrimination, and targets for improving gender equality outcomes.”

Novotech has a strong focus on equality in the workplace with a majority of Novotech's executive committee members being women and a majority of Novotech local leaders in Asia are women.

Some of our key initiatives in this area include:

  • A workplace flexibility and employment equality Steering Group chaired by the CEO, with senior executive participants and broad employee representation.
  • Pay equity targets for men and women at all levels in the organization.
  •  Strong levels of female participation in the leadership of Novotech.
  • Mechanisms to ensure removal of biases in hiring, training opportunities, bonuses and promotion decision making.