Our people news

Essential Energy’s continued progress towards closing the gender pay gap has been recognised at the 2024 Equitable Workplace Awards.

Hosted by Work180, Essential Energy received the Pay Equity award which recognises continued progress across key areas proven to drive positive change for women and marginalised groups. The award was one of 14 categories that recognise large and small enterprises for their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The energy distributor was also presented with the Mining Resources and Energy award, one of four new awards included in the program this year. The award is given to the company with the highest overall score across the 10 key drivers towards workplace equity.

Essential Energy’s Chief People Officer Amalie Smith was extremely proud to see the team accept the award during the International Women’s Day Summit on 8 March in Melbourne.

Amalie said the award is a clear acknowledgement of Essential Energy’s commitment to equality of opportunity in the workplace.

“We are proud of our continued work to build an inclusive and respectful culture, where everyone feels valued and recognised for their unique perspectives and contributions. We celebrate the achievements of our female employees and encourage more women to pursue careers in the energy sector,” Amalie said.

“We have several programs that empower women in the workplace, including our Women from the Field Program which supports sustainable and fulfilling career pathways for women, and our Female Apprentice & Trainee Support Pack and buddy system, which has been designed by females to support our female apprentices as they settle into their new role.”

“This and the fact that many of our women are in leadership roles highlights Essential Energy as an employer of choice.”

Co-founder and CEO of WORK180 Gemma Lloyd said the award is a testament to Essential Energy’s exceptional initiatives in promoting workplace equity.

“This accolade is entirely data-driven, based on Essential Energy achieving the highest score in a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion assessment. Essential Energy's dedication to diversity and inclusion sets a high standard for other organisations to aspire to. We hope their success will inspire more companies to prioritise gender equity and create environments where everyone feels valued and respected,” Gemma said.

Essential Energy employees celebrate International Women's Day at the Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards presentation in Melbourne.