More than 8 in 10 Australians support DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices – and say we need to stop pitting men and women against each other and focus on how men and women can work together to achieve equality.

Professor Athene Donald of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, Cambridge University has prepared a report on Women, innovation and productivity that recommends regulatory oversight to ensure AI development avoids reinforcing gender bias.

As more women have joined the workforce, overall productivity has increased due to a rise in total working hours. However, the full potential of women’s contributions remains underutilised. Structural inequalities, biased workplace cultures, and underinvestment in women’s health and entrepreneurship hinder their innovation and impact. 

This brief discusses how unlocking the full economic potential of women requires tackling systemic barriers – from biased workplace cultures and underinvestment to gender gaps in education, leadership and funding – through inclusive policies, early education reform and diversity-focused business incentives.

The brief argues that by tackling these systemic issues, the United Kingdom could unlock significant productivity and growth gains. Implementing these low-cost, strategic actions would make better use of women’s economic potential and support a more inclusive, prosperous future.