Queensland women are already building businesses, creating jobs, leading organisations and helping drive our economy forward.

Today, we launched Business Chamber Queensland’s Future of Women in Business Report, in partnership with Australian Retirement Trust, and brought together business leaders and experts to talk about what comes next.

The research reinforces the enormous contribution women are already making across Queensland, but it also shows there are still barriers affecting workforce participation, career progression, leadership opportunities and long-term financial security.

One of the most important messages is that this isn’t just a conversation about women. It’s a conversation about the future strength of Queensland businesses and our economy.

At a time when businesses are looking for skilled people and new ways to lift productivity and capability, we need to make the best possible use of the talent we already have.

That means creating more opportunities for women to build their skills, return to the workforce, progress into leadership and grow businesses of their own. There is a role for business, government and all of us in making that happen.

A huge thank you to Australian Retirement Trust for supporting this important research, to our panel host CEO Heidi Cooper, and panelists Anne Fuchs, Dalene Wray AM and Dr Terrance Fitzsimmons, and to everyone who joined us and contributed their perspectives today.

Today’s launch shouldn’t be the end of the conversation. It should be the start of what comes next.

Because when women can participate, progress and lead, women benefit, businesses benefit and Queensland benefits.