Australian Sports Commission Out To Give Women's Sport Corporate Boost

The Australian Sports Commission "will attempt to lift corporate support for women’s sport by ­creating an innovative scheme in which leading female athletes will mentor young female executives in return for financial support," according to Nicole Jeffery of THE AUSTRALIAN. The concept "grew out of a Women Achievers lunch" organized by ASC Chair John Wylie in Melbourne six months ago, where he "brought together some of Australia’s business leaders and best female athletes." Wylie: “I think there’s a real opportunity there for some of these elite female athletes who are not only world champions but highly articulate, intelligent and high-achieving to mentor young female executives.’’ Lazard Australia Managing Dir Wylie said that most large Australian companies "were grappling with the need to improve gender diversity in their higher ranks." Wylie: “The big end of town is looking for better gender balance in senior management and on boards and this could be a way to help them achieve that’’ (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/11).