NATIONAL WORKPLACE AWARDS DEMONSTRATE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS’ COMMITMENT
TO LGBTQ+ INCLUSION

Large and small employers from all sectors of the Australian economy were recognised today at the Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards for meeting the highest standards of commitment to being inclusive of LGBTQ+ people and communities, demonstrating that LGBTQ+ inclusion is good for business, good for staff, and good for broader society.

Held today in Sydney, the awards saw DLA Piper and The Star Entertainment Group being jointly awarded ‘Employer of the Year,’ while Custom Fleet was named ‘Small Employer of the Year.’ Other high performers included Macquarie Group and AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand.

First held in 2011, the Awards are based on the results of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Submissions, which allows Australian organisations to benchmark their LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practice on an annual basis. The event acknowledges and celebrates the organisations demonstrating foundational and progressive efforts toward making workplaces inclusive and equitable for LGBTQ+ people.

The prestigious Platinum tier — awarded to organisations with consistently high scores over the past five years — recognised leaders including Accenture, AGL Energy, Australian Taxation Office, ABC, Capgemini, Clayton Utz, Coles Group, CSIRO, Deloitte, KPMG Australia, Macquarie Group, NAB, nbn co, QBE Insurance, Services Australia, SBS, and The University of Sydney.

Dawn Emsen-Hough, Director of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, said the ongoing commitment from employers shows that LGBTQ+ inclusion is not only the right thing to do, but delivers wide-reaching benefits.

“We’re seeing outstanding results in this year’s AWEI submissions, which clearly reflect how deeply many organisations value this work,” Emsen-Hough said. “With hundreds of organisations participating, covering a workforce of tens of thousands of people, it’s clear that LGBTQ+ inclusion is not a niche initiative — it’s a core part of creating equitable, high-performing, and supportive workplaces.”

“Our data shows that when inclusion is embedded in workplace culture, it leads to stronger engagement, improved wellbeing, and better performance outcomes — not only for LGBTQ+ employees but for all staff,” she added. “When organisations get LGBTQ+ inclusion right, everyone benefits.”

Despite positive progress, the AWEI Employee Survey highlighted that the number of employees who feel safe to be fully out at work has declined slightly, with current social discourse identified as a contributing factor.

“This reinforces the importance of visible, ongoing leadership and commitment to inclusion across all levels of an organisation.” Emsen-Hough added.

Held at the ICC Sydney Grand Ballroom and hosted by SBS presenters Ricardo Gonçalves and Madeleine Wedesweiler, the awards featured a performance by acclaimed Gamilaraay artist Mitch Tambo and VOICE OF LELE! The sold-out event was produced by Pride in Diversity, a national not-for-profit program supporting employers in all aspects of LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, and an initiative of ACON, Australia’s largest LGBTQ+ health organisation.

ENDS

Award	Recipient
Employer of the Year	DLA Piper The Star Entertainment Group
Platinum Tier Employers	Accenture AGL Energy Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Capgemini Clayton Utz Coles Group CSIRO Deloitte DLA Piper EY Oceania KPMG Australia Macquarie Group MinterEllison NAB nbn co PwC Queensland Department of Education QBE Insurance RMIT University Services Australia Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) The Star Entertainment Group The University of Sydney UNSW Sydney Woolworths Group
Gold Tier Employers	Allens Allianz Australia Amazon AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand Australia Post Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Bendigo Bank BHP Brisbane City Council BUPA Corrs Chambers Westgarth Dentons Department of Health and Aged Care Energy Australia Fujitsu Australia Griffith University Jacobs John Holland King & Wood Mallesons Macquarie University Marsh McLennan Medibank Norton Rose Fulbright Origin Energy Qantas Scentre Group Shell Australia Stockland Suncorp The GPT Group The NRMA The University of Queensland Treasury Wine Estates Victoria University Westpac Woodside Energy Zurich Financial Services
Silver Tier Employers	Ampol Australia Arup Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) Australian Retirement Trust CBRE Charter Hall Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department of Health Victoria Edith Cowan University Endeavour Group Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service Grant Thornton HCF IAG International Convention Centre Sydney – ICC Sydney IKEA IPG Mediabrands Kinetic Liberty Financial Mars Incorporated, Australia & New Zealand Mirvac Murdoch University NSW Department of Education Optus Salesforce SAP Australia Telstra Transgrid
Bronze Tier Employers	AMP Aristocrat Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Australian Federal Police Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Australian Secret Intelligence Services (ASIS) Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Australian Super Baker McKenzie BP Australia Challenger Compass Group Australia Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet Dexus Energy Queensland Essential Energy Fortescue FujiFilm Business Innovation Australia Gold Corporation – The Perth Mint Hays HealthShare NSW Honeywell Knight Frank Australia Life Without Barriers Main Roads WA Monash IVF Group National Disability Insurance Agency Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) oOhmedia! P&N Group PepsiCo ANZ Pernod Ricard Australia Rabobank Australia Royal Automobile Club of Queensland Sydney Water The University of Wollongong TPG Telecom Transport Accident Commission Urbis Vicinity Centres Virgin Australia Western Sydney University
Small Employer of the Year	Custom Fleet
Small Employer Platinum Tier	Clifford Chance Deutsche Bank
Small Employer Gold Tier	Clyde & Co Custom Fleet Future Group Investa Property Group Northern Trust Russell Kennedy Lawyers
Small Employer SilverTier	AbbVie Bristol Myers Squibb Colin, Biggers & Paisley Lawyers Gilead Sciences Motorola Solutions Think HQ
Small Employer Bronze Tier	Alcon Laboratories Ausenco Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) BNY Brisbane Powerhouse ENGIE ANZ Engineers Australia Export Finance Australia First Sentier Investors Heartland Bank Australia Morrison Reckitt Benckiser Respect Victoria Uniting Country South Australia
Employee Network of the Year	Winner: Macquarie Group Finalists Amazon AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand Capgemini Department of Health and Aged Care KPMG Australia Origin Energy Zurich Financial Services
Trans & Gender Diverse Inclusion Award	Winner: DLA Piper Finalists: Fujitsu Australia John Holland Medibank Victoria University Qantas The Star Entertainment Group The University of Queensland
Most Improved Employer	AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand
Most Improved Small Employer	Future Group
CEO of the Year	Winner: Murat Dizdar (he/him), NSW Department of Education
Executive Leadership Award	Winner: Rebecca Bennett (she/her), Murdoch University Finalists: Evelyn Foong (she/her), Zurich Financial Services Paul Howes (he/him), KPMG Australia
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Innovation Award	Winner: “The Unsaid Says a Lot – trans and gender diverse awareness campaign,” Think HQ Finalists: Building Trans Inclusive Workplaces, Deloitte Not Atypical Podcast, QBE Insurance
LGBTQ+ Role Model Award	Winner: Georgi Hodge (she/her), Origin Energy Finalists: Jonathan Bryant (he/him), Urbis *posthumously* Juan Campos (he/him), Medibank Em Readman (they/them), Murdoch University Laurie Rutter (they/them), Deloitte Harriet Whyte (she/her), NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Network Leader of the Year	Winner: Michelle Power (she/her), Macquarie University Finalists: Tessa Benson (she/her), Victoria University Juan Campos (he/him), Medibank Brendan Carlson (he/him), Queensland Public Sector Commission / Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support Georgi Hodge (she/her), Origin Energy Reah Saunders (she/they), Medibank
Sally Webster Ally Award	Winner: Nerissa Byrne (she/her), DLA Piper Finalists: Scott Alderson (he/him), Crown Resort Perth Mia Horner (she/her), Coles Group Julie Patterson (she/her), NAB Lori Turner (she/her), Bendigo Bank
Sapphire Inspire Award	Winners: Reah Saunders (she/they), Medibank Marie Stella (she/her), KPMG Australia Finalists: Sarah Bateson (she/her), Bendigo Bank Louise Baxter (she/her), Queensland Public Sector Commission / Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support Suzanne Mah (she/her), John Holland

For more information please contact:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications
E: dalexander@acon.org.au   T: (02) 9206 2044   M: 0428 477 042