This post is also available in: 日本語 (Japanese)
An interview with Sarah Liu (Part 1 of 2) was featured in Nikkei WOMAN Web as a part of their special feature, “DEI Misunderstood: Solutions for Real Progress,” published on April 22, 2026.
【Media Coverage】
■Nikkei Women Web 22 April 2026 (In Japanese)
Australia’s Strategic Leap in Gender Gap Rankings: From 50th to 13th
How the 2023 Amendment to the Workplace Gender Equality Act Triggered Change.
(Sarah Liu, Founder and Managing Director, TDC Global)
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOGM264XX0W4A220C2000000/
Summary:
Australia has made a significant leap in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report (2025), rising from 24th place in 2024 to 13th. Sarah Liu, Founder and Managing Director of TDC Global, explains the factors behind this rise—from 50th place in 2021 to the top tier in just four years—and the policies that served as the catalyst for this transformation.
According to Liu, the primary catalyst was the 2023 legislative reform, which mandated the public disclosure of employer-level gender pay gaps for companies with 100 or more employees starting in 2024. Publishing specific company names and data sparked intense media coverage and public interest. This transparency forced executives to justify their figures to investors, employees, and customers, transforming gender equality into a critical business priority. Consequently, 55% of employers have successfully reduced their total remuneration pay gaps.
Furthermore, starting in 2026, companies with 500 or more employees must select and advance their own tailored gender equality targets. This flexible approach allows businesses to address industry-specific gaps while fostering executive accountability. Despite initial corporate pushback over reputation risks, gender equity in Australia has successfully shifted from a “social issue” to a fundamental metric of business performance.
