Ad Council’s Tony Hale Calls for Agencies to “Align With Those Who Share” Gender Diversity Values

The CEO of Advertising Council Australia, Tony Hale, has called on the creative agencies it represents to align only with businesses that share their values on gender equity. 

“If we are truly committed to equity, it is incumbent on individuals and businesses to only align with those who share and represent their values,” he said in a statement. 

“We are a better industry than this”

Over the past week, a conversation around gender diversity in Australia and New Zealand’s advertising industry has erupted, mainly focused on the lack of gender diversity in top creative roles. 

The catalyst was a double page spread in one trade press publication which featured 20 male creative and production leaders, followed by a series of lists of top creatives which featured only one woman across them.

“It is immensely disappointing that we still need to have this discussion.”

The Ad Council boss referenced the ACA’s Create Space census and results diversity, equity, and inclusion program which launched over two years ago. 

“The findings highlighted deficiencies in ACA’s own governance,” he acknowledged, “which resulted in the development of Member Rules, a new Code of Conduct, a Code of Ethics and the introduction of an Accreditation program. 

“This year’s Create Space update showed some progress in diversity metrics but confirmed how much work is yet to be done.”

The percentage of women in senior management positions has increased from 22% in 2017 to 42% in 2023, but underrepresentation persists in creative departments. 

“In light of this week’s discussions, it is worth stating that there is gender balance across ACA’s Board, AWARD Council, AWARD School applicants and winners, AWARD Creative Leadership delegates, AWARD Award and Effie judges, and almost every program that ACA runs,” he added.

“Not because we work hard to achieve parity but because the best candidates naturally emerge.

“While we still have a long way to go, the only way to overcome discrimination and lack of inclusivity is to create an industry culture that simply does not tolerate it.”