| Date: | 25th September 2025 |
| Time: | 11:00 am |
| Location: | Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus The Gibson Room, Z Block, Level 10, |
| Registration details | Register in person or watch online |
The TJ Ryan Foundation is proud to support the QUT Centre for Decent Work and Industry in hosting Dr Linda Colley, former Special Commissioner, Equity and Diversity, Queensland public service.
Join us for this insightful talk on 25th September at 11 am!
The Bridgman Review recommended the novel role of Special Commissioner to address the stalled progress towards gender equality in the Queensland public service. The role was established through legislation and reported to the Premier and the head of the public service, which signalled strong institutional commitment. The inaugural Special Commissioner’s mandate included to review policies and practices and reduce the gender pay gap.
The role was successful in terms of achievements, and tangible indicators include a 30% reduction in the gender pay gap in 3 years and increased representation of women in leadership positions. Notwithstanding these achievements and the institutional commitment, the role faced operational challenges. It was designed as a disruptor, applying an expert lens to challenge policies, practices and processes. Receptiveness to this expertise and disruption was mixed!
This seminar provides a reflection on the role through gender and institutional lenses. It explores some of the enablers and barriers that arose across leadership, stakeholder and policy contexts. It identifies various forms of resistance to the equality agenda. More broadly, it considers the institutional arrangements required for ‘expert’ roles to thrive in hierarchical institutional contexts, and whether the Queensland public service was ready for a Chief Femocrat!
About Linda Colley
Dr Linda Colley is an influential scholar and policy leader in gender and inclusion, with deep expertise in human resources and industrial relations. She was Special Commissioner Equity and Diversity in the Queensland Public service from October 2021 to January 2025. The role focused on developing strategies and initiatives that promote gender pay equity and support fairness and inclusiveness across the Queensland public sector.
From 2010-2021, Dr Colley was an academic at The University of Queensland and Central Queensland University. Her research focused on public employment across Australia, and particularly on gender equality. Her PhD was a study of Queensland public service employment from 1859-1999. Before that, Dr Colley was a Queensland public servant for nearly 20 years. Dr Colley was Chair of the Queensland Work Health and Safety Board from 2017 – 2021. She was appointed as a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia in 2024.