An indigenous general manager for AccorHotels
The AccorHotels Group is tackling the indigenous employment gap by appointing its first ever indigenous General Manager, Kristy Stanton.
Ms Stanton has become general manager of ibis Budget Sydney Olympic Park.
The announcement at a special Elders breakfast at Harbour Rocks Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel coincided with International Women’s Day on Wednesday.
It is also a significant development for the group’s Indigenous Employment Program, which reached over 500 employees nationally at the end of 2016.
“I am humbled to be AccorHotels’ first Indigenous general manager and so grateful for the opportunity. I feel proud to be creating a pathway for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, especially females within AccorHotels, and believe that the opportunities are endless, particularly with the support of the Group’s Indigenous Programs Team,” said Stanton.
“Since taking on my role there are already other Indigenous employees – male and female aspiring to be in my position and already I can see they are more confident to be outspoken about their career goals rather than shying away from them.”
She said mentors had played a great influence on her career.
“I have been fortunate to have a mix of both male and female mentors in my life who had the confidence and belief in me when I was taking on challenging roles,” she said.
“I feel through all the awareness of International Women’s Day and gender equality, times are changing. AccorHotels has great plans for 50/50 gender balance for General Managers and together with the group’s Strategic Leaders Program, it is great to be working in a company that does so much to support its female employees.”
Accor signed the Federal Government’s Employment Parity Initiative in 2015 which aims to match workforce numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to the proportion in the general population.
Four percent of Accor’s employees are Indigenous. The group aims to reach seven percent by 2018.
by Leon Gettler, March 9th 2017
