Inspiring women:
 Deanne Gibbon – Director of Workforce Diversity, Royal Australian Air Force
Deanne heads Air Force’s Directorate of Workplace Flexibility and Diversity (DWFD), where she is implementing a range of initiatives that are designed to encourage previously untapped demographics to join the Air Force.
In her role at the Air Force, she presents a unique perspective on women in non-traditional roles both within and outside Defence.
We asked her about her leadership challenges, what keeps her striving, and advice she has for other women.
What path has your career taken to date?
My career path with the Air Force has been varied and challenging, entailing a wide range of roles, overseas residential experiences, a large amount of study and periods of significant professional development and growth.
I am in the final year of a doctoral research project that examines women working in non-traditional employment fields both within and outside Defence, and I have loved every minute of this whole experience. My current role really is the culmination of my life, professional and academic experiences thus far.
Where do you find inspiration? Who have been your role models?
I currently seek inspiration from academics and industry/Defence leaders who are changing the world through research and innovative workplace practices. My professional role models have been senior Defence leaders in the strategic human resources area, visionary leaders in industry and government, and the current and previous Chief of Air Force, both truly visionary leaders, genuinely and personally committed to building a more inclusive, progressive and capable Air Force.
Have you ever been mentored?
I have numerous mentors. I have some of the smartest, most incredible women in my circle of friends, and they guide me in so many crucial ways. My academic supervisors are hugely influential in developing and progressing my academic career and pushing me to accept challenges that I often think are beyond me.
I look to more senior members in Air Force for mentoring and have been fortunate to have found no shortage of wonderful men and women leaders willing to provide advice, support and practical strategies for developing my Air Force career. My two greatest recent mentors have been Air Commodore Robert Rodgers and Air Commodore John Hewitson; the past and present Director General of Personnel for Air Force. I would not be where I am today without their trust, provision of opportunity and insightful advice. I have been really fortunate.
What experiences are you really proud of?
I am exceptionally proud of the fact that I have built my career, achieved academic success and been promoted within Air Force whilst always prioritising my children and family life. I have worked part time/flexibly since having my first child ten years ago and have been something of an Air Force trailblazer in terms of working remotely from home (one of the first military people to do this) and working part-time as a senior Officer (again, one of the first to do this).
What has been your biggest challenge?
The greatest challenge for me has been overcoming the negative ingrained perceptions that still surround flexibility and part-time work in Air Force; but we are working incredibly hard to change these perceptions. I feel that Air Force has really come a long way in this regard, but there is still much work to be done.
At work, what makes you feel it’s worth the effort?
We are currently implementing a range of initiatives that will make a real difference to many Air Force people (present and future), especially women working in non-traditional employment roles, working parents, members of our GLTBI (Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, Intersex) community, non-custodial parents and personnel from culturally diverse backgrounds. We hear stories about the positive impact of our work on a daily basis, and this makes the whole team feel so incredibly proud of the work we are doing.
What advice would you offer other women who are struggling to reach positions of leadership?
Many women working in Defence ‘integrate through emulation’; working out how to negotiate their femininity in a highly masculine environment is a real challenge for many female leaders. It really isn’t necessary for women to masquerade as men to reach the highest echelons of leadership; there are numerous examples of women who have succeeded in Defence and industry without rejecting their female selves. Women bring their own range of skills and attributes into leadership roles, and I encourage other women to harness, develop and capitalise on these.
How do you think women can support each other in their ambitions?
I advise women coming into Defence to both seek and become strong female role models and mentors. I also encourage them to build the types of networks that will generate a real sense of ‘sisterhood’ with other women across the organisation. Air Force is working to implement constructs that will make this type of networking and mentoring more accessible in future, such as the WINGs program: Women’s Integrated Networking Groups (which will soon be operating in every geographical location).
I also feel that being approachable, opening sharing stories of your own struggles and acknowledging that the myth of the ‘superwoman’ really is just a myth can be helpful to other women, especially at times when they themselves are ‘doing it tough’.
What do you look for in recognition for your achievements?
Making a difference, and hearing real stories from personnel about the positive impact of that difference, is the very best type of recognition.
What challenges are on the horizon for you?
My immediate goal is to submit my PhD thesis, because I am driving my poor family (and long-suffering supervisors) crazy! I am focused on my current position, and hope to fulfill this role for long enough to see some real results of our current work efforts.
I am deeply committed to finding creative ways to mitigate barriers and encourage higher numbers of women into non-traditional work roles, and I see this as being a lifelong career pursuit. I also hope to survive the years of parenting two teenage daughters with my marriage and sanity intact – other parents tell me this may well be my single greatest challenge! ●
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