Xplore Newsletter | December 2018

As 2018 comes to a close, I find myself with a few moments to review and reflect on what has been another remarkable year.

A highlight of the Xplore calendar is our annual ‘Purpose and Passion Field Trip’. I have just returned from this year’s tour to Siem Reap where we visited a variety of NGOs and social enterprises, and raised over $5,000 for our charity partner, Human and Hope Association. Diana Ryall has written a great article on our journey.

I am excited to announce that our 2019 ‘Purpose and Passion Field Trip‘ will be to India, in partnership with Inspired Travel and with Dress for Success Sydney as our charity partner. Want to join us? Here are the details and registrations are now open!

It has been another busy and rewarding year for all of us at Xplore. We have facilitated over 70 programs across Australia and New Zealand – that’s over 300 learning days! – and have worked with over 800 participants. Our programs continue to be rated ‘best in market’ and we are delighted that our results and measurement confirm we are we delivering on our mission and purpose. If you are curious to see our measures of success, take a look here, or get in touch.

And, what a year 2018 has been for me personally! Stepping into the CEO role at Xplore with such big shoes to fill, was a huge deal … and so was turning 50! To celebrate this milestone, I embarked on a personal ‘passion project’ and have just launched a beautiful and special book, Dear Me. I asked 30 women I know and admire to pen a letter to their 16-year-old selves. You will be uplifted by their stories, heartened by the truths, inspired by the learnings, and encouraged by the wisdom shared in each and every letter. Plus, $2 from the sale of each book is donated to my favourite charity, Dress for Success Sydney. It’s the perfect read and a beautiful gift. Think Christmas! You can purchase a copy or two here: Dear Me – order my copy

In ‘Around the Web’ below, we have shared some of our favourite reading and viewing recommendations that you may like to check out over the summer holidays. You will also find some ethical Christmas shopping suggestions too!

Thank you again for your support of our work in driving equality and inclusion in the workplace and look out for an update early in the new year on we have in store for 2019!

Warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for the festive season ahead.

Amanda Webb
CEO

Around the Web 

• 2018 has seen many of us find our voice to speak up on a wide variety of important issues. Clare Press has released her new book, Rise & Resist: How To Change The World which is the perfect read to awaken the active citizen within. I am reading a hard copy, but it’s also available as an e-book.
• I continued to be inspired by young people across the planet who are taking action and making a difference in our world. This TED Talk, How Soap Recycling Can Prevent Diseases & Create Jobs, by Samir Lakhani, Founder of Eco Soap Bank, is a must-watch. We visited Eco Soap Bank on our visit to Siem Reap. They are an incredible NGO, who are playing a huge role in hygiene and wellness education within schools and communities, and employing women and mothers to provide household income to reduce poverty. My kind of charity. You can also donate and get involved.
• Time for Compassionate Compromise. A great article by Angela Priestley and Women’s Agenda covering Dr Kerryn Phelps’s (Member for Wentworth) maiden speech in Parliament last week. Her words were the most sensible words I have heard spoken in our parliament for a very long time!
• WGEA have just released the 2018 Gender Equality Report and the data confirms that when Australian employers take action, the gender pay gap declines. However, it also highlights that we have a serious ‘action gap’ and significant inequity still exists across industries and job roles.
• I look forward to my weekly email from Upworthy sharing the best stories of humanity, kindness and hope. If you are not a subscriber, do yourself a favour these holidays and sign up. Everyone can benefit from an extra dose of this kinda news, right?
• Create gender equality. Choose female-led brands. Women make 85% of purchase decisions. During 2017-18 this equated to $818 billion. Xplore has recently become a member of Femeconomy, an Aussie company that identifies which companies have at least 30% women on the board or 50% female ownership, so you can use your purse power to support them. Around 1,500 brands are listed on the site and over 800 receive Femeconomy’s badge of approval. Female consumers habitually shop 10 brands, so by making sure your top 10 are Femeconomy approved, you will be advancing gender equality with every purchase. To get you started, here is Femeconomy’s Christmas Gift Guide.
• Oh, did I share that Dear Me is the perfect holiday read? It’s not online, but an old-fashioned paperback is perfect for the beach!