Elizabeth Broderick

Elizabeth Broderick AO is an Australian lawyer, who was the Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner for over eight years from 2007 to 2015. She is a former partner and head of legal technology at Ashurst Australia (then called Blake Dawson Waldron), a global commercial law firm.

Broderick grew up in Caringbah, New South Wales as the daughter of a doctor and physiotherapist, Frank and Margot. She has two sisters including an identical twin—Jane Latimer.

Broderick is trained as a lawyer. She has spoken publicly about her own experiences of sexual harassment by a client as a young lawyer.

At law firm Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst), Broderick worked part-time for twelve years while she was a partner - the first partner at the firm to work part-time. This was a "revolutionary change in law-firm culture". She also created a database giving people legal advice at low cost. Broderick was named "Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year" (2000–2001) as a result of these achievements.

As Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Broderick worked on equal-pay cases, "proposed a model for the paid parental leave scheme", and commented publicly on sexual harassment cases.

This was one of Broderick's signature initiatives as Commissioner. She persuaded many of "the most powerful men in the country" to publicly commit to being part of the group and take action on gender inequality. The group is still active and has inspired the creation of many MCC groups in other sectors, including architecture, property, elite sports and in Victoria. Current members of the Founding MCC group include, Alan Joyce, Mike Smith, Ian Narev, Kevin McCann, Elmer Funke Kupper, Martin Parkinson, David Thodey and Lieutenant General David Morrison.

The Male Champions of Change have released progress reports in 2011, 2013 and 2014. They also partnered with Chief Executive Women to develop a model for leaders to use in order to examine their own actions and 'Leadership Shadow'.

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