Once upon a time, long, long ago in the infancy of my career I had a male boss. I also had a male State Manager, a male General Manager, a male 2IC, a male CEO, a male Minister, a male Prime Minister, a male Governor-General and of course Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as my Sovereign Head of State. I was, at that time, a bachelor with few incumbents, certainly no pets and I generally hung around with my mates.
In the latter years of my career I now have a female boss. I also have a female State Manager, a female General Manager, a female 2IC, a female CEO, a female Minister, a female Prime Minister, a female Governor-General and of course Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as my Sovereign Head of State. I am married; I have a daughter and a female Border Collie. It takes little imagination of course to realise who holds the greatest sway over my life.
Occasionally in the wee dark hours safely within the sanctity and solitude of my thoughts I reflect on the ever moving pendulum of gender balance and just how far we have come as a society in respecting and recognising the rights and equity of women. How young women now have the freedom to explore their potential in any endeavour they wish to pursue from sailing around the World at sixteen or being Prime Minister at forty something.
But then as I finally drift off to sleep I am comforted, just a little, when I think that sometime in the future at least my Sovereign Head of State will be a man: King Charles III.
