A deep connection to the accounting profession and passion for equity inspired Justin Polinelli CA, chair of the CA ANZ WA Regional Council, to put his hand up to join the CA Pride Committee, with the aim of helping others feel seen and accepted.

“I saw the opportunity to help create meaningful change,” he says. “As chartered accountants, we’re trusted advisers but until recently there wasn’t a formal platform for LGBTQIA+ members and allies to connect, support one another and advocate for inclusion across our industry.

“This committee fills that gap, working closely with CA ANZ to drive cultural change and build a more inclusive future.”

Awareness, visibility and connection

As committee chair, Polinelli says the group is initially focused on building awareness, visibility and connection, creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ members and allies to come together and be seen. 

“Many LGBTQIA+ professionals still face challenges, from feeling the need to hide parts of who they are to not seeing themselves reflected in leadership,” says Polinelli.

“There’s also a real lack of visibility, which can create isolation. This committee exists to address those issues head-on, to connect people, provide support and influence systems that haven’t always been inclusive,” he says.

Support every step of the way

“The CA Pride Committee was established in 2024 as a key part of the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) strategy to start inclusive member communities at CA ANZ, and ensure broader representation of members within the accounting profession,” says Fiona Byarugaba, CA ANZ DEI manager, inclusive careers.

“The committee is one of many ways to encourage connection, and cultivate a sense of belonging and acceptance for our LGBTQIA+ members,” says Byarugaba.

“Some members feel safe being out, while others don’t and that’s OK. Our role is to support those who are, while also creating a workplace culture where those who aren’t out feel respected, protected and empowered to show up authentically when the time is right.”

Vice-chair Nicola Gregory CA says the CA Pride Committee is made up of 11 members from across Australia and New Zealand, who are currently working to develop a three-year plan to guide the community’s activities and impact.

“Our committee is still young, but we have really started to work together on what we want to achieve,” she says.

“There are some simple steps we can take now, such as updating IT systems to allow for pronouns to be updated. But we may partner with external organisations and leverage some of the things already out there – we really want this to evolve into a community.”

LGBTQIA+ inclusion 

While the short-term focus is on visibility and connection, the committee’s longer term goal is to drive systemic change, including providing input on inclusive policies and language, as demonstrated in the recently launched CA ANZ Inclusive Language and Communication Guide.

“The committee is aiming to embed LGBTQIA+ inclusion into the DNA of CA ANZ: influencing policy, elevating diverse leaders and ensuring that every LGBTQIA+ chartered accountant feels they belong in this profession,” says Polinelli.

Some of the ways it hopes to do that is through sharing lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ members across CA ANZ communication channels.

“We want to highlight diverse career journeys to inspire the next generation, as well as supporting Pride events and other visibility campaigns across Australia and New Zealand, and advising on inclusive policy and language across member resources,” says Polinelli.

The committee also intends to build an online community to engage LGBTQIA+ professionals who are not directly involved in the committee, says Gregory.

“We want everyone to have the opportunity to be heard,” she says.

LGBTQIA+ allies

Allies also play a vital role in shifting culture, says Polinelli, and are an integral part of the committee’s plans for member engagement.

“We know true inclusion involves everyone, not just those who identify as LGBTQIA+. That’s why we’re working to build strong allyship through events, storytelling, education and leadership engagement,” he adds.

“We want to bring people along on the journey, and we're hoping the way we’re aiming to platform diverse voices and stories means we can really engage with allies, where they can learn about the challenges we face, and also see the unique perspectives we bring,” says Gregory.

What success looks like

While the committee is still relatively new, there are some clear signposts to guide it through the next steps.

“Success for us will look like connection, visibility and impact,” says Polinelli. “But most importantly, we’ll know we’ve succeeded when LGBTQIA+ members no longer feel like the exception but feel genuinely part of the mainstream of this profession.”

Find out more

Members wanting more information about the CA Pride Committee can email: [email protected]