AusLeisure

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce has been named the world's most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBT) business executive in an annual listing.

He was chosen for his vocal campaigning in favour of same-sex marriage during the current plebiscite, the results of which will be announced on 15th November.

Networking group OUTstanding and the Financial Times compile the annual list recognising positive LGBT role models in business.

Joyce explained "in the past year I've worked hard to drive changes in my own workplace and indeed my own country (Ireland).

"No one should feel like they need to live a double life."

As well as speaking up personally on the question of same-sex marriage, Joyce has encouraged other business leaders to join him in campaigning for a 'yes' vote in Australia's current ballot. He said more than 1,300 firms have put their name to the cause.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has promised that if a majority of Australians support same-sex marriage in the poll, parliament will debate amending the Marriage Act, which could lead to the country becoming the 25th country to permit same-sex marriage.

The ballot will close on 7 November; latest reports indicate that nearly three-quarters of eligible voters have already returned their ballots with nearly two weeks left to go.

Joyce told the BBC "as an openly gay man and being the leader of this organisation and a high profile business leader in Australia, I felt it was very important that I led by example and was out there promoting the case."

Irish-born Joyce took over as Chief Executive of Qantas in 2008.

Last month eyebrows were raised as his remuneration package almost doubled to nearly $25 million following a significant rise in the Qantas share price.

Joyce has been critised by Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton for intervening in the debate.

The OUTstanding list, which has been running for five years, also names the Chief Executive of Campbell Soup, Denise Morrison, as the leading 'Ally Executive' for her role in supporting members of the LGBT community in the workplace. 

12th June 2017 - ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FIGURES ACKNOWLEDGED IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 

30th March 2017 - FREE RAINBOW LACES DISTRIBUTION BOOSTS ONGOING CAMPAIGN FOR INCLUSION IN SPORT ​

1st December 2016 - SWIMMING AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES INCLUSION FRAMEWORK

1st April 2016 - AUSTRALIAN RUGBY UNION AND SKINS SUPPORT ‘RAINBOW ROUND OF SPORT’

31st March 2016 - RAINBOW LACES CAMPAIGN AIMS TO KICK HOMOPHOBIA OUT OF SPORT

16th March 2016 - MAJOR SPORTING CODES SIGN UP FOR NEW SYSTEM TO MEASURE LGBTI INCLUSION

28th June 2015 - ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA IN SPORT CAMPAIGN WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.