For more than 20 years, Alison Spencer has worked in human resources creating work/life policies and procedures to make a difference and deliver positive change for many employees. 

Spencer began working at IBM in 1996 as HR Manager for the Victoria branch.  She took over the Diversity Program at IBM and in 2003, also became the head of the Cultural Change Program.  

Responsible for implementing a number of initiatives addressing issues such as the professional advancement of women and diversity, Spencer has improved the work/life balance for women at IBM.  Her work has been so influential that her company has been named “Employer of Choice for Women” by the federal government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) for the seventh year in a row.  She herself was named EOWA’s Diversity Leader of the Year in 2003. 

Spencer continues to be a leader for the company’s employees.  She has recently been working on making part-time work more meaningful, and has initiated programs that will attract more women to study information technology.  She also is working to ensure IBM offers more job share opportunities.  These and other programs and initiatives developed by Spencer have resulted in a 97% return rate from maternity leave (26% part-time), part-time work at senior management level, and greater opportunities for women with IBM in the Asia-Pacific region.

Spencer is currently on the Board of the Council for Equal Opportunity in Employment and is deputy chair of the National Diversity Think Tank.

She holds a bachelor of economics and a graduate diploma in human resource management.