‘We’ve seen the culture change’: how one Australian work site increased its female workforce fivefold

Kimberly-Clark’s toilet paper mill was looking down the barrel of a 100% male workforce when they decided to shake up their strategy – and culture

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

When Adam Carpenter took over as manager at Kimberly-Clark Australia’s Millicent mill in South Australia in 2019, he knew they were in trouble.

At the time, there were just 12 women working on the floor of the mill out of a workforce of 300. The mill, which is about 45 minutes from Mount Gambier, produces Kleenex toilet paper and Viva hand towels and is the main employer for the region.