The corporate ladder and the cricket field may seem like vastly different places, but WACA CEO Christina Matthews has managed a fine innings in both.

As CEO at Perth’s home of cricket, Matthews’ wicket may expand when the Perth Stadium comes online in the not too distant future. She’ll outline her plans for the iconic Australian game at a CCI networking sundowner event on December 5. 

As one of only three women in the world to hold the top position in a first-class cricket association, Matthews spoke to CCI recently about the challenges she has faced as a woman in a man’s world.

Her passion for cricket came early – she represented Australia in 20 Tests and 47 one-day internationals between 1984 and 1995, and is Australia’s most capped female Test player.

The gender debate, Matthews says, has not changed much in 30 years.

“It’s different. You still have to battle and you still have to make it a point that women and girls need to be treated equally, but the rewards are there if you can work around it all,” she says.

“Thirty years ago you were battling just to be acknowledged. Nowadays you are battling lots of talk about it, but there is still the discrimination that occurs; it just doesn’t occur to the same degree.

“Back when I was playing cricket, the key questions would be ‘Oh, do you use real cricket balls?’, ‘Do you use tennis balls?’ and thing things like that. But they (women) now get asked ‘Are you full-time or part-time? Oh you wouldn’t be full-time would you?’

“So it’s the style of question that is being asked. It’s still behind the boys, but it’s better than we were 30 years ago.”

Matthews says it’s still necessary to highlight and be proud of women’s achievements when they make it in a man’s world.

“Yes, I know lots of women say they don’t want to be thought of as a  female in various jobs they are doing that may be non-traditional, but unless you’re highlighted you don’t then create a genuine pathway and get people to understand there is a pathway for women in that,” she says.

“If you are bad at your job you’re bad at your job whether you are man or woman, but I think it is well acknowledged that women have to be even better at their job to gain some ground.

“You should be proud of the fact that you’ve been able to get to the top in whatever you have and you’ve done it in an environment that is not as easy as it is for a man.

“My philosophy whether I was playing or working was to do the best job I could wherever I was at the time and then rewards would come.”

Matthews says she counts her blessings every day that she can continue working in an environment she’s spent her life participating in.

“All the wise judges tell you to identify what you are passionate about and set about making a business out of that, so I’ve been lucky to be able to do that.”

►Join us for an opportunity to hear from Christina Mathews as she shares the inspiring story of her journey to WACA CEO. Register for the Sundowner event today.

Inspire your career with a success story

An opportunity for guests to get a rush of inspiration. Guests will enjoy networking over drinks and nibbles whilst listening to something that might just inspire the rest of their career.

For this series our guest speakers are all from different backgrounds and walks of life but every one has succeeded well beyond expectations, in male dominated environments, against significant barriers and opposition. Their stories are incredibly inspiring and guests have the opportunity to not only immerse themselves into their worlds but also engage with them personally.