Moving the Middle:
Why do conversations about gender equality so often stall — at work, at home, or even at the school gate? And more importantly, how do we move them forward?
Backed by the groundbreaking Gender Compass research, Moving the Middle is where data meets real stories. Each episode explores how leaders, communicators and changemakers are using fresh insights to engage the ‘moveable middle’ — those Australians whose views aren’t set in stone, but who hold the power to shift the national conversation on gender equality.
Hosted by Hayley Cull, Deputy CEO of Engagement at Plan International Australia, and Dr Rebecca Huntley, Director of Research at 89 Degrees East, the series unpacks what works, what doesn’t, and what you can try in your own context. Think of it as your practical guide to making gender equality conversations easier, more effective, and more impactful.
So whether you’re leading change, crafting campaigns, or simply navigating those tricky dinner table debates, join us. Together, let’s move the middle — and move forward.
HOSTS
HAYLEY
Hayley Cull is Deputy CEO at Plan International Australia, a leading international organisation dedicated to children, with a particular focus on girls.
Over the past two decades, she has worked closely with governments, philanthropists, advocates and young people to drive systemic change, primarily on issues related to gender equality, child rights and humanitarian crisis. Hayley has a background in journalism and communications, and has held strategic engagement and leadership roles with Plan, UNICEF and various sector coalitions in Australia and internationally.
Over the past three years, Hayley has played a leading role in Gender Compass, a unique project that brings together advocates, researchers, communicators and philanthropists to rethink how we talk about gender equality, in order to build a broader base of support for the movement. This work builds on Hayley's almost 20 years’ experience of driving social impact through strategic communications and public engagement.
REBECCA
Rebecca Huntley is the author of numerous books including How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference (Murdoch books, 2020), Still Lucky: why you should feel optimistic about Australia and its people (Penguin 2017) and Australia Fair: Listen to the Nation, the first Quarterly Essay for 2019.
She has delivered The John Button Oration (2012) at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival and the MSSI Oration at the University of Melbourne (2019). In 2022 she delivered The Talbot Oration at the Australian Museum.
Rebecca was a broadcaster with the ABC’s RN and presented The History Listen and Drive on a Friday.
In addition to books, Rebecca has written extensively for essay collections, magazines, newspapers and online publications. She was a feature writer for Australian Vogue and a columnist for BRW and ABC Life. She writes regularly for The Monthly, The Saturday Paper, the SMH, The Guardian, the Financial Review and Australian Traveller Magazine.
Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia's foremost researchers on social trends and a Fellow of the Research Society of Australia and the Women’s Leadership Institute of Australia.She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies.For nearly 9 years Rebecca was the Director of The Mind & Mood Report, Australia's longest-running social trends report. She has led research at Essential Media and Vox Populi, part of the CIRCA research group, before starting her own research and consultancy business.
Rebecca has been instrumental in developing and managing a range of high-profile and influential research projects, including Climate Compass, Gender Compass, Community Compass and Mental Health Compass.
She is the head researcher on the Clean Energy Solutions Index.
She is a widely acknowledged expert on community attitudes to climate change and energy transition, and gender equality.