Nurturing Inclusivity and Belonging at AbbVie Australia

Learning and Capability Development Manager, Carla shares why taking on the role of Equity, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EEDI) lead at AbbVie in Australia is deeply personal to her.

For me, this role is about ensuring that everyone feels a true sense of belonging. I’ve always been passionate about inclusivity. I believe that to be truly inclusive, we must embrace all beliefs, cultures, and systems—not just highlight the minorities. This means creating an environment where everyone feels equally important, where no one is left out because of who they are or where they come from. It’s not an easy task, and I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I’m committed to finding a way to ensure that everyone feels valued and heard.

My connection to this work is ingrained in my own story. In 2014, during a visit to Uruguay, I had a profound experience, where I discovered my own Indigenous ancestry. Meeting family I had never known before, and seeing photos of my great-great-grandfather, was a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding and honouring my own ancestry, history and cultural identity.

My grandson and son-in-law are Indigenous Australians, and their heritage has opened my eyes to the importance of celebrating and preserving cultural identities here at home. This connection to my past and to my family has driven me to advocate for a better future for all Indigenous people to feel proud of who they are and where they have come from. 

At AbbVie, EEDI is more than just an initiative or a corporate responsibility—it’s a reflection of who we are and how we choose to treat one another. It drives innovation through collaboration and openness to ideas that emerge from each person’s unique life experiences. It helps us have greater empathy with our patients, customers, and communities we serve.

We’ve already come so far under the amazing leadership of Harry and Poonam, who have established our EEDI strategy and rhythms, making sure we have the right processes and procedures in place to ensure we can deliver on our ambitious plans.

So, when the opportunity arose to lead our EEDI efforts, I didn’t hesitate. I knew this was where I could make a difference, and with the support of my family, especially my husband who even helped me film a pitch video at Uluru, I put forward my vision for what the future of EEDI could look like at AbbVie in Australia.

As I step into this role, my goal is simple yet ambitious: I want AbbVie to reach a point where we no longer need an EEDI Council because inclusivity is so deeply ingrained in our culture that it happens naturally. It should be something that everyone at AbbVie takes ownership of, carries forward, and lives by every day.

But I won’t be doing it alone. We are so lucky to have a team of passionate “champions” who will assist me in guiding our efforts. Together, we aim to improve policies, and prioritise inclusivity as a fundamental part of our work.

This role isn’t about being in the spotlight for me; it’s about being a catalyst for change. It’s about watching the transformation happen and knowing that I played a part in making AbbVie a place where everyone can thrive. I’m excited for what’s to come and to see how we can continue to simplify, empower, and amplify our efforts to close the inclusion gap.

Here’s to a future where every single one of us belongs.