Lesbian Visibility Week 2023: Candice Webber

Candice Webber

Culinary Director                               

Bennett Hay Limited

What does “being visible” mean to you?

Bringing your whole self to daily life without exemption.  I identify as a gay woman and hope that I am not labelled as such. We don’t say our colleagues are straight, do we?  I want people to know I am a gay woman, with a wife of 20 years and a 6-year-old adoptive son, but it does not define me. 

What are you expecting from this year’s lesbian visibility week?

A highlight on women in business who are gay in leading roles as roles in their fields, models for the next generation. I would hope to see more women of colour in these highlights as I don’t feel that they are represented enough. 

What are the key challenges LGBTQI women face today?

Unconscious bias

What can organisations do to support Lesbian Visibility Week?

I think it’s about highlighting the successes of individuals and openness to share experiences.

How important have queer role models been to you and did you have any growing up?

Hugely important, I grew up in Sydney and my mum was a hairdresser for a long while managing a big salon in the late 80’s and 90’s.  It was an epic experience of music, fashion, culture and sexuality. 

Have you ever been treated differently at work because of your sexuality?

Oh yes, for being a woman and my sexuality. You have to hold your own and be real otherwise people will never get it. 

What would your advice be to other women who might be struggling to come to terms with their sexuality and how that might affect them in the workplace?

You have more to lose by not coming out. My wife was not out at work for years and is now the co-chair for LGBTQ+ network in her workplace. She has never been so happy nor her network of colleagues so diverse and inclusive.  She is more open and approachable at work because she is not trying to hide for fear of being asked personal questions. This has had a knock-on effect in the alleys joining the network and also being a woman of colour and gay with an adoptive son; she reaches so many arms of the diversity branch she has bought more woman to the network. Her objective was to make a difference to other women’s experience in whole self-love sooner than she herself did. 

What’s the main message you’d want to give to any queer women or allies reading this?

Just be yourself, be confident in who you are and be honest with the people you walk this life with; it will be a much more rewarding journey.  Support others around you and seek out the next generation to help them get that leg up to self-awareness and confidence in whole self- love. Please do call out behaviour and unconscious bias when it happens. It doesn’t have to be a fireworks moment, but each moment is an opportunity for change.