Venture capital investor Elaine Stead spearheads initiative for combatting sexual harassment in start-ups [Video]

Venture capital investor Elaine Stead is spearheading a new resource for tackling sexist harassment and discrimination in Australia’s start-up sector in the wake of multiple incidents that have left the local industry reeling.

The resource, dubbed Addressing Sexism in Australian Tech & Investment, is being released on Monday and is the result of input from hundreds of local technology executives, investors and leaders.

Designed to be a living document, according to Stead, it contains industry codes of conduct, methods of reporting and enforcement measures from Blackbird, the Australian Investment Council, Southern Angels and ANDHealth operations director Jenna Polson.

Many women have either left the Australian technology start-up sector or avoided it due to issues around inappropriate behaviour, and Stead said that’s in part because start-ups are often led by young people who are flush with cash but had not been …