Boardroom gender parity

PROGRESS on improving gender balance in ASX 200 boardrooms may be stalling, latest statistics indicate. Australia’s biggest listed companies appointed a smaller proportion of women to board seats during the first three months this year than in the previous quarter. Women accounted for 23 per cent of board appointments at ASX 200 companies in the past three months, the Australian Institute of Company Directors says. Chief executive Angus Armour said it was a disappointing development. “At the beginning of this year we expected to achieve our 30 per cent target imminently, but unfortunately the overall percentage has fallen since the start of this year,” Mr Armour said. “I challenge all boards to look around their boardroom and ask if there is sufficient diversity of skills, experience and gender to effectively meet the demands of a challenging governance landscape.” So far this year, 39 directors have been appointed to boards of ASX 200 companies, but only nine of them have been women. Mr Armour noted that of the 39 appointments, nine were appointed to the chief executive officer or managing director roles – but none of those nine were women. “The AICD will continue to press this issue until gender parity is reached,” Mr Armour said.