On the subject of getting more women on corporate boards, we’ve been a little pessimistic of late.
That’s because the significant momentum behind the uptick of women on the boards of ASX 200 listed organisations has slowed in recent years.
Although, coming from such a low base – remember the figure was just 8.3% in 2009 — it was never going to be hard to pick up speed on such appointments. Consequently, a slowdown was also inevitable.
Earlier this month, Women on Boards released a comprehensive set of figures on the current state of women on boards in Australia.
It found that currently, 19.9% of ASX 200 board positions are held by women. A figure that gets higher the bigger the listed entity (24.1% of ASX 50 seats are held by women) but lower the smaller the entity is (the figure is 18.1% for ASX 300 boards).
Meanwhile, there are still 81 boards on the ASX 300 with no female board directors.
Hence the pessimism.
Still, there are a number of ASX 300 boards that are completely bucking the trend on gender. They have not just found one woman, or two, but ever three or four women. They are a diverse mix with few clues between them on which industries and sectors manage to ‘find’ more women.
Check out the ASX 300 boards currently boasting significant female representation (thanks to Women On Boards) along with their industry below.
Medibank Private Limited, 62.5%, Insurance
Mirvac Group, 50.0%, Real Estate
Spark Infrastructure Group, 50.0%, Utilities
SMS Management & Technology Limited (257), 50.0%, Software & Services
Duet Group Forus, 44.4%, Utilities
Veda Group Limited, 42.9%, Commerical Services & Supplies
Chorus Limited NZ, 42.9%, Telecommunications Services
Energy Resources of Australia Limited, Resources
Pacific Brands Limited, 42.9%, Retailing
Recall Holdings Limited, 40.0%, Commercial Services & Supplies
Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, 40.0%, Energy
Trade Me Group Limited NZ, 40.0%, Retailing
G8 Education Limited, 40.0%, Consumer Services
Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund Ord Unit (181), 40.0%, Food Beverage & Tobacco
Infomedia Ltd, 40.0%, Software & Services