Women in power? The numbers are dismal

In November 2013 The Australian Financial Review rolled out its annual ‘Power’ edition for the fourteenth time. Linking the events of the past year to those of the years ahead the eminent Power Panel confronted the challenge to arrive at a consensus. A consensus as to who reigns, controls, and influences the social, cultural and economic dimensions of our lives here in Australia.

This agonising scrutiny of who is in and who is out produces a series of Power Lists. Prioritising and categorising personalities and positions and dividing them assiduously into forms of power — overt, covert, cultural and sectoral. A review of these formidable lists affirms some expectations. Not surprisingly Tony Abbott now installed as Prime Minister leads those bequeathed with overt influence, an honour attributed to his ‘relentless pursuit of power for his party that shaped the election debate’. The likes of Rupert Murdoch as chairman of News Corp and Governor of the Reserve Bank, Glenn Stevens likewise feature prominently in the hierarchy of players with high doses of public supremacy.

On the covert side it is equally unsurprising that in the shadows lies dedicated Canberra bureaucrat and secretary of Prime Minister and cabinet, Ian Watt and “the most networked business figure” David Gonski, as people who push more than pens in the long corridors of politics.

What is startling and deserving of deeper scrutiny however is the Sectoral Power list. Reaching across the industry boundaries of designated Captains of Industry and dealmakers to the leaders in Technology and the Arts twelve distinct power segments have been analysed. A total of sixty nine individuals span these segments identifying both those who exert deeply entrenched influence as well as those who appear to have recently grasped the reigns to forge the path ahead. Across this broad spectrum of power players just seven women appear; four of these women are not listed in their own right but rather as part of a power partnership; three of the seven women fall in the more socially traditional sectoral ‘Givers’ philanthropy List.

While one could spend time critiquing the selection criteria, judging the judges, or purging the process any resulting ‘correction’ would bear little countenance to the conclusion – women are notably absent from influencing important dimensions of our lives.

While there is an abundance of data available that highlights the lack of women in senior executive positions, the low representation of women on boards and the comparatively lower salaries of women, whether by accident or design this Power List illustrates that across sectors and across power dimensions the ability to shape our lives and destiny is overwhelmingly in the hands of the female gender equivalent.

We can all cite examples of that exceptional women of influence. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, newly appointed chairman of the US Federal Reserve Janet Yellen and Australia’s first female prime minister Julia Gillard. As well as corporate scions Westpac Chief Executive Gail Kelly and Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg.

Translating these outliers into the norm has been has been a challenge for government, business and politicians for decades. How can women have an influence on our lives today and tomorrow? How can women have the ability to choose between work and family or choose both without fear of guilt, judgement, reprisal or compromise? How can women hold positions knowing they are there on merit not as a token?

Irrespective of whether you fall on the side of gender quotas or targets the Power disparity needs a concerted and coordinated focus on three other powerful Ps –Personal attributes and motivations; career and life Pathways, and public Portrayal of women leaders. There are a growing number of groups, data bases, registries and programmes that focus on one or two of these and are all working tirelessly to educate, motivate, mentor or mandate women in leadership roles. While each of these contributions are important in their own right there needs to be more. Not more organisations and programs but more coordination. There needs to be a mechanism to truly capture more than the sum of these vital individual component parts. There needs to be a coalition — a coalition of the willing — and not so willing — across government, business, and the community to formulate an integrated strategy and to lock in firm commitments. A coalition that has the ability to reach wide and dig deep across industry sectors, that builds local and industry capacity and instils a capability to develop Personal leadership, create Pathways, and increase the Portrayal of women leaders.

A coalition of power is not a role of government, business or the not for profit sector but a role for each of these groups and for each of us. Power at the top can only be achieved with strong support throughout the network and a strong network can only be achieved where each individual is a strong and engaged participant. The technology tools today have given us the power to build and mobilise such a network and the time is ripe for the disparate and vital efforts that continue to build momentum to come together to accelerate the imbalance of power.

While challenges and obstacles may remain the chances of success are enhanced where all energy and effort resides within a self-supporting network. The pieces of the network are there and with a concerted effort who knows – the outcome of a Power Coalition may not just be an increase in the level of influence that women have in our lives, communities and future but also a shift in the way power is exerted.

The Australian Financial Review Power 2013 list — Sectoral Power List

Captains of Industry (men 8, women 2)

1. Richard Goyder, Managing Director, Wesfarmers
2. James Packer, Executive Chairman, Crown
3. Ian Narev, CEO, Commonwealth Bank
4. Peter Coleman, CEO, Woodside
5. Andrew Mackenzie, CEO, BHP Billiton
6. David Thodey, CEO, Telstra
7. Gail Kelly, CEO, Westpac Banking Corporation
8. Kerry Stokes, Chairman, Seven Network
9. Sam Walsh, CEO, Rio Tinto
10. Gina Rinehart

Global Aussies (men 5, women 0)

1. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman, News Corp
2. Lynton Crosby, Co-founder, Crosby Textor
3. David Droga, Droga5
4. Andrew Leveris, CEO, Dow Chemical Company
5. James Gorman, CEO, Morgan Stanley

Dealmakers (Men 5, women 0)

1. Matthew Grounds
2. Robin Bishop
3. Simon Rothery
4. John Wylie
5. Richard Wagner

Defence Strategies (men 5, women 0)

1. Dennis Richardson
2. Peter Varghese
3. Jim Molan
4. Mark Higgie
5. Peter Jennings

Workplace (men 5, women 2)

1. Eric Abetz
2. Peta Credlin and Brian Loughnane
3. Ian Ross
4. Graeme Watson
5. Dave Oliver and Ged Kearney

Technology (Men 5, women 0)

1. David Thodey
2. Malcolm Turnbull
3. Michael Harte
4. Paul Bassat
5. Michael Cannon Brookes

Landed Gentry (men 5, women 0)

1. Frank Lowy
2. Daniel Grollo
3. Steve McCann
4. Harry Triguboff
5. Greg Goodman

Legal Eagles (men 5, women 0)

1. George Brandis
2. Jarrod Blejie
3. Lex Lasry
4. Roger Wilkins
5. James Allsop

School Ties (men 5, women 0)

1. Craig Emerson
2. Adrian Piccoli
3. David Christian
4. Brian Schmidt
5. David Gonski

Good Sports (men 5, women 0)

1. Andrew Demetriou
2. John Wylie
3. Dave Smith
4. Frank Lowy
5. Peter V’Landys

Creative A Listers (men 5, women 0)

1. Baz Luhrmann
2. John Edwards
3. Gerry Ryan
4. Li Cinxin
5. Tony Ellwood

Givers (men 4, women 3)

1. Clive Berghofer
2. Graham and Louise Tuckwell
3. Andrew and Nicola Forrest
4. Allan Myers
5. Louise Walsh

Total 69
Men 62 (91.3%)
Women 7 (8.7%)