AICD
The latest gender diversity report by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) reveals that the number of women on Australian boards continues to climb in 2021.
The AICD report shows women now make up 33.6 per cent (as at 31 May 2021) of board roles in the ASX 200, up from 30.9 per cent this time last year.
In the first half of 2021, the appointment rate of women to ASX 200 boards has been almost equal to men, at 48 per cent.
AICD General Manager of Advocacy, Louise Petschler, said, “It’s pleasing to see that the on-going disruption of COVID-19 hasn’t impacted the commitment of chairs, directors and stakeholders to increase gender diversity on boards at our largest listed entities.”
Ms Petschler said, “It comes as the decade-long AICD’s Chair’s Mentoring Program celebrates the news that eleven alumni now hold chair roles on the boards of ASX 200 companies.
“As women occupy only 21 of the ASX 200 chair positions (10 per cent), there is more work to be done in this area and the AICD, with the 30% Club Australia, is continuing its mission to ensure that accomplished women are visible and connected to executive search consultants.”
Proportion of women directorships in the ASX
Group |
31 Jan 20 |
30 May 20 |
31 Jul 20 |
31 Oct 20 |
28 Feb 21 |
31 May 21 |
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ASX 20 |
36.1% |
35.5% |
35.1% |
36.2% |
35% |
35.7% |
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ASX 50 |
33.3% |
33.4% |
33.5% |
33.9% |
34.5% |
35.5% |
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ASX 100 |
31.8% |
31.9% |
32.5% |
33.5% |
34.1% |
35% |
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ASX 200 |
30.7% |
30.9% |
31.3% |
32.1% |
32.9% |
33.6% |
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ASX 300 |
28.2% |
28.6% |
29.3% |
29.6% |
30.8% |
31.6% |
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ASX 201-300 |
21.8% |
22.3% |
24.0% |
24.6% |
26.9% |
27.3% |
This upwards trend of women on boards is also being seen on the ASX 300, where the latest percentage of women on boards is 31.6 per cent (as at 31 May 2021).
Women comprised 46.7 per cent of new appointments to ASX 300 boards as of May 2021. However, a total of 12 boards in the ASX 300 still do not have any women.
30% Club Australia Chair, Nicola Wakefield Evans, said, “The 30% Club Australia is turning its focus to the issue of pipeline, to ensure that the improvement we’re witnessing on boards is sustainable.
“The underrepresentation of women in key executive roles in our leading organisations presents a threat to progress we’ve made with women on boards.
“We will consider ways of supporting existing campaigns, including the investor-led 40:40:20 Vision, working with our network of business leaders and key organisations to influence change at the executive levels of the ASX 200.”
There was one company on the ASX 200 with no women on their board as at 31 May 2021:
- Silver Lake Resources Limited
