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News in 2007

	Finding the right board position Denise Aldous found that choosing a career as a non-executive company director is the easy part. Actually getting a portfolio of boards that provides income is hard work for those of us without influential connections. Here she outlines where to start and what she has learnt so far. Further information click here...
	The Search for Satisfaction Women on Boards member, Sarah Richardson, was recently profiled in the leading state business paper, WA Business News. Ms Richardson offers business advice to Managing Directors and owners who may not have a full-time senior marketer or who are looking for an objective outside review. Providing broad strategic direction, Ms Richardson often works with the CEO and board in an ongoing capacity. Click here to read the WA Business News article...
	Tips for Writing Board Resumes Kerry Chater has been "smartening up" the resumes of WOBers for two years. Many members of our network have taken the opportunity to be re-packaged by Kerry to increase their opportunities of being considered for a board position. In this article, Kerry draws on her experiences to give some useful tips about how to write a resume targetted to a board position. Read the article...
	Managing the board dynamic Tony Shepherd, Chairman of ConnectEast and Transfield Services, looks for diversity among board members, but the group needs to work harmoniously and all decisions should be unanimous. He told guests at the August WOB/Clayton Utz lunch in Melbourne that you also need edginess and tension from the team to get the best outcomes - and it is quite a challenge for the Chair to manage this dynamic. Read the event report...
	Recipients of WOB Executive Coaching Scholarships for 2007/2008 “I wish to apply for an executive coaching scholarship...the main reason for applying is that I am struggling to define the next steps for my career progression and would greatly value some assistance." Kim Cockburn, Senior Business Consultant, iCognition Pty Ltd, ACT - recipient of one of 13 scholarships provided in association with four executive coaching organisations. Read more about our scholarship recipients...
	The road to a Seat on the Board Jane Cleeve attended a Women on Boards strategy session in Brisbane in 2007 with 15 other women. When her turn came, she mentioned she was interested in the Glennie School, not only as an old girl but also in some way contributing to the continued success and confidence of future generations of women. She applied to the Board and was successful Read Jane's story...
	Women on Boards names and shames Women on Boards has completed an analysis of the top ASX listed companies with regard to female represenation on their boards. Of the 213 companies named, 48 per cent DO NOT have at least one female director. Download the list... (15 KB PDF)

The ‘accidental director’
Leading non-executive director, Patricia Cross, became a director 'almost by accident' when she was just 37 years told. Now a director of Qantas, National Australia Bank Limited, Wesfarmers Limited and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Patricia spoke candidly to almost 30 guests in another of the special WOB Clayton Utz lunch series. Read the lunch report...

The role of the Chairman - a complex business
Stephen Gerlach, Chairman of Santos, Futuris Corporation and Elders Australia Limited, was special guest at the Women on Boards event at Finlaysons law firm in Adelaide in early May 2007. Drawing on his considerable experience, Mr Gerlach said the role is "probably now almost twice as time consuming as it was even 5 years ago, particularly if you have a growing company or one which has significant issues which need to be dealt with." Read the full speech...

Women on Boards – the end of civilisation as we know it?
Justice Kim Santow, Chancellor of the University of Sydney, used the occasion of his address to the Sancta Sophia College Academic Dinner on 16 April 2007, to speak about the role of women on boards. "I believe it is highly desirable for boards to have more qualified and competent women. This is in order to have the diversity in gender and background along with the insights that go with that. I frequently experience those insights as I sit on the Court of Appeal with its women members.. Click here to read Justice Santow's full speech...

A nice story about the Plumbers and Drainers Board
Women on Boards went to Brisbane in March, holding two strategy workshops and a lunch at St George Bank. The events were hosted by Rhyll Gardner, the Queensland Manager of St George Bank, and featured guest directors Bronwyn Morris and Susan Rix as well as a number of well-qualified aspirant directors. There was some great advice given and some interesting tales told! Read the full report...

WOB supports rural women's awards
WOB has supported the RIRCD Rural Women's Awards in NSW with a free two-year subscription to the winner of the award (Eleanor Hall of Coolah) and a one-year subscription to the runner-up (Fiona Kliendeinst of Uralla). WOB will be making the same offer to the winner and runn-up in all other states.
Click here for the story...

Never underestimate the little things that oil the wheels
In another of our Clayton Utz Melbourne lunch series, the founder and managing director of Aspect Computing Pty Ltd, Lyndsey Cattermole offered a refreshing perspective on how to get on boards. One of Australia's leading women in ICT, Lyndsey in an entrepreneur who was exposed to the corporate sector via her clients. Read the lunch report...

WOB in the news
WOB and members of its network are making news. The Sunday Herald Magazine (3/12/06), Australian Financial Review (3/10/06 ), AICD Company Director Magazine (Jan 07), Virgin Blue Magazine (05/06) and other regional and national publications have all featured WOB stories, including the results of the 2006 survey of 500 WOBers. Click here to read some of the articles...

They came. They saw. They networked
On 2 November, Sydney’s American Club buzzed with an anticipatory hum as former 702 Breakfast Host, Sally Loane, AGL and Westpac Director, Carolyn Hewson, and a number of other well-known directors, shared their knowledge with the WOB network. Former financial journalist, Kimberley Gaskin, penned a comprehensive report on the event for WOB. What Hewson and others had to say...

Catherine Walter shares her views
Our October 2006 lunch event at Clayton Utz in Melbourne saw Catherine Walter share her views on diversity. "If a board in its composition does not bear a resemblance to its stakeholders (age, gender, ethnicity, geography) then it risks not satisfying them with the result that this might lead to business sub-optimisation and so it is smart business to have diversity at board level." Read the report from the lunch...

Successful Perth Events
Well known WA directors, Gaye McMath, Fiona Harris and Gene Tilbrook, offered the crowd at the WOB Perth Network Event strategies for achieving and then managing board positions. In a lively 40-minute panel session, the directors were questioned by the 50-strong crowd of aspirant and mentor directors who attended the event at Ernst & Young. Earlier that week, successful strategy sessions were held for the WOB network. Read Harris's remarks...

Wendy McCarthy delivers the second of three lectures in honour of Rick Farley. Titled "Women and Leadership in Rural Australia's Future", it can be listened to via the ABC website at: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bigideas/stories/2007/1849200.htm