‘Dangerous dinosaurs’ in charge of merit
14 November 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
Directors should be concerned at the negative impact some of the male chairs interviewed for the EOWA (A)gender in the Boardroom report are having on Australian business performance.
Leading organisation for boardroom change, Women on Boards, said the report by Egon Zhender highlighted that there are some ‘dangerous dinosaurs’ wielding significant influence in who gets a seat in the boardroom of our top companies.
The following comments are taken from the report:
“One chairman stated quite emphatically that in his view, there are no barriers for women and that in fact, they receive favourable treatment given the fact that they lack the necessary business experience.”
"Several comments were also made implying that when women directors contribute at a high level, it is because they are compensating for their lack of board experience, and not because they are dedicated, professional or highly skilled board members.”
Women on Boards said that the directors and chairs making these comments were not only living in the dark ages, but also dragging some of our major institutions down with them.
“If this is the narrow and prescriptive thinking that prevails at the top echelons of our global financial system, is it any wonder we are in an economic meltdown?”
“There are numerous reports outlining the strong business case for diversity and its positive effect on company performance, governance and accountability. Yet it continues to be ignored.”
“By refusing to give diversity the same level of attention they give financial and other matters, these chairs are ultimately hurting the company, the shareholders and the wider economy.
Women on Boards said there is a number of more enlightened male chairs (some of whom were interviewed for the report) who acknowledged the importance of redefining the selection criteria for new directors as a key strategy for increasing female representation.
“These chairmen acknowledge existing board members (who are mostly men) need to alter their expectations of what constitutes a good director - to look beyond their own skills and experience and appreciate the attributes of more diverse candidates.”
The report found:
“Most chairmen acknowledged that the ability to identify appropriately experienced female directors depends specifically on the way in which the criteria for a new director are defined. This implies that the barriers preventing more women from being appointed at board director level are not that women need to change their approach to leadership, or require additional or more specific experience to become 'suitable' candidates. “
The WOB Road Map for Diversity provides clear strategies for chairs seeking to improve the numbers of women on their boards.
Women on Boards also offer companies seeking directors a search service of its database of 6,000 qualified, experienced and professional women.
For interviews contact Claire Braund on 02 4362 1333 or 0409 981781 or or Ruth Medd on 02 9331 8851 or 0419 407 231
To access the A(gender) in the Boardroom report go to: www.eowa.gov.au
ENDS
Directors interviewed for the EOWA (A)gender in the Boardroom Report
- Patty Akopiantz
- Elizabeth Alexander
- Rick Allert
- Harry Boon
- Graham Bradley
- Jillian Broadbent
- Leigh Clifford
- David Crawford
- Patricia Cross
- Paula Dwyer
- David Gonski
- Charles Goode
- Diane Grady
- Carolyn Hewson
- Belinda Hutchinson
- Anna Hynes
- Margaret Jackson
- Carolyn Kay
- Gail Kelly
- Graham Kraehe
- Catherine Livingstone
- Helen Lynch
- Peter Mansell
- Sandra McPhee
- David Meiklejohn
- Don Mercer
- Maurice Newman
- Linda Nicholls
- Susan Oliver
- Max Ould
- John Ralph
- Michael Robinson
- David Ryan
- John Schubert
- Catherine Walter
- Barbara Ward
