WOB eNews: December 2008

With our best wishes to all WOBers for a safe and peaceful festive season and bright prospects in 2009.

This month in eNews we have:

  1. The year in review
  2. Women in sport 
  3. Advisory boards 
  4. Maximise your WOB subscription
  5. Publications this month
  6. The Boardroom 
  7. External invitations 

The Year in Review

As 2008 draws to a close we can reflect on some major achievements for Women on Boards. Our first appointments to ASX listed boards, more than 250 board vacancies posted, 6,000 plus women now in the network, the launch of our successful new workshop series, an increase in the lobbying effort and our first successful Diversity on Boards Conference in May. All of this has only been possible with the continued support and encouragement provided by the WOB network and our supporters. Thank-you.

To give you a taste of what is in store in 2009, Women on Boards is planning to launch a major umbrella initiative for women (possibly in partnership with a number of other groups), new and updated workshops, an increased media presence with spokespeople in each state, the 2nd Diversity on Boards Conference in September and a new enhanced technology platform. Of course, this is in addition to all our regular services! Stay tuned for more in the New Year.  

2. Women in Sport

WOBs first forays into improving womens representation on boards focused on sports boards.  With the heady days of summer and surf and after yet another successful gold medal performance at the Beijing Olympics, WOB asked Janice Crosswhite, President of Australian Womensport and Recreation Association, to update us on how women are doing. In summary women in Beijing outdid the men in medal count yet sports administration is still controlled by the boys club, with the media and sponsors as willing accomplices. See what Janice has to say at: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/pubs/2008/0812sport.htm

3. Advisory Boards

Advisory boards are a category that we mention in passing in the WOB WAY Workshops. Many WOBers run SMEs which is an area that can benefit from having an advisory board.  Professional services organisations have them to assist the partners and for business development.  WOBer Denise Aldous, who regularly assists on WOB WAY workshops, has written a definitive guide to advisory boards. Read it at: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/pubs/ref0812advisory.htm

4. Maximise your WOB Subscription

Tip 31: Corporate Subscription

Consider bringing your company along with you. The 2009 corporate subscription package is now available at http://www.womenonboards.org.au/subscribe/corporate.htm  Further information can be obtained from WOB Corporate Liaison, Kate Alden at kate@womenonboards.org.au.

Tip 30: Email a friend  

Take the opportunity to email a friend and encourage then to join Women on Boards. You could tell them that WOB offers an integrated program of information, networking and professional development. In addition subscribers receive substantial discounts to events, get access to vacancies. WOB is also about encouraging members and subscribers to take up the challenge and put the effort into getting the first or additional board gigs

Tip 29: Update your My Resume

There are a number of new fields which will assist you with your pitch for directorship. We are doing more searches so unless you have a My Resume you will not be found in a search. 

5. Publications this month

Keeping Good Companies

The WOB Roadmap for Diversity was released in conjunction with the 2008 EOWA Census of Women in Leadership.  Ruth Medd and Claire Braund have written an article about the Roadmap for the December 2008 edition of Keeping Good Companies, the journal of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries titled  ‘Parity of women’s board remuneration still a long way off’. This will be on the WOB website in January. 

Remuneration for female CEO's down to only 79% of male earnings

Damien Smith, Managing Director of Enterprise Care, recently released the Enterprise Care Not for Profit Remuneration Report which shows that remuneration rates for women in Chief Executive Officer positions in the Not for Profit sector have declined significantly since 2007. The average remuneration fell to only 79% of male average earnings in 2008, down 6% since 2007. This figure is the lowest percentage since 2001, when female earnings began a steady rise to within 85% of male earnings last year.

6. The Boardroom

The Boardroom is accessible from the top navigation bar. 

Read more of these stories at On-Board Success Stories at http://www.womenonboards.org.au/boardroom/onboard.htm   

6.1 Focus on a WOB member

Vivienne Corcoran is a successful SME owner who has recently launched "Growing your Professional Practice".  Vivienne's profile is at http://www.womenonboards.org.au/subscribe/profiles/index.htm 

7. External Invitations to WOBers

Entries under External Events are activities that we think will be of interest to WOBers.  All of these events are booked directly with the organisation involved. Link is www.womenonboards.org.au/events/external/index.htm

With warm regards for the season
The team at Women on Boards
www.womenonboards.org.au