WOB eNews: August 2009

 

2nd Diversity on Boards Conference, 1-3 September 2009, Sydney 
Sponsored by: AFR BOSS, Australian Institute of Cmpany Directors, Freehills, Malleson Stephen Jaques, Defence Reserves Support, Hays, AIM NSW and UBS.

See Latest Conference news at

   http://www.womenonboards.org.au/events/diversity2009/

1. WOB goes International

Ruth Medd met with Alison Maitland, Financial Times journalist, and Jacey Graham, diversity inclusion specialist and coordinator of the FTSE100 mentor program in London in July. TThe meetings were very useful and the discussion will give an edge to the outcomes session of the upcoming Diversity on Boards Conference.

Key points from the discussion:

  • Chairmen matter a great deal.
    The FTSE100 mentoring program is an important strategic initiative comprising an alumni of 50 women plus 30 current mentees who are ‘networked into FTSE100 chairmen'. This initiative is actively supported and encouraged by those Chairmen who see the need to do something about the lack of women in the top ranks.
    Who are the ASX200 Champion Chairmen?
  • There are initiatives along the lines of the Women on Boards ‘Networking with a Twist’ series happening in London. See Alison Maitland's website - http://www.alisonmaitland.com - for her 30 April 2009 FT article.  One of the participants at the Professional Boards Forum event of 5 May 2009 in London said, "We want to grow the pool as large as we possibly can. Our challenge is to demonstrate that women with non-traditional CVs – who haven’t been on boards or been CEOs before – can really be effective non-executive directors".
    We have a similar challenge in Australia as the number of senior women who work in 'most likely to...' roles in ASX200 companies declines.

2. Victorian CMAs proactive on gender balance

Victoria's 10 Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) and its overarching Council have set new ground by appointing a higher percentage of female applicants than males to its boards in 2009.  Of the 100 positions available on the 10 CMA boards and that of the Victorian Catchment Management Council, 40 were filled by women. This was from a total of 35 per cent of female applicants. Three of the 11 chairs positions were filled by women.

At least 12 women registered with Women on Boards were appointed to the Victorian CMA's.Click here to read the full story.

3. WOB gets two on Sharks Board

For the latest episode in our campaign to diversify Australia's macho football boards see our headline article on the homepage. 
www.womenonboards.org.au

4. Federal Government needs to be transparent with board/committee selection

Appoint Women (AW) is the register of women interested in appointment to Federal Government boards and committees. It has operated in various ways for many years. In the past three years it has been linked with Women on Boards to enable women from our network to share their resume with AW and vice versa. Advice from the Federal Office for Women is that they are revamping AW (again).  In the meantime the AW website has been withdrawn and the Office for Women are yet to advise a replacement. You are therefore no longer able to have a single 'My Resume' on Women on Boards and AW.

Women on Boards has encouraged the Federal Office for Women to adopt a more transparent process when looking for women for government boards and committees and advertise the vacancies to the applicants. We have also impressed upon them the need to communicate with registrants via email. Both of these items are overdue reforms that means the Federal Government will struggle to match the performance achieved by some of the States. Victoria, South Australia and Queensland all have stated or set targets for gender representation, with SA achieving parity this year.

Women on Boards has written to Federal Ministers to encourage them to advertise as the rule rather than the exception and to offer the services of Women on Boards as a search service. Competitive tension never harms the consumer interest!

We have also written to Anna Bligh encouraging her to advertise more vacancies and to look more widely for persons to appoint to Queensland Government boards, which are noticeably absent in the WOB weekly vacancy lists.

5. Keep yourself up to date

5.1  My Resume

We regularly search My Resume for candidates to put forward for board searched and invite to events.  My Resume helps you to develop a convincing case of your value add - not an easy task for many women - an provides you with a guide as to what information is needed when you apply for a board vacancy.

5.2 Edit My Details

This is where you can update your email address and your other contact information.   

6. The Boardroom

Director Vacancies

Please continue to spread the word about our free vacancy posting service and the exceptional women on our database. The link for more information is: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/vacancy/index.htm

This month has been a bumper one for searches. Numbers of vacancies posted went a bit quiet over the school holidays but are now up to the usual numbers. Queensland is the laggard with posting vacancies. We are developing a strategy to remedy this and all assistance is welcome.

On Board success stories

  1. Sally Morton has been successful in getting the appointment to Scouts NSW board.
  2. Anita Phillips is a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Board. 
  3. Linda Gentilcore and Maggie Dowling  have joined the board of The Women's Housing Association in SA.  
  4. Robyn Baker has been appointed to the Australian Research Council (ARC) Advisory Council.
  5. Linda Whited has been appointed as President, Warringah Chamber of Commerce
  6. Jude Hines has joined the Camden Park Community Centre, SA

More details at On Board -  http://www.womenonboards.org.au/boardroom/onboard.htm

7. Kate Grieve - Profile of the Month

This month we profile Kate Grieve, who was elected the first female director of the Fremantle Football Club in November 2008. Read her profile and successful election strategy at:  http://www.womenonboards.org.au/boardroom/cs/grieve.htm

8. Supported Events & Activities

Supported activities are at: www.womenonboards.org.au/events/external/index.htm

8.1 Mining Your Career - Take Control presented by WIMWA.

8.2 Sydney Uni Football Club finals lunch - Friday 11 September , Sydney

There are a couple of spots still on the WOB table. Email ruth.medd@womenonboards.org.au if you are interested.  High profile corporate event.

8.3 National Child Protection Week and the launch of NAPCAN Engagement Strategy in NSW 

Support child protection by coming along to the breakfast and visiting their website - 9 September at NSW Parliament..