WOB eNews: October 2009

1. WOB Conference  

Thank you everyone who complimented us on the Conference.  The WOB team was very satisfied with the sessions and attendee's response to them.  The conference website has been updated and presentations loaded. So have a look at   http://www.womenonboards.org.au/events/diversity2009/index.htm.

2. WOB engagement - Diversity & ASX Corporate Governance Council 

One of the strategies for influencing ASX companies (and others) to have more women to their boards is to require them to consider diversity when looking for directors. Here is our chronology of activity.  

2.1 WOB Diversity on Boards Conference September 2009 

  • discussion of Norwegian experiences with quotas for ASX equivalent companies
  • pre conference survey of WOB board members found support for targets (74% of respondents) and quotas (54% of respondents) for ASX companies.  598 WOB directors responded. 

2.2 WOB letter to Chairman of the ASX Corporate Governance Council  requesting a review of the guidelines to include diversity as a criteria for director selection (Sept 2009).  Response came back inviting a briefing note for the October meeting.

2.3 Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls letter (Sept 2009) to ASX200 companies supporting greater diversity on their boards in accord with modern community and government expectations; following the CAMAC 'Diversity on boards of directors'  report. 

2.4 CAMAC report – Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee (March 2009)
The report 'Diversity on boards of directors' was requested  by Senator Nick Sherry.  The report supported encouraging diversity but was not in favour of quotas.  

2.5 WOB letter to chairs of ASX500 (Oct 2008) encouraging greater diversity and transparency in recruitment for board directors.

2.6 Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke wrote to chairs of boards in his portfolio asking them to ensure their selection processes resulted in women being put forward for appointment (June 2008).  On the basis that they have 50% of the talent. From past eNews you will see that this is steadily making a difference to the number of female appointments.

2.7 Numerous reports into women’s inequality from NFAW and partners (2008 - 2009)

  • Submission to Henry Tax inquiry on disincentives in tax system for second earners (mainly women)
  • Submission to Retirements Incomes inquiry on different work patterns and retirement savings of women

Submissions to EOWA Review & ASX Corporate Governance Council   

WOB and NFAW has made a joint submission to EOWW review – this federal legislation sets out the requirements for equal employment opportunity in a workplace for organisations with more than 100 employees.  WOB's submission advocates the  legislation be changed to require EEO outcomes rather than encouragement for EEO activity, as is currently the case.  

WOB wrote to Chairman of ASX Corporate Governance Council with proposed changes to Principle 2 which deals with director appointment.  This is due to be considered on 23 October. Both submissions are at  http://www.womenonboards.org.au/pubs/

Next steps

WOB will do its Women on ASX200 company boards for December eNews. A snapshot of changes from the December 2007 report is:

Improvers 

  •  Coca Cola Amatil (David Gonski Chair) and Spotless have both increased the number of women directors from 1 to 2
  •  Downer EDI now has a female director.

Laggards

  • Leighton Holdings (David Mortimer Chair) has a an all male 12 member board.
  • Cochlear and Resmed (both medical devices companies) have no female board members.

3. Vote for Anne Fletcher for the Sydney University Senate

Anne Fletcher is standing for one of the five alumni positions on the University of Sydney Senate.  All alumni of the University are entitled to vote in the upcoming election.

Anne has BSc, MSc and PhD degrees from the university and a track record as a medical researcher, a senior executive and a non-executive director in health and scientific organisations. Anne seeks to bring to the Senate her particular interests in corporate governance, organisational development, innovation, research commercialisation and infrastructure development. Ballot papers should arrive around October 7th. Consider voting for Anne. 

4. Using the WOB website - before contacting us look at Help on the website

4.1  Your Dashboard

Changes have been made to the page that comes up once you login. It is now titled My Dashboard.  Have a look at the new page. If you have forgotten your login userid and password then click Forgotten Password. 

4.2 Edit My Details

It is your responsibility to keep your contact details up to date. Edit My Details is accessed from My Dashboard.  Please check that your information is current.    

4.3 Subscriber fee

The Subscriber fee will increase from 1 November. Subscriber benefits are numerous and are detailed at http://www.womenonboards.org.au/subscribe/index.htm   The one year fee will increase from $121 to $132 - last increase was  2007.  The two and three year fees will remain at $220 and $330.

4.4 Appoint Women

The Office for Women has advised that the refreshed Appoint Women facility is available.  Resume's can be emailed to www.appointwomen.gov.au  which is part of the FaHSCIA website.

5. The Boardroom

Director Vacancy postings are booming from NSW, Victoria, SA and Nationally.  The Victorian Department of Justice regularly ask for qualified women - the latest being the Takeovers Panel.  One or more of our recommendations are usually successful. Victorian AG Rob Hulls is very active in getting more women into government leadership positions.  And WOB is building its reputation as a source of quality women candidates.    

WA and Qld are still a bit slow but Queensland improved when the 14 GOCs were recently posted. Tasmania has had a burst of activity in 2009 - mainly government and community boards. 

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 

On Board success stories

  • 1. Merren McArthur has been appointed to the National Tourism and Transport Forum.
  • 2. Vicky Papachristos has been appointed to the Board of EFTPOS Payments Australia Limited (EPAL)
  • 3. Kirsten Mander has been appointed to Consultative Council for Human Research Ethics (Vic). 
  • 4. Kirsty Mawer of The Performance Attitude Pty Ltd has been  appointed a director of Phillip Island Nature Park.
  • 5. Leith Boully has been appointed to the board of SEQWater.
  • 5. Kerrie Young is now Chairman of the Gold Coast Housing Company. 
     

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

6. Profile of the Month

Denise Aldous has been developing her NED career for some time.  She recently joined the board of the Cronulla Sharks. Read her profile at: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/subscribe/profiles/index.htm 

7. Supported Events & Activities

7.1 NAPCAN Survey into Preventing Child Abuse - you are encouraged to participate in the survey.

7.2 Walk to Cure Diabetes - help WOBer Rebecca Davies reach her funding target by donating to the walk

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