WOB eNews: June 2010

Congratulations to The Hon. Julia Gillard.
For the first time women around Australia can see the highest political office in the land being filled by a woman.

Think Women National Breakfast Series
Booking fast - details at: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/thinkwomen/

This month in eNews

  1. Women Making Headlines
  2. WOB Out and About
  3. Articles of the Month
  4. WOB Preferred Partners
  5. Career Tip   
  6. In the Boardroom  
  7. Profile of the Month    
  8. Supported Events  

1. Women Making Headlines

Celebrating Women’s Leadership Canberra - The importance of role models

Ruth Medd and Claire Braund attended Celebrating Women’s Leadership on 2 June at the National Library of Australia. The event was a celebration of and fundraiser for the 10th Anniversary of the Australian Archives Project.  

It was an inspiring event. The speakers talked about the impact of leadership upon them and those around them, the importance of being visible, having clarity around what you want in your life and why, using the power you have, building alliances and the impact of role models. As Penny Wong said "It's not about you but the need for those who follow to have a role model". What prophecy!

It was very much a night of firsts with the following speakers: 

  • Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia  - the first female GG
  • Her Excellency Rt Hon Baroness Valerie Amos, British High Commissioner – the first black cabinet minister in Britain and first black woman appointed to the House of Lords.
  • Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water  - the first Asian Australian in the cabinet.
  • Ms Jane Halton PSM, Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing - the second only woman to be appointed head of a government department

Other firsts in the audience: 

  • Jan Fullerton, the first female Director General of the National Library of Australia 
  • Major General Elizabeth Cosson, the most senior female in the ADF
  • Marie Colemen, the first woman to head a federal government agency
  • Rosemary Laing, the first Clerk of the Senate

The online Archives Project is at www.womenaustralia.info 

Always answer the telephone

Adrienne Clark AC is not only a world renowned scientist but someone who has made a contribution to the commercial life of Australia as a company director. Read what she said to an enthralled audience at the June Melbourne Clayton Utz lunch from our intrepid reporter (aka Ruth Medd) at http://www.womenonboards.org.au/directorship/directors/adrienne-clarke-2010.htm

Women on ASX200 increases to 9.2 per cent

The Boardroom Diversity Index has been updated with ASX200 and ASX300 data as at June 2010. The percentage of female directors has improved to 9.2 per cent for ASX200 but is a woeful 4.2 per cent for ASX201 - 300. See http://www.womenonboards.org.au/publications/bdi/index.htm for the new data. View the media release at: http://www.womenonboards.org.au//news/media100630.htm

2. WOB Out & About

In the news

Spheres of Influence

Ruth Medd is a member of the FINSIA Women in Leadership Advisory Council that is looking at the challenges for career advancement for women in the financial services industry.

Claire Braund has received a Churchill Fellowship for a six week study tour looking at the impact of the introduction of gender quotas in Norway, Spain and France.

3. Articles of the Month

The winelovers guide to directorship with Erica Smyth 

Thanks to WOBer Sunli Govinnage for alerting us to Erica Smyth's recent speech  to the AGM or which is at  http://www.womenonboards.org.au/directorship/reports/erica-smyth-2010.htm  Sunli's witty response as a Gen Y lawyer is  "I have decided to start calling myself a Baby Viognier - Viognier wines will probably age well, but they are very good young - so why wait?"

Emerging, Enlightened Boards

You’ve built your CV with impeccable precision.  Two degrees, an MBA from an Ivy League or sandstone school.  You’ve served your apprenticeship, firstly in you field of specialty, and then in a general management role.  You’ve got the latest Manolo’s and the perfect strand of pearls.  You’ve escalated your networking activity and ensured that you’re seen at all the right places, at the right times.  The perfect resume, the perfect image… but have you covered all your bases.

Read this entertaining and different look at women in leadership by Nieves Murray, Chief Executive IRT, Wollongong, May 2010 at: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/directorship/reports/enlightened-boards.htm 

4. WOB Preferred Partners

A Preferred Partner is a small company or sole trader who provides niches services in an area we have identified as important to WOBers. Of the many approaches we receive we select those who best supplement our Pathways to Directorship program. Our preferred partners offer high quality services in the following areas:

  • Board specific CV development
  • My Style - personal image consulting
  • Gender balance programs to assist organisations retain and recruit female talent.
  • Mentoring for board roles?

Details at: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/resources/services/ 

5. Career tips: What you need to know as an emerging director

These tips were a summary of the advice given during the panel and mentor sessions at the WOB Director's Dinner, Sydney, November 2006. They are as relevant now as they were then. Go to: http://www.womenonboards.org.au/directorship/reports/061102tips.htm

6. The Boardroom 

We like to track where WOBers are. Here's a list of the latest  appointments we have heard about. One of the core principles of moving forward in your career is networking. In a survey conducted by Women on Boards, 14% of respondents said they gained their board role by a referral from a colleague or friend. A further 39% said that they were either approached by, or knew, a director or the chair.

Keep an eye on where other WOBers are.  A strategic coffee may just help you land the board role you want.  Success stories this month are:

  • Libby Skipworth
  • Patricia McKenzie
  • Sally-Anne Lyster
  • Emily Mudge

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

7. Profile of the month 

Emma Weston

A former lawyer and management consultant, Emma joined FRL in April 2008 as its chief operating officer, being appointed Managing Director in November 2008. Emma has had a career in agribusiness. She has an MBA and has consulted to major agribusinesses both in Australia and overseas.  Emma and her family own and operate a grain farm in Central West NSW. She is a non-executive director of Agfarm Pty Ltd and is a member of the advisory Board of Sustainable Soils Management Pty Ltd.  

Emma shares her insights about being a young Director at  http://www.womenonboards.org.au/subscribe/profiles/weston_e.htm

8. Supported Events & Activities

WOB is pleased to support like minded organisations. This month we have:

  • WIT Board Readiness PROGRAM
  • Women in Finance Queensland - Annual Great Debate Breakfast 
  • Macquarie University Women, Management and Work Conference 
  • The Oxford Lecture - Adelaide
  • The 100% Project

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