Female representation on ASX200 boards 'embarrassing'

Women have only 8.7 per cent representation on the boards of ASX200 companies, the lowest of all sectors covered by the Women on Boards Boardroom Diversity Index.

Executive director of Women on Boards Claire Braund said this is an embarrassing statistic considering that in most sectors 20 per cent of directors are female. Women on Boards has already called for ASX200 companies to achieve a minimum of 25 per cent female directors by 2012, or it will advocate for the introduction of mandatory quotas.

According to the Index, government boards in South Australia have the highest representation of female directors at 45.3 per cent. Super funds have 19.4 per cent.

The Boardroom Diversity Index, which was launched to kick start effective measurement and reporting of women’s participation on boards, covers female participation on 774 boards across ASX200 companies, credit unions, superannuation funds regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, national sporting organisations, Cooperative Research Centres, rural research and development corporations and top government boards in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and nationally.

Braund said Women on Boards has a database of about 1,500 who are ready to serve on boards, complied from a subscription base of 7,500. The organisation also has a free vacancy posting service for companies seeking to advertise and offers private searches.