A new survey shows the push to get women into senior leadership roles has stalled or reversed
One of Australia’s most senior corporate women has said “things have gone backwards or stalled” in efforts to move the dial on gender equity and “dramatic changes” are needed.
Sam Mostyn, who last week was announced as chair of the government’s new Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, is also president of Chief Executive Women whose 2022 Census released on Tuesday argues it will take 100 years to get gender balance in the ASX 300.
The survey show that of 28 CEO appointments at ASX 300 companies in the past year, only four were women. There are 18 women CEOs on the ASX 300 – which is no improvement on 2021. Mostyn said it revealed a “disturbing” reversal in corporations with an increase in the number of companies with no women in their leadership teams – from 44 last year to 47 in 2022.
Mostyn, who was a key figure at last week’s Jobs and Skills Summit, said that given the federal government’s commitment to restoring national leadership on gender equality and expanding the opportunities for women it could be that regulations would be beefed up to strengthen reporting requirements under the Workplace Gender Equality Act.
The Act is currently under review and CEW is pushing for legislation that would impose financial penalties for companies failing to comply with gender equity targets.
Governments could ask companies for data on their women employees before making procurement decisions, said Mostyn.
As chair of the new task force, she will have a key role in advising the Albanese government on issues facing women ahead of the October budget as well as developing the government’s Natonal Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality.
“The data we’re looking at certainly tells us that the setting targets and meeting them has a huge consequence for lifting women into leadership positions,” Mostyn said.
