THE NUMBER of female board directors has increased slightly to 8.7 per cent since 2002, according to recent research
THE NUMBER of female board directors has increased slightly to 8.7 per cent since 2002, according to recent research.
Australia’s top 200 companies have been found to have made little progress in terms of increases in the number of women executive managers since 2004. Figures show that the rise has only amounted to 12 per cent from 11.4 per cent as a result of only a small growth in the number of executive manager positions and a decrease in the size of executive management teams.
Results of the 2006 Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) Australian Census of Women in Leadership showed the number of female CEOs has not increased since 2003. Of the ASX 200 companies, a mere six (3 per cent) are led by women.
“Women remain largely excluded from positions which have significant influence over Australia’s business direction, economy, public policy and the community generally,” said EOWA director, Anna McPhee.
According to McPhee, the disappointing results highlight the fact that 47 per cent of Australia’s employees and 40 per cent of its shareholders continue to lack representation at the senior levels of business.
On a more positive note, 60.5 per cent of the companies involved have at least one woman in an executive management position, an increase of almost 10 per cent since 2003.
