ASX 200 boards reach a record 31 per cent women, only one all-male board remains

Five years ago, the AICD, with the 30% Club Australia, set a voluntary target of 30 per cent women on boards. At the time women only made up 20.6 per cent of ASX 200 directors.

The latest statistics reveal that, as at 31 July 2020, women held 31.3 per cent of board seats on the ASX 200 (up from 30.7 per cent last quarter).

AICD CEO and Managing Director, Angus Armour, said, “In just five years we have seen boards successfully reach 30 per cent, by voluntarily committing to the target.

“We are very pleased to see that the momentum continues as organisations make diversity a priority. We have seen the larger listed companies doing the heavy lifting for some time now, so it is particularly encouraging to see that the ASX 300 is also nearing the 30 per cent target.

“However, it is important to recognise that diversity goes beyond a ‘one and done’ mentality. There are still 29 companies in the ASX 200 with only one female director. Ultimately, all boards should be working towards a 40:40:20 model for diversity in their leadership.”

30% Club Australia Chair, Nicola Wakefield Evans said, “We’ve had a number of companies with an underrepresentation of female directors for many years and I applaud those companies that have rectified that.

“Now is not the time to become complacent. Companies at the top of the ASX continue to lead the charge, with more than half of the ASX 100 now at more than 30 per cent women on their boards, and 28 boards comprised of more than 40 per cent women.

“At the same time, more than half the companies in the ASX 201-300 category have only one woman or none at all.

“There is no shortage of qualified, board-ready women in Australia. We look forward to working with stakeholders on our goal of achieving gender parity on boards and addressing systemic barriers to this change.”

As at 1 August 2020, there was one company on the ASX 200 with no women:

• Silver Lake Resources Limited