AHRI: What women want

There are so few women in the upper levels of Australia’s top 200 companies – either as chief executives or chairwomen – that should just one happen to leave, you could count them all on two hands. But things are looking up. After years of trying, women are finally seeing some action to redress the gender imbalance. Last year a suite of development programs was launched by business groups including the Business Council of Australia (in conjunction with AHRI), the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Women on Boards.The Australian Stock Exchange also instituted mandatory gender reporting guidelines that require ASX-listed companies with 100 or more employees to disclose gender policies and employment figures, or explain why reporting has not been adopted.Compared with New Zealand, the UK, Canada, the US and South Africa, Australia has the lowest percentages of women in top business roles. There are just six female CEOs and five female chairs in the top 200 Australian companies.