The Federal Government has announced the launch of BoardLinks, a new initative aimed at supporting more Australian women into leadership positions, including increasing female participation in private and public sector boards.

 

“We know that women are as equally skilled and educated as their male counterparts,” Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Penny Wong, said, “yet they continue to be underrepresented on high-level boards and decision-making bodies.”

 

“Through the establishment of BoardLinks, the Government is taking concrete action to address gender inequality,” Minister Wong said.

 

One of the most significant hurdles facing women being appointed to boards is a requirement for prior board experience. However this can be self-perpetuating because too few women hold board positions to begin with,” Minister for the Status of Women, Julie Collins MP, said.

 

“That’s why BoardLinks’ first focus will be on appointing women to their first government board role, thereby expanding the pool of women who can be appointed to board positions in the corporate sector.”

 

Currently, just 14.6 per cent of board positions in ASX top 200 companies are held by women.