Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2014

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GRAMMAR WOMEN: BREAKING DOWN THE BOARDROOM DOOR

Panel members Ms Kathy Hirschfeld, Dr Cherrell Hirst AO and Dr Sally Pitkin.

TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2014, BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL HELD A SPECIAL EVENT ANCHORED BY AN IMPRESSIVE PANEL OF WOMEN IN RELATION TO BOARD PARTICIPATION: BREAKING DOWN THE BOARDROOM DOOR.

Primarily it was hoped the event would plant the seed of possibility, open up minds to opportunity and create an environment of collaboration and support to empower women to challenge and extend themselves, to contribute in important ways and to thrive. It also hoped to shine a light on the opportunities available to women as positive changes and demographic shifts begin to emerge in board participation data at an industry–wide level. Last year, an Australian Council of Superannuation Investors study on the participation of women on boards reported that women had broken through the elusive ‘100’ mark — 105 women occupied 144 roles on the boards of Australia’s top 100 companies in 2012. That result meant that women held just more than 18 per cent of all ASX 100 board seats — the highest level since the survey began 12 years prior (Tasker, 2013). While unsurprisingly the best–paid boardroom seats were still occupied by men, it recognised that change is coming, just a little slowly. The Australian Institute of Company Directors also acknowledges that ‘women are committed to

achieving board roles based on merit but need to be given the opportunity to build their skills and present their experience’ (Colvin, 2012). In her opening remarks at the event, Girls Grammar Principal Ms Jacinda Euler noted that during her time as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton once famously said, ‘Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world’ (Combe, 2012). And that it was, ‘time for women to take their rightful place, side by side with men, in the rooms where the fates of peoples, where their children’s and grandchildren’s fates, are decided’. And while Ms Euler emphatically agreed with this sentiment, she noted that the challenge for many young, talented women was in understanding how to prepare for and work towards these positions, as the way was not clearly signposted. The Breaking Down the Boardroom Door event provided some credible intelligence on this subject. The panel of experienced directors from the Girls Grammar community shared their knowledge, insights and practical suggestions to help women better understand how they can navigate their way to the boards that govern our country and its corporations.

GRAMMAR GAZETTE