Recent news that the number of women on the boards of ASX 200 companies has fallen from 8.7 twelve months ago to 8.3 per cent has come as no surprise.
A recent conference in Sydney, organised by the not-for profit group Women on Boards, highlighted that Australia ranks fairly low in the participation of women at this level in developed economies. The reasons remain much debated.
It is widely recognised that in addition to their professional skills, women bring a different perspective, working style and life experience to the board table. Yet the number of women in the boardroom has gone backwards. This is particularly curious, as in many professional degrees such as law and medicine, the majority of university students are female and women are increasingly taking senior roles in the corporate realm.
These sorts of numbers are reflected on many boards and committees in the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church. For example, there is not a single woman on the Finance Committee or the Glebe Administration Board (GAB), two of the key bodies which manage church's money. To my memory only one woman has ever been part of this group (that was in the 1990s). The participation of women in many other Diocesan Committees is low to non-existent.
Last week, Archdeacon Narelle Jarrett wrote about the difficulties facing women in securing ministry roles. While the church does face particular dimensions in working thought these issues, there was an element of déjà vu in her remarks, echoed by the community discussion in the wake of the Women on Boards conference.
As the coming Synod debates corporate governance issues surrounding the fall in the Diocesan Endowment, the future composition of Diocesan boards and committees should be considered. More women are needed to broaden the talent gene pool and range of gifts present around the table. By all means we should elect or appoint men and women on merit. But as with the rest of the corporate world, if a Diocesan committee can't find a suitable Christian female lawyer, accountant, management consultant, human resources specialist or financial analyst, it is not trying hard enough.
