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Ain’t I a Board Director Too?Jane Alver. Even though the issue of diversity in organisations has become an increasingly important one and researchers have pointed to the importance of diversity as an important strategy there remains a gap in the literature on gender and governance. This gap is reflected in the absence of women governing organisations. Texts on corporate governance are pointing to a crisis in organisational governance. Now is a key time to advocate for gender diversity in organisations as a way out of this crisis – leading to improved innovation, problem solving and decision making within organisations. Gender diversity makes sound business sense and writers have pointed at the business case for diversity. The increased representation on boards is not to be seen as a women’s issue but instead will be debated as an urgent political issue and risk management issue. The introduction of legislation in Norway for 40% women on corporate boards has brought this issue into the political frame. The key challenge ahead is to demonstrate the strong relationship between gender diversity, good corporate governance and high corporate performance. New research findings will be discussed.
Presenters Jane Alver
Graduate student, University of Oxford Jane Alver (BA LLB (Hons) is a graduate student at the University of Oxford reading for a Masters degree in Women’s Studies, with a particular focus on women in decision making. Her work experience includes the private sector (intellectual property, information technology and telecommunications lawyer in Sydney and London), and the public sector (policy adviser- NSW Attorney General’s Department and NSW Department for Women). Her board experience includes the NSW Women Lawyers Association, the YWCA of Sydney and the Australian Youth Policy and Action Coalition.
Keywords
(30 min. Conference Paper,
English)
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