More women on ASX200 boards

A new study released by the Australian Institute of Company Directors has found the number of woman being appointed to ASX 200 boards has increased significantly.

The Institute figures show that so far in 2010, 24 per cent of all ASX 200 board appointees were female, compared to just 5 per cent in 2009 and 8 per cent in 2007 and 2008.

24 women have been appointed to ASX boards in the first six months of this year, compared with only ten last year.

The new figures have been collated by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, based on analysis of Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) data.

"This increase in the number of women being appointed to the nation's top company boards is very heartening," the Chief Executive of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, John Colvin, said.

"We still have a long way to go, but this is the highest percentage of women on ASX 200 boards that we have seen for some time."

"We have consistently said that we believe the proportion of women on listed company boards in Australia is not good enough and needs to be increased."

"Diversity is a competitive advantage bringing real value for businesses and it is very encouraging that more and more boards are taking advantage of the value of diversity."

The percentage of women on ASX 200 boards increase from 8.3 per cent at the beginning of this year to 9.2 per cent today.