Helping Put Women on Boards
13 August 2007 at 4:15 pm
Looking for new board members? Women on Boards is an online network for women seeking directorships on Australian boards.
Established in 2001, Women on Boards offers a free service to assist organisations to find skilled directors via its ‘Register a board position’ function.
The Chair of WOB, Ruth Medd says the network is both a change agent and a services organisation.
Some of the things WOB does are:
– Raises awareness and support for women getting onto boards
– Lobbies for skills-based selection to boards
– Holds high level networking and mentoring events, giving WOB members opportunities to access company boardrooms and directors
– Provides a web based board resume builder
– Provides a free service for advertising vacant board positions
– Provides news and communications to its members
– Offers both free and subscription based membership
Medd says Women on Boards assists Not for Profit boards by facilitating ready access to a wide pool (currently 3,300) of skilled potential board members.
She says this assists both aspiring directors and NFP boards that need to explore a new source of high quality candidates. It is very much a mutually beneficial approach that should result in improved corporate governance overall.
Women on Board members come from all sectors and industries and varying company sizes. The network has qualified female executives from legal, financial, IT, sales & marketing, human resources, business development and project management backgrounds.
WOB members come from corporates (45%), medium sized companies (16%), small companies (13%), micro companies and sole traders (26%).
Ruth Medd says Women on Boards members are experienced directors – 70% of WOB members sit on one or more boards.
Profiles of recently successful women can be seen at http://www.womenonboards.org.au/subscribe/profiles/index.htm
If you would like more information please contact Ruth Medd at ruth.medd@womenonboards.org.au or register as a web (free) or subscriber member at www.womenonboards.org.au
