More female directors appointed in Australia

The campaign to improve gender diversity at the top level of Australian business looks set to end 2010 on a high, with 56 women having secured board positions at ASX 200 companies this year.

According to the Australian, this figure compares with just ten last year and means that 10.3 per cent of directorships at the nation's leading companies are now held by females.

Lobby group Women on Boards also pointed out that 58 per cent of the fresh appointments made this year represent women who are new to the ASX 200.

"This is very good but the momentum has to continue," commented Ann Byrne, chief executive of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors.

She described the fact that 30 per cent of organisations in the ASX top 100 still have no female directors as "unacceptable".

Ms Byrne called for chairmen to set the tone of the board and address the issue if their company is still lagging behind on gender diversity.

Under new guidelines from the ASX Corporate Governance Council, listed companies are required to disclose their diversity policies and discuss the progress they have made in relation to gender objectives.