BREAKING: Australia’s push for gender equity in corporate leadership faces a critical setback as progress stalls. The Chief Executive Women (CEW) has just announced an urgent call to link gender targets directly to executive pay, arguing that equality must not be treated as optional.
According to CEW’s latest senior executive census, a shocking 18 companies within the ASX300 now lack any women in executive leadership roles. This is just two fewer than in 2024, despite ongoing advocacy for change. Alarmingly, one-third of these companies are based in Western Australia, including Chalice Mining and Monadelphous Group.
The census highlights a troubling trend: 25% of companies have regressed in their representation of women this year. Gender equality is now advancing at a mere 1% annually across the ASX300. CEW President, Helen Conway, emphasized that many firms view gender equality as a “discretionary” issue, undermining the urgency of this vital cause.
While Australia is not experiencing widespread backlash against diversity initiatives like seen in the U.S., Conway noted concerning comments from some large firms that hint at a reversion to unwelcoming work cultures for women. “We need to keep pressing the case for gender equality in workplaces,” she stated.
Recent controversies surrounding Westpac and ANZ have further highlighted corporate cultures under fire. Westpac’s CEO, Anthony Miller, faced backlash after reports of a demanding work culture, while ANZ’s Nuno Matos has been criticized for poor handling of redundancies.
CEW argues that accountability is essential in combating gender inequality, a sentiment echoed by Conway, who pointed out that companies with clear gender targets are 2.7 times more likely to achieve gender balance. “We know the formula works; we just need the courage to implement it broadly,” she asserted.
Currently, only 44% of ASX300 companies have set gender balance targets, compared to 59% in the ASX100. Alarmingly, 41% of these companies lack any women positioned for CEO succession. The CEW’s census proposes a target of 40% women, 40% men, and 20% of any gender in leadership roles by 2030.
Conway, who previously advocated for such measures during her tenure at the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, stressed the importance of utilizing Australia’s well-educated female talent to combat skills shortages and productivity challenges.
CEW Chief Executive Lisa Annese noted that while there has been progress in middle management, it fails to translate to executive levels. “There’s a potential pipeline there, but not a real pipeline of talent,” she explained.
The situation in Western Australia, where a third of ASX300 companies lack women in executive leadership, is particularly disheartening. Annese remarked, “Even in male-dominated industries, there are enough women to create a critical mass for change.”
The CEW is calling for businesses to invest in gender-balanced leadership pipelines and create inclusive, flexible workplaces that allow for full participation. With these urgent developments, the need for immediate action is clear: the time to act for gender equality is now.
As the conversation around gender equity intensifies, the spotlight is on companies to respond proactively. Will they take the necessary steps to close the gender gap, or will progress continue to stall? The eyes of the nation—and indeed the world—are on Australia’s corporate leaders.
