Submission to the Office for Womens Policy NSW Dept of Premier and Cabinet

On 15 October 2010, the Australian Institute of Company Directors wrote to the Office for Women’s Policy (OFWP), NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, in response to its ‘Consultation Paper on Strategies to increase the proportion of women on NSW Government Boards and Committees’ (Consultation Paper) . We congratulate OFWP for its commitment to increasing the proportion of women appointed to NSW Government boards and committees, and we support the introduction of measures by the NSW Government which are appropriately designed to assist with achieving this objective. Our submission makes a number of recommendations with respect to the approach taken by the Government to the selection and appointment of directors as well as expressing some concerns in relation to some of the proposals outlined in the Consultation Paper. As in the private sector, directors and members of NSW Government boards and committees should be selected and appointed on the basis of merit. The skills and experience sought in a new director or member should be driven by the needs of the particular board/committee and of the relevant governmental agency/department. In accordance with principles of good governance, addressing any gender imbalance on the board or committee should be a secondary consideration to this. We are meeting with the Minister and representatives of OFWP on 20 October 2010 and will expand on our recommendations during that meeting.

Submission to the Office for Women's Policy NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet  
Attachment 1: Letter sent to all ASX200 chairmen
Attachment 2: ASX Corporate Governance Recommendations on Diversity : tips for getting started