"'29.7 per cent is not 30 per cent': Companies almost hit gender target", 30 January 2019

Australian companies have come within a whisker of hitting the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) target of 30 per cent women on ASX200 boards by the end of 2018.

But Wesfarmers and AGL Energy director Diane Smith-Gander said..."29.7 per cent is not 30 per cent. It might seem to be quibbling over a whisker, but 30 per cent is merely a way point on the way to proper gender equity, which would be 50 per cent,"....

Moves are already afoot to increase the goal to 40 per cent.

...Despite the progress, there are four companies on the ASX200 with no women on their boards: internet and phone company TPG, automotive accessory manufacturer ARB, wealth manager AMP, and earthmoving equipment lessor Emeco Holdings.

ARB company secretary John Forsyth said his company did not discriminate and appointed on merit. AMP lost its three female directors after the banking royal commission exposed numerous allegations of misconduct at the company. A spokesperson for AMP said the process of renewal was ongoing. Emeco and TPG did not respond to requests for comment.

Since the AICD launched its target in 2015, the number of boards comprised of 30 per cent women has more than doubled from 40 to 96....

[Companies also mentioned in the report are Wesfarmers, AGL Energy, SCA Property, BlueScope Steel, Fortescue Metals Group and Dexus Property Group]