Sport & Women in Leadership

Last week the Women on Boards "Gender Matters" Conference was held in Sydney from 28-29 April 2011.

An array of high calibre keynote presenters voiced their enthusiasm for the pursuit of more women in leadership positions - in executive teams and on boards. Ralph Norris, CEO, Commonwealth Bank of Australia; John Porter, CEO, Austar; Elizabeth Broderick, Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner; and Dr Margaret Byrne from UGM Consulting gave insight into the way they are championing change within their organisations and across the market. 

The conference also offered multiple panel sessions. With two key sector themes - sport and financial services - Know The Game was well-placed to be involved. Know The Game's Director, Paula Ward, joined Lynne Ralph, Director, Sydney Swans, Danni Roche OAM, Director, Hockey Australia and Damien Irvine, Chairman, Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club & Football Club on a panel chaired by Simone Thurtell from ABC Grandstand. We enjoyed a robust discussion about our personal journeys to Directorship, the key elements required (and desired) to ready oneself for a Non-Executive Director (NED) role and how this may be achieved, the increasing focus on commercial aptitude and business nous, and ways in which we may be able to create an improved pipeline of women for NED roles within our National sporting organisations. Quotas and targets were debated. The role and influence of the media and corporate sponsors were also discussed as an enabler.

Conference quotes, questions and commentary were streamed via twitter at #WOBGM and can now be viewed @womenonboards. Some of the conference presentations are also available.