Central Queensland women called to the boardroom

The Bligh Government wants to tap into the skills and experience of Central Queensland women by convincing them to nominate for Queensland Government boards.

Some of Central Queensland’s brightest female leaders will meet with the Minister for Women, Margaret Keech and Keppel MP Paul Hoolihan at a women’s leadership lunch on 14 October at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, Yeppoon.

The event, expected to be attended by more than 30 prominent community and business women from the region, is designed to encourage discussion on the challenges and issues facing women in leadership.

Mr Hoolihan said the forum was a great opportunity to engage with some of the region’s best achievers and encourage them to share their expertise by seeking positions on Government boards.

“An important aspect of this event is to share information on how central Queensland women can get involved in shaping Queensland’s future through board membership,” he said.

“The region’s tourism, agriculture and natural resources, retail and wholesale and manufacturing industries present great opportunities for women.

“But women are largely missing from positions of leadership all across the state and Central Queensland is no exception.

“Despite making up approximately half the workforce, women are not sufficiently represented on boards - only two per cent of chairs and 8.7 per cent of board directors are women.

“That’s why the Bligh Government’s Women on Boards strategy is so important.”

Mrs Keech said the Women on Boards strategy, aimed to support women's leadership and increase the number of women appointed to Queensland Government boards, by actively recruiting women with appropriate skills and experience.

“Our Toward Q2 strategy is leading the way with a commitment that, where possible, 50 per cent of all new appointments to government boards must be women,” she said.

“Despite women making up almost 50 per cent of the workforce, only 3 per cent of companies have a female CEO.

“Research by the Bligh Government’s Office for Women shows companies with more women on their boards perform better than those with little representation by women.

“Women possess special skills. It makes good business sense to tap into these skills.”

For more information visit the Office for Women website at www.women.qld.gov.au or call 1800 177 577.

ENDS

Media enquiries: Matthew Hyde: 3235 9236