International Governance - leading a truly diversely-composed board

The concept of diversity in Australian governance circles is often so misunderstood that it is misused as a synonym for gender. If an ASX-listed board comprises both male and female directors it is regarded as being diverse. Yet diversity means more than gender: dimensions of diversity include age, ethnicity, cultural background, religious affiliations, professional history and personal background.

Consider:

• International governance as a lens to examine what it means to lead in the context of a board comprising diversity in gender, age, nationality and culture.

• Chairmen of such diverse boards need to be able to embrace different and sometimes opposing points-of-view, even when they differ from their own

• Tolerance and patience are therefore essential characteristics of a board which has embraced a culture of diversity ... READ MORE

Ann-Maree Moodie FCIS, Managing Director, The Boardroom Consulting Group

This article first appeared in the February 2012 edition of Keeping good companies , the journal of Chartered Secretaries Australia. Republished with permission of the original publisher.