Lack of 'board-ready' women talents: perception or reality?

ACCORDING to the Singapore Directorship Report published by Singapore Institute of Directors in Nov 2021, only 13 per cent of board positions in Singapore-listed companies are filled by women, way behind our aspirational target of 20 per cent women on boards by 2020.

In fact, we are lagging behind our nearest neighbour, Malaysia, where women make up 17 per cent of all PLCs. Despite the clear awareness and intention to improve board diversity and organisation resiliency, the lack of real progression in women representation on boards is disappointing.

So, what seems to be the road block in appointing more women on boards? There's a widespread belief that Singapore lacks qualified board-ready women, and hence the persistent low representation of women on boards. Is this issue a perception or reality? It depends on where you are looking.