Unlocking potential: Board diversity can help drive business success

OVER the past few years, the corporate governance landscape in Singapore has evolved progressively, with board diversity being recognised as a critical lever for better decision-making. Mechanisms such as the nine-year rule and voluntary disclosures of diversity targets have encouraged boards to be more deliberate about their board refresh strategies.

In an era of rapid globalisation, socio-political shifts and technological advancement, the importance of diversity in the boardroom cannot be overstated. The recently launched 2025 Board Diversity Index sheds new light on the diversity landscape of Singapore-listed companies.

Developed by WTW in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Directors and James Cook University Singapore Campus, in consultation with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and with support from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, the index provides an updated analysis of board diversity across 553 companies with primary listing on SGX. Spanning large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, Reits and business trusts, and Catalist-listed entities, the index assessed diversity against eight different attributes. These are: gender, age, board tenure, independence, culture, domain knowledge, international experience and industry expertise.