Both public and private companies in Belgium currently have a very poor balance between genders at senior executive level and the evolution over the past 10-15 years shows very little progress. Different reasons are invoked to justify that fact, from lack of interest from women, lack of qualified women, lack of women networking, ...
The 2009 Belgian Code on Corporate Governance has moved forward in the right direction by introducing the concept of gender diversity.
Provision 2.1 of the second principle provides:
"The Board's composition should ensure that decisions are made in the corporate interest. It should be determined on the basis of gender diversity and diversity in general, as well as complementary skills, experience and knowledge. A list of the members of the board should be disclosed in the Corporate Governance Statement."
The FEB/VBO commented on the gender diversity clause of the 2009 Belgian Code on Corporate Governance (16 March 2009, ref CJ/2009/15 - CDA/nle - 1/8) as follows:
"For the Committee, it is beyond discussion that companies should, in the first place, pay attention to skills experience and knowledge when composing their board. However, next to these aspects, gender diversity is also an essential factor that should be taken into account."
We are personally convinced that society is looking for more talented women's involvement in the business world as part of good governance practices and we are willing to contribute to a better functioning and effectiveness of the decision and governance bodies. As unanimously recognised, good governance can lead to the creation of wealth.
In view of the above factors, we have decided to regroup qualified women, both French and Dutch native speakers, with the aim of promoting diversity in boards of directors and committees and to give Belgian corporations access to a pool of qualified female board candidates.
One of our priorities is to act in concert with main business actors in the field of corporate governance and women's participation.
Women on Board is not a political or lobby organisation. Therefore, it decided not to take a position regarding quotas. We focus on our main objective which is to give more visibility to skilled women, potential board candidates, and to promote this pool of talents in the Belgian business world.
