Institutional Influences on Changing Gender Ratios on Corporate Boards: An Australian Case Study

Abstract

This paper takes up the challenge of extending our theoretical understanding of the representation of women on corporate boards internationally. To do this we adopt an institutional theory approach. The focus of the paper is on an analysis of the changing dynamics we have seen in the institutional environment in which women's representation on boards in Australia has been played out over the past three years. To contextualise the Australian situation we start with a brief overview of the representation of women on boards internationally. We canvas the different regulatory and governance approaches around women's representation on boards adopted internationally, and consider relevant literature pointing to the importance of recognising the social, political and economic structures within individual countries, which adds complexity to international comparisons. We consider the Australian context and propose a suite of institutional factors which have prompted a significant shift in the level of importance attached to increasing women's representation on boards in Australia since 2010, and so disrupted the status quo. We conclude by arguing for the value of applying the lens of institutional theory to understanding women's representation on boards internationally.