ASX 300 board gender gap closes, cultural diversity stalls: AICD
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The news: The latest Board Diversity Index (BDI) reveals that ASX-listed 300 companies are on track to completely eliminate all-male boards by 2026, in a historic milestone.
The context: The research shows only four all-male boards remaining across the ASX 300, representing just 1.4% of the country’s top listed boards, according to data compiled by Watermark Search International alongside the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Deloitte.
However, despite the improved gender balance, the BDI figures highlight a decline in cultural diversity, where representation remains very low. Only 6.5% of ASX 300 directors are from non-Anglo Celtic backgrounds, down from 9% in 2024 and 8.1% in 2025.
Moreover, only five directors across the ASX 300 openly identify as LGBTQ+, just four directors identify as First Nations, and not a single director has disclosed a disability.
What they said: “From the AICD’s perspective, diversity is fundamentally about board effectiveness. A mix of skills, experiences and perspectives supports better decision making and stronger governance — particularly in an environment of rising complexity,” AICD CEO Mark Rigotti said.
“That should prompt boards to reflect on whether their current approaches are sufficiently broad for the operating environment ahead,” he added.
The source: Australian Institute of Company Directors media release
