Beyond the Pale: Cultural Diversity on ASX100 Boards

Abstract

This report presents a qualitative study of the cultural diversity of Australian boardrooms, a significantly under-researched, yet critical area of organisational leadership. The evidence we present was gathered through in-depth interviews with 18 ASX100 board members who were questioned on aspects of cultural diversity on boards; and 9 representatives from leading executive search firms responsible for board recruitment. The interviewees are key insiders into the dynamics of boards and gave fascinating insights into the research question: What are the key inhibitors and enablers for cultural diversity on Australian boards? The findings indicate that there are both perceptual and systemic barriers to cultural diversity on boards and also highlight the complexity of cultural diversity, raising issues around how we define cultural background and ‘fitting in’, influence, contribution, voice and leadership.