September 9, 2025
Corporate Australia's progress on gender diversity has hit a wall, with new data revealing 18 ASX 300 companies operate without a single woman in executive leadership and a quarter of companies went backwards on women’s representation this year.
The 2025 Chief Executive Women (CEW) Senior Executive Census
, now in its ninth year, shows women hold just 10% of CEO positions and only 31% of executive leadership roles across the ASX 300, with progress crawling at approximately 1% annually.
CEW President Helen Conway said the findings demonstrate that gender equality in corporate Australia has failed to progress due to a lack of real accountability.
"If 18 companies reported no revenue growth, boards would intervene. But when 18 companies have no women executives, we express concern and move on," Ms Conway said.
"We've spent a decade documenting the problem while many companies read the results and continue as before. This reveals the fundamental absence of accountability that allows gender inequality to persist.
"Companies must tie gender targets to executive pay and treat them with the same rigour as other strategic priorities. Those with rigorous gender targets are 2.7 times more likely to achieve balance. The formula works, we just need the courage to implement it broadly," Ms Conway said.
CEW CEO Lisa Annese said corporate Australia's decisions will set the tone for the entire nation at a critical moment.
"Globally, we're witnessing a rollback of diversity initiatives despite their proven benefits. The decisions made by our largest companies will echo far beyond their offices," Ms Annese said.
"Our top companies employ millions and shape cultural norms. What they do next will determine whether we lead on equality or roll back decades of social progress."
Ms Annese said the absence of women at the top perpetuates barriers throughout the workforce.
"Australia has one of the most educated female populations globally, yet over 30% work part-time compared to just 11% of men. This isn't always by choice, it's because often workplace structures don't support full participation," Ms Annese said.
"Women who've navigated these barriers understand what needs to change. When they reach senior positions, they implement flexible work arrangements and career paths that accommodate caregiving for all employees.
"Lifting women's workforce participation to match men's would add the equivalent of over one million full-time workers to our economy: educated workers ready to fill critical skills gaps. With sluggish productivity growth nationally and businesses desperate for talent, keeping educated women in part-time roles is economic self-sabotage.
“Women in leadership drive these workplace changes and advocate for the systemic reforms needed to unlock billions in economic value."
Key CEW Senior Executive Census findings reveal:
- 41% of ASX 300 companies have no women positioned for CEO succession.
- Men hold 80% of traditional CEO pipeline roles (CFO, COO, Group Executive).
- Companies with women CEOs average 46% women executives versus 31% overall.
- Only 44% of ASX 300 companies have set gender balance targets.
CEW is calling on companies to take four actions that deliver proven returns:
- Set 40:40:20 by 2030 gender targets tied to executive remuneration: CEW Census found that companies with targets are 2.7 times more likely to achieve balance.
- Invest in gender balanced talent pipelines: research from WGEA and Bankwest
Curtin Economic Centre found that companies with women CEOs deliver 5% higher market value, worth $79.6 million on average.
- Build inclusive, flexible and respectful workplaces: enabling full workforce
participation.
- Challenge traditional leadership blueprints: broaden pathways beyond the male-
dominated CFO and COO roles.
"The economic case is overwhelming. Gender-diverse teams are 21% more (McKinsey) to outperform (McKinsey), and achieving equality could add $128 billion to Australia's GDP (Deloitte)," Ms Conway said.
"After nine years of measurement, companies must decide: will they treat gender equality as the business imperative it is, or will we be having this same conversation in another decade?"
Read the full 2025 Chief Executive Women (CEW) Senior Executive Census Report: HERE
ENDS
Media Contact: Mayank Gurnani (Essential Media)
E: mayank.gurnani@essentialmedia.com.au
M: +61 414 463 827
