Trophy Women? was produced by the Commission on the Future of Women's Sport in...
This latest report from the Commission on the Future of Women’s Sport shows that women are still not being fully represented at senior management levels within the industry.
A team of leading figures including Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson and Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, former England Cricket captain, hockey international and recently appointed Women’s Game Representative on the ECB Board have all leant their support to the findings that reveal despite some headway, the sports sector is still not reflecting gender diversity at senior management levels. This it claims, is hampering the work to increase women’s participation in sport.
The report, entitled ‘Trophy Women? NGB Leadership Audit 2010’, found that only 1 in 5 members of national governing body (NGB) boards is female, and seven, out of total of 46 NGBs, do not have a single woman on their board.
However, there some encouraging signs of progress, particularly within traditionally male-dominated sports. British Judo, the Amateur Boxing Association for England and the England and Wales Cricket Board have all appointed their first female board members, while there has also been an increase in female chief executives, with three being promoted into the role in the last year, taking the tally to eleven.
Comments in support of the report include:
Sport and the Olympics Minister, Hugh Robertson commented: “Sport and the Olympics Minister, Hugh Robertson commented: “The report’s findings, while encouraging at certain levels, demonstrate that we still have much further to go in showcasing a modern and progressive world-class sports industry sector. A balanced board is critical for commercial reasons and to demonstrate to the outside world that sport is representative of modern Britain.”
Chair of the Commission, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “I truly believe that there is a place for talented women at the top in our sector. Our aim is to work hand-in-hand with women and sports bodies to understand the barriers these women face, identify the solutions and throw out entrenched ideas about who is best qualified to do the job.”
