The 30% Club launches GCC Chapter

Last month,business leaders across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries announced the launch of the regional chapter of the 30% Club, a global business-led initiative committed to achieving better gender representation in senior leadership positions of organisations.

The 30% Club GCC Chapter is a volunteer effort by business leaders from across the Gulf region seeking better representation of women on boards and in senior level positions in the belief that gender balance on boards not only encourages better leadership and governance, but further contributes to improved board performance.

The 30% Club GCC chapter is led by a steering committee of prominent women and men representing some of the most successful businesses, institutions and advisory firms in the region.

“We are honoured to help launch this important initiative in the region,” said Raeda Al Sarayreh, on behalf of the 30% Club GCC Chapter steering committee. “We are working together to support the efforts of GCC governments and companies to increase women’s participation in the workforce and accelerate the pace of creating a pipeline of talented and capable women ready for senior positions across all sectors in the region.”

Formed in London in 2010, the 30% Club began its efforts in the UK campaigning for at least 30% of women on FTSE 100 boards by 2015. There are 10 chapters across the world including the new GCC chapter. The initiative has since seen wide acceptance among key businesses across the world, with women in the UK now accounting for 26.1% of FTSE 100 boards, up from 12.6 per cent in 2009. The 30% Club operates on the strong belief that business-led change is the right way forward, rather than focusing on quotas.

The 30% Club GCC Chapter is seeking to empower women at different levels of the organisation and into leadership positions across a diverse set of institutions and industries.

The announcement was made during a special event hosted at the Capital Club at DIFC in Dubai, and featured a range of business and community leaders all united in the belief that better gender balance on boards is better for business.

The event was attended by prominent business leaders and members of GCC royalty, including HE Sheikha Hanadi Al Thani.

“The 30% Club GCC is designed to create meaningful sustainable change in culture and further change in the way companies hire, train, develop and retain talent,” said Sheikha Hanadi. “We believe that diversity in the board room and in senior roles is a competitive business tool. Business need to become more representative of their staff, shareholders, clients and customers.”