In 2020, our report Women on South African boards — facts, fiction and forward thinking, explored the state of gender diversity on boards across a narrow range of European countries, Australia and South Africa.

Our latest report builds on that work, exploring how trade partners can learn from one another how to create systemic change in both their own and partner countries so as to encourage gender parity on boards.

We hope that this report encourages more directors, institutional investors and shareholders to think deeply about how they use their influence to ensure that boards benefit from the richness of thinking that comes with a gender-balanced board. Trade brings opportunity for change. As North-South trade intensifies, so too does the opportunity for progressive companies to learn from one another.