Female Presidents/Chairpersons at SSO/NSO Board Level Data was captured to determine the percentage of SSO female presidents/chairpersons. Similar data was captured from NSOs to which these SSOs are affiliated in order to provide a comparison between state and national level (Figure 6). There were two noteworthy observations: 1. There has been significant growth at SSO level in the number of female presidents. With 14 female presidents from a total of 33 sporting organisations (42.42 per cent) this result is up from 5 female presidents from a total of 28 sporting organisations (17.9 per cent) in 2009. It is unclear why this increase has occurred over a relatively short period of time. 2. The NSO level of female presidents has stabilised at 7 presidents from 36 NSOs (19.44 per cent). In 2009 there were 7 female presidents from a total of 28 sporting organisations (25 per cent). Although the percentage rate has dropped since 2009, the actual number of female presidents has remained steady at the NSO level. Figure 8: Percentage of Female Presidents/Chairpersons on SSO and NSO boards 2009, 2014 and 2015 Distribution of Female Board Members in SSOs Henny Oldenhove (2004) makes claims similar to Adriaanse (2014) that a critical mass is required to have a cultural influence on a board. Oldenhove provides the following argument in regards to female board representation: 10 per cent of total representation is tokenism. 20 per cent means a voice is present. 30 per cent means a voice or position will be heard. 40 per cent brings about real influence and involvement. In 2015, 39.39 per cent of Tasmanian SSOs included in this study had 40 per cent or greater female representation on their boards (Figure 9). This is a 7.13 per cent increase on the 2014 figure, and a 0.10 per cent increase on the 2009 figure. Figure 9: Frequency distribution of female board members in SSOs 2009/2014 – If we adopt Oldenhove’s 20 per cent figure as a minimum benchmark for a female voice to be present in SSO boardrooms, then a different trend emerges.
Female Presidents/Chairpersons at SSO/NSO Board Level Data was captured to determine the percentage of SSO female presidents/chairpersons. Similar data was captured from NSOs to which these SSOs are affiliated in order to provide a comparison between state and national level (Figure 6). There were two noteworthy observations: 1. There has been significant growth at SSO level in the number of female presidents. With 14 female presidents from a total of 33 sporting organisations (42.42 per cent) this result is up from 5 female presidents from a total of 28 sporting organisations (17.9 per cent) in 2009. It is unclear why this increase has occurred over a relatively short period of time. 2. The NSO level of female presidents has stabilised at 7 presidents from 36 NSOs (19.44 per cent). In 2009 there were 7 female presidents from a total of 28 sporting organisations (25 per cent). Although the percentage rate has dropped since 2009, the actual number of female presidents has remained steady at the NSO level. Figure 8: Percentage of Female Presidents/Chairpersons on SSO and NSO boards 2009, 2014 and 2015 Distribution of Female Board Members in SSOs Henny Oldenhove (2004) makes claims similar to Adriaanse (2014) that a critical mass is required to have a cultural influence on a board. Oldenhove provides the following argument in regards to female board representation: 10 per cent of total representation is tokenism. 20 per cent means a voice is present. 30 per cent means a voice or position will be heard. 40 per cent brings about real influence and involvement. In 2015, 39.39 per cent of Tasmanian SSOs included in this study had 40 per cent or greater female representation on their boards (Figure 9). This is a 7.13 per cent increase on the 2014 figure, and a 0.10 per cent increase on the 2009 figure. Figure 9: Frequency distribution of female board members in SSOs – 2009/2014 If we adopt Oldenhove’s 20 per cent figure as a minimum benchmark for a female voice to be present in SSO boardrooms, then a different trend emerges.