Canadian Gender and Good Governance Alliance Established to Advance Gender Diversity on Boards and Executive Positions.

Toronto - Seven of Canada’s most active and influential organizations dedicated to advancing good governance and gender equality in the workplace, including the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, have come together to form the Canadian Gender and Good Governance Alliance (CGGGA). The new group aims to amplify and coordinate efforts to accelerate gender parity on boards and in executive positions, and contribute to public policy as an advisor for government and regulators. It is the first of its kind in North America. In addition to the Clarkson Centre, members of the CGGGA include the 30% Club Canada, Catalyst Canada, the Business Council of Canada, the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Canadian Coalition for Good Governance (CCGG)) and Women in Capital Markets.

“We must continue driving real change in Canada’s boardrooms, executive offices and workplaces in order to achieve gender balance. The only path forward is inclusion - where we leverage differences and work towards building a stronger, more dynamic corporate Canada.

We need progressive and collaborative efforts like the Alliance to motivate collective action, advance progress for Canada’s talented women and strengthen our economic future,” says Victor Dodig, Rotman BCom’88. Chair of the 30% Club Canada and the Catalyst Canada Advisory Board.

“The Alliance is unifying industry-leading research, education and advocacy perspectives to drive critical change,” says Ekta Mendhi, Rotman MBA’09. Co-Chair, Women in Leadership, Women in Capital Markets and Co-Chair of the CGGGA. “We are committed to partnering with businesses, investors, governments and regulators to address the persistent challenges.”

“Each of these organizations brings a wealth of expertise, passion and commitment to advancing gender equality, “ says Prof.Beatrix Dart, Executive Director of the Rotman School’s Initiative for Women in Business, and Co-Chair of the CGGGA. “Bold action is required to advance women at executive levels and together, we are prepared to be bold.”

“The Clarkson Centre has studied Canadian corporate governance for more than 15 years, and there is no area where we have seen less progress than women on boards. The Alliance shows that all sides of the table are unanimous that urgent improvement is needed, and we will provide the tools to facilitate change.” Matt Fullbrook, Manager, Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness.

The first joint initiative of the Alliance is the creation of the Directors’ Playbook, which presents a curation of practical tools that companies can use to achieve gender balance on boards through deliberate action.

The Canadian Gender and Good Governance Alliance invites businesses, regulators, institutional investors and other interested stakeholders who require assistance in advancing gender diversity to use the Alliance as a resource.  For further information visit www.cggga.ca.

The Rotman School of Management is located in the heart of Canada’s commercial and cultural capital and is part of the University of Toronto, one of the world’s top 20 research universities. The Rotman School fosters a new way to think that enables our graduates to tackle today’s global business and societal challenges.  For more information, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca.

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