The objective of the project, which is organized for the second year in continuation from 2022, is to give financial support for development of necessary knowledge and skills for women, who have potentials and appropriate qualifications, to become ready for corporate leadership roles, through IOD’s training program for corporate directors, the Director Certification Program (DCP). The project is also aimed to establish a mechanism that increases opportunities for women to be selected as corporate board members. Those women who have completed the DCP training course will have their names listed on the “Director Pool”, a database for nomination of directors who have appropriate qualifications and skills, which is another initiative that helps enhance women’s exposure to corporate leadership and directorship roles. The project is in line with the international agenda for women empowerment and expectations of investors, trading partners, and stakeholders, who have increasingly placed the emphasis on the issue of gender equality. As a result of successful project implementation in 2022 with many parties interested to join, this year’s target groups have been expanded to cover those women in all listed companies and their affiliates, both in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) 

Ms. Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, SEC Secretary-General said, “One of the SEC’s key strategic directions in the Strategic Plan 2023-2025 is to raise potentiality of the Thai capital market towards “Sustainable Capital Market” by encouraging listed companies to conduct their businesses, taking into account good governance, social and environmental responsibilities as well as the issues of human rights and gender equality. The aforesaid direction is in line with the 20-year National Strategy (2018-2037), the National Economic and Social Development Plan, the Capital Market Development Plan, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5: Gender Equality. In pursuing the goal to promote women’s roles in the Thai capital market, the IOD’s “Women on Boards” program will not only help enhance women’s knowledge and skills to be in readiness for professional corporate directorship roles, leading to a higher proportion of women in board composition which contributes to a more diverse perspectives and increased efficiency in board performance, but also promote corporate cultures that take into account gender equality issues in the business undertakings and value chains. Therefore, the SEC is very pleased to support the program for the second year and hopeful for the same successful outcome as last year’s.”

Mr. Kulvech Janvatanavit, IOD Chief Executive Officer, said, “This project is in line with the international directions towards gender equality and human rights respect as well as the IOD’s vision to help strengthen efficiency of corporate board performance. Having female representation in the corporate boards will bring about diversity at board level, enhancing their performance of duties as a check-and-balance of the management. Last year, a number of women directors and executives expressed their interest to join the program, as they will be given opportunities to be part of the “Director Pool”, a platform that provides enhanced opportunities for both senior women executives and the corporates in the board member nomination process. The IOD is very grateful to the SEC for the continuous support given to this project.”

The “Women on Boards” project will run from April to December 2023, for which the target groups will be the women directors, executives, or company secretaries of listed companies in the SET or MAI or of their affiliates or subsidiaries with direct support.

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