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Supporting women onto Public Boards
Rachel Tobbell
15 February 2011
UKRC Mission
“ to improve the participation and position for women in science, engineering,
technology and the built environment occupations”
What are public appointments?
• Regulated and non-regulated• Made by a Government Minister to a non-departmental
public body• “A body which has a role in the processes of national
government, but is not a government department, or part of one, and which accordingly operates to a greater or lesser extent at arm’s length from ministers” (1980)
• Also known as ‘Quangos’
Public Bodies - Regulated
• Executive NDPBs (the British Library)• Advisory NDPBs (the Committee on Standards in
Public Life)• Public Corporations (the BBC)• Utility Regulators (Electricity, Gas,
Telecommunications, Water)
Other Public Boards
• Local Councils• School governors• College/University governors• Charity Trustees• Church councils• Community Groups• Police authorities• Others
Examples in the Built Environment
• Commission for Architecture and Built Environment• Architects Registration Board• Building Regulations Advisory Committee• English Heritage• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)• Homes & Communities Agency• Churches Conservation Trust• Covent Garden Market Authority• HM Land Registry
The role of diversity
In the words of Dame Janet Gaymer QC…• Not simply compliance with discrimination
legislation• The recognition of difference• Place of residence, social class, status, life
experience and so on ….
Why is diversity important?
• Greater creativity• More inclusive and enhanced decision-
making• Greater responsiveness and understanding of
stakeholders and communities• Improved overall performance in the public
interest
Barriers for applicants
MORI Research 2005 – General Public • Low levels of awareness – 63% said they
know nothing at all about public appointments.• Only one in five (21%) said that they had
confidence in the public appointments system.• Perception of ‘typical’ board appointee
The current positionBoard members: UK 2008/09
Total Number of Appointments & Reappointments
WomenEthnic
MinoritiesDisabled
2,417 35.7% 7.9% 3.9%
What you need to serve on a public body
• The competencies needed vary from body to body
• They also depend on the role• Some competencies are core
For example ………………………….
Core competencies of a board member of a small public body
• Ability to think originally • Ability to give a balanced view• Ability to keep an open mind and offer dispassionate
advice• Appreciation of public sector values• Ability to make an effective contribution to the work of the
body• Commitment to the aims of the body• Finance/budget skills
Appointments process – Regulated appointments
• Made on merit• Independent assessor involved• Information pack• Complete application form• Interview• Minister makes final selection from those
recommended at interview
The positive benefits of being a board member
“It can be incredibly stimulating and rewarding. You don’t do it for the money and yet it can be very rewarding to use your skills and to be able
to contribute”
The positive benefits of being a board member
“You meet an incredible range of people and this in itself is a very worthwhile experience. There is a
whole range of professionals so you can form very strong support networks if you get a good board. There’s a network of women out there
who do these things and are informally supportive of each other.”
Emma Creighton, Animal Behaviour and Welfare expert and now the secretary to the accreditation committee of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
“If I hadn’t attended the Mentoring for Public Life training, I definitely would not have applied to any public boards. I’d always thought it was something I’d do in my 50’s, when I had more experience.”
