Introducing Women on Boards: Accelerating Board Diversity

Women on Boards UK exists to encourage, inspire and actively support women - from all sectors - to find their own pathway to the boardroom. And as the presence of women in board positions grow, Women on Boards UK has played a key role in this progress, but there is a long way to go before all boardrooms have equal gender representation.

More than a third of FTSE 350 board positions are now held by women, an increase of 50% over the past five years. Women on Boards UK has played a key role in this progress, but there is a long way to go before all boardrooms have equal gender representation. What’s more, progress outside of the FTSE 350 is glacially slow and women from ethnic minority backgrounds are still woefully represented. Yet, the evidence is clear that boardroom diversity is not just about fairness but delivers better business results.

Women on Boards UK exists to encourage, inspire and actively support women - from all sectors - to find their own pathway to the boardroom. Its network of 35,000 women (and some men) gain access to training, insights and connections to help them take on a board role as a non-executive director, trustee or governor, or to get to the top within their own company.

Supported by a team of high-profile ambassadors, members receive practical, personal and expert advice on everything from preparing their board CV to super-charging interview techniques. This personalised approach and emphasis on one-to-one support has helped, on average, members of the network secure seven new board roles each week.

The leading team includes Fiona Hathorn, who is currently the CEO of Women on Boards UK and Fiona Driscoll, Chair:

Fiona Hathorn, CEO, Women on Boards UK

Fiona is the CEO of Women on Boards UK, an Advisory Board Member to Spktral (a technology company that helps organisations simplify the gender pay gap reporting process), advisor to Peel Hunt (mid-cap stockbroker) and Chair of Hanx's Nominations Committee (FMCG start-up). She is an expert in the areas of Governance, Regulation and Talent Management who has sat on both marketing and audit & finance committees. Fiona is also a Patron of Fight for Sight (a medical research charity) and was formerly a director for Hill Samuel Asset Management. She has advised the board of the Thai Euro Fund and is a Judge for the Non Executive Director Awards, sponsored by The Sunday Times. In 2020 Fiona joined King's College London's 'Global Institute for Women's Leadership' Advisory Board.

Fiona Driscoll, Chair, Women on Boards UK

Fiona is an experienced NED and business leader. Her roles currently include UKRI, the bringing together of the UK’s Research Councils with a £7bn budget, Chair of the Wessex Academic Health Science Network for the NHS and Trustee of King Edward VII hospital. She is a Member of HM Treasury’s Major Projects Review Group, and has carried out over 100 reviews for HMG. She has a particular focus on innovation, transformation and commercialisation. After joining Women on Boards as an NED in 2019, Fiona took over as Chair in October 2020.