The federal government wants to fast-track the promotion of women decision makers in sport "following a string of standout performances by Australia's high achieving, but historically underpaid and underexposed, female athletes," according to Samantha Lane of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Sport Minister Sussan Ley said that the momentum "is there to be seized." While competitive results are crucial in boosting the funding of, and attention on, women's sport in Australia, Ley "has underlined that female representation in off-field leadership -- though markedly improved in the last three years -- is still lagging." There has been a jump from 27% average [female board members] to 38% average on the boards of the top 21 national sports organizations "since the diversity quota was introduced" in '13. Seventeen of those 21 sports "have increased the number of females on their boards in that period." The median female director ratio in ASX200 companies as of July was 20.1%. Ley has just opened applications for a A$400,000 ($294,000) grant pool to develop women leaders in sport from areas "as diverse as coaching and officiating to administration and marketing." Individuals can apply for up to A$5,000 ($3,700) while organizations are eligible for A$10,000 ($7,300) (SMH, 8/20).
