Stock exchanges must ‘ring louder’ on gender

The ASX held its fourth bell-ringing ceremony in support of gender equality on International Women's Day on Thursday, in conjunction with industry group Women in ETFs and female entrepreneurship platform Head Over Heels.

Speaking at the event, Women in ETFs Australia liaison Daphne van der Oord remarked on the rising number of stock exchanges around the world that were holding bell-ringing ceremonies for this cause.

“Now we're in 2018 and we have really outdone ourselves. We are now leading 61 exchanges worldwide in the global call for gender equality,” Ms Van der Oord said.

“I think that's every recognised, or close to every recognised, exchange in the world.

“Terrific momentum – and it bodes very well not just for the private sector but for the communities they serve and the countries they help build.”

However, she pointed out the work that still needed to be done in this regard.

“Here is a sobering thought,” Ms Van der Oord said.

“Research by the World Economic Forum suggests that if we continue at today's pace, it would take 217 years to resolve the economic gender gap globally.

“We have to keep the bell ringing.”