PRACTICE BRIEFING Women directors on boards of Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts

Purpose - This is the first paper which aims to investigate factors that might influence the gender composition of boards of directors of Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts (A-REITs). Design/methodology/approach - This study follows Mateos de Cabo, Gimeno and Nieto and the gender diversity literature and investigates the existence and number of women directors on the boards of directors of 37 A-REITs from 2006 to 2011. Findings - There is evidence that larger (by market capitalization) A-REITs are more likely to employ a woman director and that A-REITs with larger boards are more likely to employ a woman director and indeed more women directors. It also appears that A-REITs whose head office is in Sydney are more likely to employ a woman director and also more women directors. Practical implications - Women seeking to be engaged as directors of A-REITs are more likely to be employed by larger A-REITs (by market capitalization), those with larger boards and those located in Sydney. Originality/value - This paper adds to the existing literature on gender diversity by examining the factors that appear to influence the employment of women on A-REIT Boards.