Trophy Women? NGB Leadership Audit 2010, published by the Commission on the Future of Women's Sport, claims that despite making some headway, the sports sector is still not reflecting gender diversity and is hampering the bid to increase women's participation in sport.

Only one in five members of national governing body (NGB) boards is female, and seven out of 46 NGBs do not have a single woman on their board.

Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, former England cricket captain, hockey international and recently appointed Women's Game Representative on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said: "The sports world is changing rapidly - it's no longer the domain of old boys networks and members' clubs.

"There are many capable female candidates out there who can, and will, enable the game and the sector as a whole to build on the significant progress it has made in recent years."

There are some encouraging signs of progress, particularly within traditionally male-dominated sports.

British Judo, the Amateur Boxing Association for England and the ECB have all appointed their first female Board members, while there has also been an increase in female chief executives, with three being promoted into the role in the last year, taking the tally to 11.

Citing research that organisations with a diverse board are more effective and better at decision-making, the report argues that the current state of play not only harms sport's performance and profile, but a lack of women at the top is preventing the sector from reaching the women's market – arguably the biggest space for sport to grow.


Sue Tibballs (pictured), chief executive of the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, said: "These figures show that while a few individuals have reached the top, in general there is significant under-representation of women at a senior level.

"As a result sport continues to be ill-equipped to understand and engage with half the population.

"We desperately need more women in top jobs to grow grass roots female participation and to secure a viable sporting legacy for the next generation."

Chair of the Commission, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, said: "I truly believe there is a place for talented women at the top in our sector.

"Our aim is to work hand-in-hand with women and sports bodies to understand the barriers these women face, identify the solutions and throw out entrenched ideas about who is best qualified to do the job."

Currently over 80 per cent of UK women do not do enough physical activity to benefit their health, while only one of ten women plays competitive sport.

Women's elite sport still only attracts two per cent of sports media coverage and significantly less commercial investment.


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