Nineteen women have completed phase two and three of the Women Directorship Program for 2023.
The training is an initiative of Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) and its vision on promoting women on State Owned Enterprise (SOE) boards in the country. At present there are 20 percent women representation on SOE boards.
The Women Directorship Program is aimed at achieving 30 precent female representation on SOE boards by the end of December 2025.
KCH Managing Director, Professor David Kavanamur and New Zealand High Commissioner, Peter Zwart, awarded certificates to the 19 women who had successfully completed Phases Two and Three of the jointly managed Women Directors Program for 2023.
Women participants with diverse professional backgrounds, completed the first phase of the training delivered earlier this year in partnership with ADB. The New Zealand Government through MFAT funded the second and third phases and facilitated by New Zealand Institute of Directors.
During the presentation, Professor Kavanamur congratulated the participants who now represent the second batch of participants to have completed the Women Directors’ Program since the inception of the program in 2021.
Professor Kavanamur said this program was a commitment by KCH to foster good leadership within its SOEs with a particular focus on female representation to cater to existing, new, and potential Board directors for these enterprises.
“The training creates a platform for learning and growth for these potential female SOE directors. In just two years we have graduated 34 women in total. We look forward to continuing our partnership with MFAT for future director programs,” Professor Kavanamur said.
He also added that KCH anticipated future partnerships with MFAT to increase additional cohorts of women directors to undergo training on broader governance and leadership programs.