“Board diversity, a recognised hallmark of progressive boards even before Covid-19, is more critical now than before. Post-pandemic recovery offers opportunities for innovation and business repositioning. Having directors with a wider mix of gender, age, skills, experiences, and backgrounds allows boards the broad-based choices as they assess what is best for the future. Investors and customers also now expect companies to go beyond the financial bottom-line and incorporate ESG into company strategies and policies. Gender diversity is one of many factors considered in ESG discussions. Women directors are an obvious choice when considering board diversity and we have already started to see some institutional investors vote against boards without sufficient diversity.”