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.