WISH jobs board used increasingly by housing organisations to support non-executive director positions

Recent research from recruitment consultancy EMA, highlighted by Inside Housing as part of its Inclusive Futures campaign, has shown that while women make up 37% of board members at housing associations, the number falls significantly when it comes to important positions. Just 32% of board chairs are women and just 20% of audit committee chairs.

“This gender imbalance at the top of organisations can affect the whole culture and diverse boards are essential to creating forward-thinking and successful organisations and to driving better policy and decision making and service delivery,” says executive director of WISH Nicola Dibb.

The WISH website is fast becoming the go to place for housing providers to advertise non-executive director positions and WISH has an important role to play in promoting these opportunities to its membership of housing professionals, as well as to the wider sector.

“WISH plays a vital role in not only publicising leading positions for women within the sector but in also addressing career progression, challenging stereotypes, breaking down barriers and encouraging successful behaviour through helping women to find their voice,” says Nicola.

“While we have come a long way in terms of gender parity in recent years, an imbalance still remains, particularly in the top positions, which all too often remain pale, male and stale.

“At WISH we believe that top down, cultural change is necessary to address gender imbalance, especially at senior level. Change can only be driven from within and empowering and inspiring more women into the top board positions is vital not only to the success of housing and construction but to bringing ambitious young people into the sector.”

To find out more about available executive director positions and other roles within the housing and construction sectors, visit – https://www.wishgb.co.uk/jobs/jobs-board

Contact WISH finance and memberships manager, Katie McDonald at [email protected] to find out more about how to advertise your executive director positions on the WISH website. A discounted rate is available for WISH members.