Judith Chinkumbi is a governance practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in corporate governance, having held several senior roles in the financial services industry.
Her academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration from Henley Business School, business sustainability management from Cambridge University, and she is an IoD Chartered Director CD (SA).
Her expertise extends to enhancing governance standards and providing strategic direction, as evidenced by her service on several boards, including the Sesego Foundation, Amref Health Africa and HIVSA. Chinkumbi is the Deputy Group Company Secretary at Professional Provident Society Insurance Company Limited.
Chinkumbi says: “South Africa has made substantial progress in having board representation by women who represent just over 30% of directorships within listed companies. The issue is that the women board representation has somewhat stagnated due to a number of reasons; gender bias; limited opportunities due to entrenched male-dominated business networks; cultural and social barriers rendering women board members less desirable for the board positions; limitations of sponsors and board experience; and a lack of structured inclusion policies.
“Although some countries and industries are making good strides in increasing women representation on boards, very little is being done to solve the root causes, such as social norms, cultural impediments and entrenched male-dominated power bases.
“What might help? The introduction of quotas, offering incentives to businesses that have boards that truly reflect the demographics of the markets in which they operate.”
