PwC Malaysia executive chair and an assurance partner Nurul A’in Abdul Latif.
PETALING JAYA: Nurul A’in Abdul Latif, executive chair and an assurance partner at PwC Malaysia, will be the new chair of the 30% Club Malaysia.
In a statement yesterday, the 30% Club Malaysia said Nurul A’in will lead the drive to advance women leaders on corporate boards and management teams in Malaysia.
It added that based on the data provided by the Securities Commission, as at Jan 1, 2024, women hold 30.9% of board seats in the top 100 public-listed companies (PLCs) and 25.6% of seats in all PLCs on Bursa Malaysia.
Meanwhile, 30% Club Malaysia founding chair Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar said the achievement of the 30% minimum threshold for the top 100 PLCs in June 2023 is a significant milestone, providing greater impetus to its drive for parity in the boardroom.
“Since our inception in 2015, we have embarked on a dedicated journey towards diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to enhance female representation on boards and management of Malaysian PLCs.
“The 30% is not a ceiling. It is the minimum; a tipping point towards achieving true parity in boardrooms and C-suites, recognising talented and competent women by ensuring an equal playing field,” she said.
With regards to Nurul A’in’s appointment as 30% Club Malaysia’s new chair, Zarinah said the partnership with PwC Malaysia as its new corporate sponsor underscores the vital role that local corporations play in advancing DEI initiatives.
“I am delighted to welcome Nurul A’in as our new chair. I am confident she will continue to drive our mission with vigour and determination, refining strategies for achieving gender balance in boardrooms while fostering a culture of inclusivity.
“Our journey towards achieving true parity is a long one. Our campaign favours aspirational stretch targets, viewing sustainable change as a collective endeavour that demands holistic solutions at every stage of the talent lifecycle,” she said.
Nurul A’in said with the global allocation of capital towards quality, diverse and inclusive companies, Malaysia needs to be well-positioned to promote the investability of the country’s leading listed companies.
She added that the case for inclusion and diversity on boards and senior management goes beyond financial returns.
“Today’s companies are faced with the pressure to transform, driven by technological disruption, environmental, social and governance considerations and rapidly changing consumer preferences.
“Diversity, especially at decision-making levels, makes room for the range of perspectives, experience and knowledge needed to differentiate themselves for long-term business sustainability,” she said.
Nurul A’in noted that despite the 30% achievement of women in the top 100 PLCs, she emphasised that there is still a need to close this gap for PLCs in Malaysia overall.
“However, it’s incredibly important that women who take on positions on boards are not only willing, but able to contribute positively to organisations’ growth.
“I look forward to driving greater engagement with business leaders to be advocates for gender parity in their own networks, mobilise greater collective action across public and private institutions to build a more inclusive business environment and expand our pipeline of quality, board-ready women for our PLCs,” she said.
