The ASX held its fourth bell-ringing ceremony on International Women's Day yesterday in support of gender equality in conjunction with industry group Women in ETFs and female entrepreneur platform Head Over Heels.
Speaking at the event, Women in ETFs Australia liaison Daphne Van der Oord remarked on the rising number of stock exchanges around the world that were holding such bell-ringing ceremonies for the cause.
The first year the ASX rang the bell in 2015, only nine stock exchanges across the world were involved with Women in ETFs in "raising awareness for the business case of empowering women economically and the opportunities that would open up for the private sector".
“Now we're in 2018 and we have really outdone ourselves. We are now leading 61 exchanges worldwide in the global call for gender equality,” Ms Van der Oord said.
“I think that's every recognised, or close to every recognised exchange in the world.
“Terrific momentum – and it bodes very well not just for the private sector but for the communities they serve and the countries they help build.”
However, she pointed out the work that still needed to be done in this regard. “Here is a sobering thought,” she said.
“Research by the World Economic Forum suggests that if we continue at today's pace, it would take 217 years to resolve the economic gender gap globally.
“We have to keep the bell ringing,” Ms Van der Oord said.
