Towards real shareholder participation in contemporary corporate governance

Enhanced shareholder participation in large public companies in Australia has not gone far enough.  Shareholders need to be given the opportunity to contribute to the forming of company decisions and strategies.  One proposal is to require that directors themselves be shareholders. A second proposal mandates shareholder committees in public companies.

Mainstreaming change

Over the last few months I have been watching Madam Secretary on DVD. The television series revolves around the professional and personal life of a female US Secretary of State, and also features a female Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (head of the military), a female Attorney General, and a female director of the FBI. In real life, the United States has had three female Secretaries of State in recent administrations, including one who could be the next President, significant numbers of women at the top levels of government, and more than thirty 4 star admirals and generals.