SLID’s Women Directors Forum unveils new initiatives

• Launches Women on Boards Training Program and Board/Board-Ready Women e-Directory

The Women Directors Forum (WDF) of The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) will launch its

Faizal Salieh

Aroshi Nanayakkara

“Women on Boards” Training Program and an e-Directory of Board and Board-Ready Women, to commemorate International Women’s Day this year.

The “Women on Boards” Training Program will help develop a strong pool of Board-Ready Women Directors and ensure a female leadership pipeline in listed, unlisted, public and private corporate entities in Sri Lanka. The Forum will also launch an e-Directory featuring SLID female members who are Directors of Boards as well as Board Ready Women possessing extensive experience.

Launched in 2019, the WDF was instrumental in taking forward SLID’s agenda to encourage diversity on boards which resulted in the inclusion of progressive gender quotas in the budget presented by the Minister of Finance in 2019. The Forum also partnered with IFC on the first global training for IFC’s Women on Boards and Leadership Program.

SLID Chairman Faizal Salieh stated, “The Women Directors Forum is dedicated to building capacity for women directors as well as grooming and sharpening the knowledge and skills of aspiring directors for board positions. It is one of our principal forums through which we are contributing towards gender equality and inclusivity.”

Commenting on the launch of the two initiatives Women Directors Forum Chairperson Aroshi Nanayakkara stated, “The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors through its Women Directors’ Forum has pioneered many firsts in Sri Lanka including the launch of the WDF in 2019, the first forum dedicated to facilitating networking among Women Directors, the progressive quota into the Budget of 2019 and the launch of international Women Corporate Directors (WCD) Chapter last year. The Women on Boards Training Program is yet another first and we are proud to be working towards enhancing the pool of women who will drive the future growth and potential of our beautiful country.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors since the year 2000 stands at the forefront of corporate governance in Sri Lanka bringing together the largest community of Boardroom Leaders comprising of Directors representing the private and public sectors in Sri Lanka. The Institute is committed towards creating “Better Directors, Better Boards and Better Companies” through its ‘best in class’ board leadership training, wide range of knowledge and skills building programs.