Imperial joins 30% Club, strengthening commitment to gender diversity

Imperial has become a member of the 30% Club, demonstrating its aspiration to achieve better gender balance across the organisation.

The 30% Club is a global campaign which aims to create a better balance of men and women at all levels of organisations, with a particular focus on boards and governing bodies. It launched in the UK in 2010 with a goal of achieving a minimum of 30% women on FTSE-100 boards, and has since expanded its membership to include other organisations such as universities.

Becoming a member of the 30% Club is a mark of Imperial’s commitment to advancing gender equality. Imperial’s governing and executive body, Council, currently has a membership of 25% women. This is on a par with the figure for female membership of FTSE-100 boards, which now stands at 26%.

The 30% Club is based around the critical recognition that better gender balance leads to better results, seeing increasing gender diversity as a business imperative as well as a social justice issue.

Imperial recognises that its continued success as a world-leading institution is dependent on attracting and retaining the best staff and students. Advancing gender equality is a key priority for the College, and there are a wide range of initiatives to support, promote and celebrate women at all levels.

Priming the pipeline

Diane Morgan, Associate Dean of Programmes at Imperial College Business School, said: “Joining the 30% Club is another weapon in our fight for gender parity. Worldwide there is an under-representation of women pursuing postgraduate management education and this has a knock-on effect on the number of women who hold senior director roles within corporations. That’s why Imperial College Business School is investing in a suite of initiatives to support women with great academic and business potential. 

“We are committed to gender parity on all of our programmes because we know that having more women in leadership roles will have a long-term positive impact on business.”

Professor Alice Gast, President of Imperial College London, said: “The 30% Club has changed the approach to women’s leadership in business. FTSE 100 boards are moving in the right direction, and I am determined that university boards will too.  

“As more women achieve positions of influence in universities and business, all sectors have the opportunity to accelerate progress towards gender balance.

“Imperial will continue to champion gender equality at all levels, from Athena Swan Awards and the Althea-Imperial programme to Women@Imperial week and targeted mentoring.” 

The 30% Club runs a number of pipeline initiatives, and one area of focus is improving the representation of women on graduate management education and executive programmes.

Earlier this year, Imperial College Business School launched a new Executive MBA scholarship scheme for women in partnership with the 30% Club. In addition to the financial scholarship from Imperial, successful applicants will receive a range of support from the 30% Club, including a cross-company mentoring scheme and exclusive event invitations.

Main photo credit: Daniel Chapman