The Australian Financial Review and Westpac Ann Sherry , chief executive of Carnival Australia , has claimed that if companies fail to achieve gender diversity on board , then they will also fail to meet more ambitious diversity targets . Ms Sherry agreed that diversity is too narrowly focused on appointing women directors , but argued that gender is the easiest goal to achieve . The business leader was addressing the findings of a survey of prominent company directors that suggested simplistic ideas of diversity are stifling the ability to recruit talented people to boards . The findings , published on Wednesday by Macquarie Partners and Macquarie University Graduate School of Management , were the result of a survey of more than 100 directors , shareholders and chief executives .
Ann Sherry , chief executive of Carnival Australia , has claimed that if companies fail to achieve gender diversity on board , then they will also fail to meet more ambitious diversity targets . Ms Sherry agreed that diversity is too narrowly focused on appointing women directors , but argued that gender is the easiest goal to achieve . The business leader was addressing the findings of a survey of prominent company directors that suggested simplistic ideas of diversity are stifling the ability to recruit talented people to boards . The findings , published on Wednesday by Macquarie Partners and Macquarie University Graduate School of Management , were the result of a survey of more than 100 directors , shareholders and chief executives .