Women in Business President Dr. Nur Bano Ali

“Action needs to be taken.”

This is the comment by Women in Business President Dr. Nur Bano Ali during the International Women’s Day celebration today in Suva this morning.

Dr. Ali says they invited leaders from key institutions who are males to address the issue on the inequality of women’s leadership in the commerce and business world.

She questioned why women are not rising up fast enough into leadership roles.

“We think it’s about time, it’s been so long talking about it but where is the action to go with it. Everyone has been talking about women in leadership, yes women should be up there but what are we doing about it.”

Meanwhile, Fijian Holdings Limited Chief Executive Nouzab Fareed says it’s a shame that nine out of 10 boards in Fiji don’t have female board members.

However, Fareed says for FHL, more than 50% of their CEO’s are females.

He says they have become a $600 million company not because of him but because of the women that work with him.

Fareed adds that these women drive the company and shares which has grown more than 200% in the last four months.