Advantage West Midlands Men
Advantage West Midlands (AWM), our regional development agency with an annual budget of over £300 million, is currently in the process of recruiting a new Chair. AWM plays a crucial role by providing leadership for economic development in the region and its activities will have a serious impact on our future. The organisation is likely to get more responsibility from 2010, including taking powers for regional planning on transport and housing.
The post of Chair is an important one, providing leadership to AWM and, hence, the region. The person will represent our region internally, nationally and internationally. The Birmingham Post reports that seven candidates are being considered for the post - Norman Price, Sir Roy McNulty, Brian Woods-Scawen, Bob Dover, Mike Beasley, Derek Harris and Barry Cleverdon. Individually they each have a great deal of experience of leadership, together with successful management management track records and the political savvy required for the position.
It is an impressive list of strong candidates They would all be fine representatives for the region. We are, though, struck by the composition of the group. In particular, they are all men. Where are the female candidates for the post? Can it really be the case that in the whole region there no women experienced enough to even get shortlisted? Or are women not attracted to the role?
Whatever the reasons, what does this say about our region? Such a significant post is a chance to provide an example to women in the area and send a message to others about the diversity and successes of our population.
The successful person will be appointed for an initial three year term, with a further three year option. We hope the successful man will be able to spend some of that time doing his bit to ensure there is a more diverse list of candidates for his successor.
The post of Chair is an important one, providing leadership to AWM and, hence, the region. The person will represent our region internally, nationally and internationally. The Birmingham Post reports that seven candidates are being considered for the post - Norman Price, Sir Roy McNulty, Brian Woods-Scawen, Bob Dover, Mike Beasley, Derek Harris and Barry Cleverdon. Individually they each have a great deal of experience of leadership, together with successful management management track records and the political savvy required for the position.
It is an impressive list of strong candidates They would all be fine representatives for the region. We are, though, struck by the composition of the group. In particular, they are all men. Where are the female candidates for the post? Can it really be the case that in the whole region there no women experienced enough to even get shortlisted? Or are women not attracted to the role?
Whatever the reasons, what does this say about our region? Such a significant post is a chance to provide an example to women in the area and send a message to others about the diversity and successes of our population.
The successful person will be appointed for an initial three year term, with a further three year option. We hope the successful man will be able to spend some of that time doing his bit to ensure there is a more diverse list of candidates for his successor.
