UNEBS Seminar A/Prof Subba Yarram (UNEBS) and Prof Sujana Adapa (Fac of SABL)
Gender Development, Inequality, and Boardroom Diversity: A Cross-Country Analysis of Corporate Leadership
Date: Fri Sept 5, 2025 11:00 am
Location: W40 LT2 EBL Building and Zoom
Contact: Emilio Morales emilio.morales@une.edu.au 2031
Seminar Abstract:
In recent years, gender equality has gained substantial global prominence, largely driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and related initiatives. Although previous research has explored the causes and effects of gender diversity on corporate boards—mainly from business and ethical viewpoints—there is a notable shortage of recent studies examining how country-level gender development and inequality impact boardroom diversity. This study addresses this gap by analysing data from 8,204 firms in 62 countries, encompassing 59,774 firm-year observations from 2009 to 2024. It investigates how gender development, inequality, and cultural values influence board gender diversity. The results provide strong empirical support for institutional theory, highlighting that organizational practices are shaped by national contexts, especially gender development and equality.
About the Speakers:
Associate Professor Subba Reddy Yarram: Associate Professor in Finance at UNE Business School, Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, University of New England. Since joining UNE in 2006, he has made significant contributions to academia, including receiving a Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (Australian Awards for University Teaching, 2015) and a Teaching Excellence Award (UNE Business School, 2014). He has supervised 17 PhD students in corporate finance, corporate governance, and financial and environmental disclosures. His research has appeared in prestigious journals including Applied Economics, Singapore Economic Review, International Journal of Managerial Finance, Journal of Cleaner Production, Economic Record, and Policy and Politics.
Professor Sujana Adapa: Executive Dean of Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, University of New England, and current Chair of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Academy of Management (AoM). Her research interests include gender studies, small and medium-sized firms, and information and technology adoption. She recently published "Entrepreneurship in Regional Communities" (Palgrave Macmillan) with co-authors Emeritus Professor Alison Sheridan and Dr Subba Reddy Yarram. Her recent publications appear in Computers in Human Behaviour, Journal of Cleaner Production, Personnel Review, and Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services.
