Despite signs of progress, Fiji’s boards remain male-dominated. This is according to updated research by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement on gender equality and inclusion across 38 State-Owned Enterprises.
The study found that while women’s participation in SOE boards and commissions improved by 9% between 2023 and 2026, men still hold 70.8% of positions compared to 29.2% for women. FWRM Research Officer Crystal Chute says women remain in the minority, exposing persistent gender gaps in leadership and decision-making. She adds that despite recent gains, the balance remains heavily skewed. Previous FWRM research highlights a history of underrepresentation.
In 2022 and 2023, women held only 20% of board seats, a slight drop from 21% in 2020.
