Page 51 - Suncorp_Review

Suncorp Group Limited Annual Report 2010/11 49

The Diversity Strategy 2011/14 outlines a range of initiatives to achieve greater diversity within the organisation, including measurable objectives to attain gender diversity in leadership positions. The implementation of the policy is overseen by a Diversity Council, led by the Group CEO.

Consistent with the key concept of our diversity policy, the Board has set an objective to increase the proportion of women in senior leadership (a combination of strategic leader and business leader roles) from the current level of 31% to 33% by the end of fnancial year 2014.

The Board will continue to review progress against this target and report to shareholders annually.

For the year ended 30 June 2011, the proportion of women employed by the Suncorp Group was as follows:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 22%

Senior Leader 31%

Workforce 58%

5.5 Continuous disclosure and shareholder communication

Continuous disclosure – the Company has policies and procedures in place to ensure all shareholders and investors have equal access to the Company’s information, and that all price-sensitive information in relation to the Company’s listed securities is disclosed to the ASX in accordance with the continuous disclosure requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ASX Listing Rules.

The Executive General Manager Group Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations has primary responsibility for all communications with the ASX and all Company announcements are available via the Company’s website following release to the ASX. A copy of the Company’s disclosure policy is available on the Company’s website at www.suncorpgroup.com.au under ‘Corporate Governance’. Shareholder communication – the Suncorp Group is committed to:

–– keeping its shareholders and the investment market fully informed on all matters that are relevant or material to its fnancial performance, and

–– avoiding the disclosure of material information to anyone on a selective basis.

Information is disseminated primarily through timely announcements to the ASX. Those announcements are published on our website immediately following release by the ASX, enabling access to the broader investment community.

Direct communication with shareholders regarding the Suncorp Group’s performance also occurs on a regular basis through the distribution of annual reports (on request) in September each year, and also through letters from the Chairman and Group CEO following the release of the full year and half-year results in August and February respectively, and following the AGM.

Shareholders can elect to receive all such communications through the post or in electronic format and can also lodge direct votes and proxy votes online through the website of the Company’s share registrars, Link Market Services Limited. Details are in the AGM documents issued to shareholders.

The AGM, which is usually held in October each year and is webcast live, allows shareholders to address the Board and management directly on matters regarding the Suncorp Group’s performance.

Full details of the Disclosure Policy and the Shareholder Communications Strategy, which governs how we communicate with our shareholders, are available on the Company’s website at www.suncorpgroup.com.au.