This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 27, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: A Court of Appeal judge has called for the “gender door” in the commercial area of insolvency and corporate restructuring to be closed, in order to achieve gender equality in the highly male-dominated industry.

“It would appear that female sub-specialist in the field of accountancy is somewhat few and limited,” said Court of Appeal Justice Datuk Nallini Pathmanathan in her speech at the launch of the Malaysia Network of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) yesterday.

“I understand that in my practice area of commercial law, I have come across only one female who is working in the field of receivership and liquidation. But I do stand to be corrected,” she said.

Justice Nallini conceded that far too many women of competence are not recognised for their expertise.

“Again, it would appear that the upper tier in the insolvency hierarchy would be male-dominated,” she added, calling for the glass ceiling to be removed.

“Competition between [male and female] advocates and accountants ought to be on a level playing field,” she added. 

Incorporated on Jan 6, IWIRC Malaysia — which is part of the New York-based IWIRC — is a platform to promote women in insolvency and corporate restructuring-related professions and businesses.

“Membership is not limited to women and men are encouraged to join and help us achieve these goals,” said IWIRC Malaysia co-chairperson Ira Biswas.

“There are currently 14 IWIRC networks globally with 1,200 members,” said the organisation’s co-chairperson Leong May Lee.