Women In CTRL has announced a new initiative that will bring together senior industry leaders to develop best practice in board governance.
The UK-based research organisation that's dedicated to advancing gender equality and representation in the music industry has shared details of a new initiative this year: the Governance Advisory Council.
It follows Women In CTRL publishing its biennial Seat At The Table (SATT) report for 2026, presented in association with the BPI, which found simultaneous decline in both gender and intersectional representation on UK music trade association boards since tracking began in 2020. At 49%, the proportion of women on boards is down from a peak of 52% in 2024.
The Council is a senior advisory group providing a structured forum for peer exchange on governance frameworks, board processes and constitutional mechanisms.
It will provide insight and expertise as well as practical resources for the wider sector, including another new initiative called the Boardroom Navigator, which is a free public resource containing board election calendars, eligibility criteria and practical guidance across music industry organisations.
Founding members of the Council are: Nadia Khan (chair, Women In CTRL), Jackie Davidson MBE (PPL and MPA board member), Hailey Willington (head of DEI at BPI), John Shortell (head of ED&I, Musicians' Union), Layla Bunni (COO, Clintons), Andrew Kidd (principal, Clintons Solicitors), Sarah Williams (CEO, IMPEL) and Maria McMillan (policy and governance senior manager, Ivors Academy).
The organisations showing the most consistent trajectories are those that have written equity into their governance frameworks, not just their culture
Nadia Khan
Nadia Khan, founder and director of Women In CTRL, said: "Near gender parity is a significant milestone, but the intersectionality gap has widened. When global majority women account for just 11% of board positions, down from 16% in 2024, we have to be honest about what that parity represents. In 2024, the sector collectively met both the gender and global majority women's representation targets, while in 2026, neither target is met collectively.
"Without structural embedding, progress is fragile. The organisations showing the most consistent trajectories are those that have written equity into their governance frameworks, not just their culture. That is the central finding of this year's report, and it is why we are launching the Boardroom Navigator and Governance Advisory Council, to support the wider music industry with practical tools to turn ambition into lasting change."
Jackie Davidson MBE, JD Management and PPL and MPA board member, said: "When I first joined a board, I realised that women, especially women of colour, often don't know these opportunities exist or how to access them. The SATT Governance Advisory Council is about sharing best practice and learning from each other so that the progress we are seeing across the industry continues to grow. If we want boards that truly represent our industry, we need to look at how they work, not just who sits on them."
Sarah Williams, CEO of IMPEL, said: “The 2026 Seat At The Table Report proves its own point: that prioritising and embedding diversity into an organisation's governance produces results. And in my view, a diverse governance ecosystem not only is equitable from a power-sharing perspective, it's also a driver of a more open, nimble and ultimately, more successful organisation. I'm so glad to be part of this new Governance Advisory Council and feel confident that, together, we can help to drive positive evolution within the industry.”
Layla Bunni, COO, Clintons, said: "I'm delighted to be appointed to the Seat At The Table Governance Council. It's a privilege to contribute to a forum that places culture, accountability and effective governance at the heart of organisational leadership. In my roles as COO and Head of Employment, I see first-hand the impact that strong governance has on people, performance and long-term success, and I look forward to supporting the Council's important work."
Maria McMillan, policy and governance senior manager, The Ivors Academy, added: “As a founding member of the SATT Governance Advisory Council, we're pleased to help bring music organisations together to share best practice and strengthen governance across the sector. The Boardroom Navigator will break down barriers to board roles and make sure creators know these opportunities exist. We need them to know why their voices are vital in shaping strategy, vision and a fairer music industry.”
John Shortell, head of ED&I, Musicians' Union, said: "A Seat At The Table gives the music industry the data it needs to measure real progress on board and senior leadership diversity. It holds us accountable and drives us to keep improving our governance and recruitment practices. It's essential that every MU member can see themselves represented at the highest level of the Union, and we will continue this work until our leadership truly reflects the full diversity of our membership. I'm proud to be joining the Council as a founding member and helping drive collaborative governance reform across the sector, because lasting change only happens when we build it together."
Andrew Kidd, principal, Clintons Solicitors, said: "I'm really excited to be joining the Seat At The Table Advisory Council! It'll be great to work with senior music industry leaders and Women In CTRL to help share and develop good board-governance practices across the UK music industry."
Women In CTRL’s SATT is now in its fourth edition. It reports on the representation of women in board and executive positions, including CEO and chair-level roles, across UK Music and its member trade associations: AIM, BPI, FAC, Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, Musicians’ Union, PPL, PRS For Music and UK Music.
PHOTO: From L-R: Hailey Willington, Andrew Kidd, Layla Bunni, Jackie Davidson MBE, Nadia Khan. Credit: Suzan Moore
