Women-Led Business

What this mark certifies

This mark confirms that a business is majority women owned or genuinely women led. It supports procurement programs, supplier diversity targets and consumer preferences that favour women led enterprise, and it does so on a verified basis so that the claim carries weight with the organisations that rely on it.

The mark recognises two distinct routes to the same standing. A business can qualify on ownership, where women hold the majority of the equity, or on leadership, where women hold the majority of senior executive roles and the most senior role, together with the majority of the governing body. The certificate records the route on which the business qualified.

Certification requirements

• The business meets one of two defined tracks, and the certificate records the track certified.

• Ownership track: a minimum of 51% of the business is owned by a woman, or by women collectively.

• Leadership track: women hold a minimum of 51% of the senior executive positions, the most senior executive role is held by a woman, and, where a board or governing body exists, women hold a minimum of 51% of its positions.

• The business holds a current Australian Business Number.

Evidence required

• Ownership records for the ownership track, or executive and governing body composition records for the leadership track.

• Identity evidence for the individuals relied on to meet the threshold.

• A signed declaration identifying the track claimed.

How it is assessed

The certifier verifies the ownership percentage for the ownership track, or the executive and governance composition for the leadership track, and records the certified track on the certificate.

Re-verification and monitoring

Certification is valid for twelve months and is subject to annual re-verification against the certified track.

Grounds for refusal, suspension or revocation

Certification is refused, suspended or revoked where the business falls below the 51% threshold on its certified track, or where the most senior role ceases to be held by a woman under the leadership track.

Contractual obligations on the badge holder

In addition to the core terms of the CAQA Certified Licence Agreement in Section 4, a holder of this mark agrees to the following obligations specific to this badge.

1. 1

   The holder must maintain the threshold for the certified track throughout the licence term.

2. 2

   The holder must notify CAQA in writing within fourteen days if the ownership or leadership composition falls below the certified threshold, or if the most senior role ceases to be held by a woman under the leadership track.

3. 3

   The holder must not represent that it qualifies on a track other than the one certified.

4. 4

   The holder warrants that the ownership or composition information provided is true and complete.