GENDER DIVERSITY ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ADOPTING SDGS, AND USING EXTERNAL ASSURANCE IN SR IN SEA

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the impact of board gender diversity on the adoption of SDGs and usage of external assurance in their reports. It used samples consisting of 156 companies listed on IDX, Bursa Malaysia, PSE, and Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange within the year 2017 – 2021. Both sustainability and annual reports were employed along financial data from S&P Capital IQ. The hypothesis testing used panel data regression analysis with probit and logit methods. This research finds that gender diversity on board significantly improves the use of external assurance. In Addition, there are positive affect between the use of ISO 26000 on the adoption of SDGs and external assurance. In the other hand, there is negative significant effect of companies in the customer proximity industries towards the adoption of SDGs and the use of external assurance. Furthermore, it is found that there are no significant effect of company’s size and im-portance, financial performance, and Tobin’s Q toward the use of SDGs and external assurance in the sustainability report. The findings urge regulators to ensure the appointment of qualified and competent women on board, particularly regarding the adoption of SDGs and external assurance.