Many ASX-listed firms are paying female executives 30-35% less than their male counterparts, and this gender pay gap impacts shareholder return, according to new research from the University of South Australia.

There are all sorts of benefits in having increased gender representation - different perspectives, women tend to be more risk averse than men, women are more willing to engage in corporate social responsibility activities." said Jill Gould, a co-researcher on the project.The study concludes that executive men more than women can hit at company returns. If a male executive is paid 2.6 times that of their female counterpart, every woman added to the team will lower the firm's annual return on assets by 2.2% READ MORE