From the Editor...

In honor of International Women's Day last week, we took a look at boards we know and boards with which we're less familiar to see how they're doing on the gender diversity front. When we narrowed it down to the top 25 fund families by assets under management, according to Morningstar, we were pleased to see that women were well represented on a good portion of the boards overseeing those assets.There were, unsurprisingly, some real outliers, boards that have little female input and which clearly need to do better. Have a look at our latest 10 Things list to see which boards lead the pack. This is a subject we'll continue to explore in the weeks and months ahead.

Speaking of the weeks and months ahead, the June 1 compliance deadline for Rule 22e-4 is quickly approaching and boards are focused on making sure they're able to grant approvals in time. Fund governance pros talked to us about where that focus is—or should be—now and in the first year or so after full approvals are in place. 

We also spoke recently to independent directors and others about technology in and around the fund boardroom and how important it is for boards to stay abreast of developments. Cybersecurity tops the list of technology issues that fund boards find most concerning, though they also mentioned blockchain, artificial intelligence, and other areas. One of the key takeaways from the conversation—and there were many—was the need for director education to ensure proper oversight of developing technology.

And finally, on the regulatory front, a move from the SEC's Division of Investment Management to relieve fund directors from in-person voting requirements in some circumstances was well received by the fund governance community. Directors and their counsel view the latest move by DIM Director Dalia Blass and her staff as another instance of the SEC responding to the director community—and they're pleased about this.

Be sure to catch up on any of our February stories you might've missed—they're all in the latest issue of FBV Monthly, which was published last week and is available every month for our subscribers.

We're looking forward to seeing some of you next week at the ICI's 2019 Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference in San Diego! 

For now, 

Hillary Jackson, founding editor