Unveiling the link between female directors’ attributes, ownership concentration, and integrated reporting strategy in Malaysia

In response to the reform in the Malaysian market that requires all publicly listed companies (PLCs) to have at least one female director on the board, this study examines how female directors’ attributes (FDAs) shape integrated reporting quality (IRQ) and assesses the potential influence of substantial shareholders on the FDA–IRQ nexus. Using all Malaysian PLCs implementing the integrated reporting from 2017 to 2021, our analysis yields four key findings. First, a positive relationship exists between the presence of a Muslim female director and IRQ. Second, female directors with financial expertise and those with higher education positively impact IRQ. Third, the holding of multiple directorships by female directors is negatively linked to IRQ, and the length of their tenure shows no significant effect. Fourth, the relationship between FDAs and IRQ is more pronounced in contexts with a greater ownership concentration. These results remain robust after rigorous analysis and mitigating for potential biases. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers interested in understanding the implications of gender diversity and IRQ in emerging markets.