NEARLY 100 women from across Kent were encouraged by Sally Keeble, Minister at the Department for International Development, to have a greater say in the decisions taken by around 1,000 public bodies.

She was speaking at a seminar hosted by Canterbury School at the University of Kent, Canterbury and run in association with the Women's National Commission.

Its aim was to give practical help and support to women thinking about applying for a national public appointment. Interactive exercises, constructive help with CVs and the opportunity to join a mentors network were on offer.

Women account for 34 per cent of the 30,000 national and regional public appointments but make up around half of all local public appointments such as school governors, magistrates and local NHS boards. In Kent, women make up 49 per cent of school governors, but far fewer - only 33 per cent - are chairmen of governing committees.

Ms Keeble told the Canterbury seminar: "Women's voices should and must be heard at national as well as local and community level. Not enough of these women - who have exactly the skills and talents that we need - are coming forward to fill vacancies on national boards that take decisions affecting all our lives, such as the Office of Water Services, Police Complaints Authority or the Commission for Health Improvement.

"At the moment women only hold around a third of national and regional posts yet have many of the relevant skills such as project management, interpersonal skills and the ability to get things done. Research shows that too many women underestimate their potential contribution and the relevance of their skills and experience."

Cindy Butts, an independent member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, also spoke at the event about her appointment. She said: "The public appointment that I hold, serving the Metropolitan Police Authority and helping to increase community confidence and trust in London's police service, is fascinating and rewarding.

"It is important that women apply for appointments on our national public bodies; these help shape government policy and often take important decisions. We need to examine and address the barriers that exist which are preventing women from going further - and then actively encourage local women to go for it and make the move up from local to national."