The Lowy report found gender imbalance across intelligence agencies was "particularly pronounced", with women accounting for only about a quarter of senior positions as of last year.

However, the report – which was the result of a two-year study into female representation in the international relations sector – noted recent progress at the Australian Signals Directorate, the agency responsible for cyber warfare and information security, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

The ONI spokeswoman said: “The NIC recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion, and is implementing proactive strategies to ensure our workforce truly reflects the wider Australian population".

She said in the three years to July 2019, the number of women in Senior Executive Service (SES) roles at ONI (formerly known as the Office of National Assessments) has grown from 9 per cent to almost 39 per cent.

At ASIO, SES female representation increased from 35 per cent in June 2016 to 39 per cent in June 2019.

Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Frances Adamson also responded to the Lowy report last week, insisting there was strong momentum towards a gender equal workplace within DFAT.

Ms Adamson was the first female ambassador to Beijing and the first woman appointed to head DFAT.

However, the Lowy report said trailblazers such as Ms Adamson masked an underlying gender problem in the international relations sector and highlighted there had never been a female ambassador or high commissioner to Washington, Jakarta, Tokyo or London.


It also found the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has never had a woman as chairman and female membership is now 18 per cent.

And only a third of the senior executives at the main internationally-facing government departments and agencies are women, compared to 45 per cent across the public service.

At the same time, none of the 33 major white papers, reviews and inquiries conducted in the last 51 years that have shaped Australia’s foreign and security policy have been led by a woman.

In an article published on the Lowy website, Ms Adamson said: "DFAT is confident that in time, women will have served as heads of mission in all of our overseas posts and in greater numbers in our senior executive".

In response to questions, the ONI spokeswoman said it had set up a National Intelligence Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which brings all 10 NIC agencies together every quarter to address diversity and inclusion issues.

"Through this group, and within individual NIC agencies, action is being taken to increase female representation – including through a focus on recruitment, promotion and board representation, and initiatives like mentorship, sponsorship and parenting outreach programs, and flexible working options," she said.