The so-called glass ceiling is well known, with generations of women fighting to break into positions of power, but now the Human Rights Commission is trying to break the 'bamboo ceiling'.

Key points: Non-Europeans underrepresented in upper echelons of power, report finds

Non-Europeans underrepresented in upper echelons of power, report finds Asian women facing 'bamboo ceiling' due to stereotypes

Asian women facing 'bamboo ceiling' due to stereotypes Australia 'missing out' due to lack of leadership diversity

New research shows Australians from an Asian backgrounds and other non-European backgrounds including Middle Eastern and African are not often being promoted into leadership roles in the Australian workplace.

The damning report by the commission, in partnership with Sydney University Business School, Westpac, PwC Australia and Telstra, shows just how unrepresentative the upper echelons of power are in Australia, especially for non-Europeans.

Federal Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said it showed that while more than 10 per cent of Australians were from non-European backgrounds, leadership positions such as chief executives, parliamentarians and university vice-chancellors are not as multicultural as you would expect.

"The ethnic and cultural default of leadership in Australia remains predominantly Anglo-Celtic," he said.

"Very simply we are not making the most out of our multiculturalism if we are not harnessing all of the talent in our society."

Ming Long, a business executive with a long history in the finance industry, was the former fund manager for Investa's $2.5-billion real estate trust.

She said as an Asian-Australian woman, she had seen all sorts of initial stereotypes which she had to navigate, and change her leadership style to adapt to the predominately Anglo-Celtic male way of doing business.

"I think there is an assumption that if you're an Asian woman within this country you're meant to be quiet, meek and mild and sit in the background and not say much," Ms Long said.

Mr Soutphommasane said stereotypes existed which meant Australian Asians were not seen as leaders and instead thought of as more suited to back office roles.

Tim Soutphommassane said race stereotypes were limiting non-European Australians. ( ABC News: Danuta Kozaki )

"In the ASX 200, 77 per cent of chief executive officers have an Anglo-Celtic background about 18 per cent have a European background, less than 5 per cent have a non-European background," Mr Soutphommasane said.

"We have cultural diversity in our organisations but they are concentrated in the junior and middle sections of the hierarchy. We do not see many in the corridors of power."

Mr Soutphomassane said a more inclusive style was needed, as there could be bias — especially unconsciously — where leaders tend to seek what they know.

"And it's time for us to ask why, there could well be bias at play, there are still assumptions about what leadership in Australia should look and sound like," he said.

'Australia is limited without diverse leaders'

Ms Long said the slow change was a barrier to Australia and more opportunities in its economy.

"The country misses out on the diversity of leadership styles from around the world, if the country expects a very Western style and is missing out on some other aspects, including capability and talent," she said.

Professor Greg Whitwell said the next generation of graduates wanted change. ( ABC News: Danuta Kozaki )

Westpac's Ainslie Van Onselen said she hoped the report would be a blueprint for corporate Australia to change its leadership style.

"If you want to improve your economy, the success of your economy, you need to be able to have the best decision-makers around the table and that means having a diverse set of decision-makers who have diversity of experience, diversity of thought, whether that'd be race or gender," she said.

Dean of Sydney University's business school, Professor Greg Whitwell, said the next generation of graduates wanted change.

"What is important is inclusivity, Australian society is diverse," he said.

"The challenge is for young people to rise through the ranks and get promotions to the most senior ranks."

Ms Long said she was optimistic as Australia was a country that gave people a "fair go — that is part of the Australian psyche and I think it is important that we don't lose that".