The launch of CIMA’s new Reflections from Asia Pacific leaders report in Kuala Lumpur’s plush Mandarin Oriental Hotel was a suitably grand affair. But, while the cocktails were flowing and a great time was had by the assembled WCOA 2010 delegates crammed into the hotel’s stylish cocktail lounge, the serious message conveyed in the report and reiterated by our speakers was not lost on those in attendance.

The report, subtitled ‘strategies for career progression’, was launched by CIMA to redress the gender imbalance evidenced across global borders in public and private sectors. A pragmatic and targeted guide, the report demonstrates how women can make it to the top in the finance world and features in-depth analysis and research and interviews with senior female finance executives working in the Asia Pacific region.

CIMA’s divisional President in Malaysia Francis Chan, who opened proceedings, observed that while female CIMA members may themselves be receiving considerably higher salaries than the national averages (particularly within developing countries), they are still ten times less likely to get a senior role (CEO / CFO) than their male counterparts. It’s a situation perhaps shown at its starkest when revealed that men can earn over 50% more than their female colleagues here in Malaysia.

The report has found that women lag behind men in terms of advancement and compensation from their very first jobs in Asia Pacific countries. CIMA’s report looks at the barriers to success that many women experience and outlines the key steps that women can take to break through them.

The highlight of the evening, supported by MSC Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and Robert Half International, was a speech from a leading figure in the finance world in this region. Sharmini Ariaratnam is head of finance for KLIA, Premier Holding Sdn Bhd, a position which she humbly described as demonstrating she has “achieved some measure of success” in her chosen field.

Sharmini gave a very personal account of how, in working her way through the ranks of her own finance department over the last 15 years, she has had both very traditional and very modern attitudes thrown at her along the way.

So, to reach the very top do women need to adopt the same characteristics as men or is that just conforming to a stereotype? Sharmini feels that instead, in her company at least, “hopefully we have created a new generation who will know each other as people and not just men and women” she told us. “We are all product of our own time and upbringing and you can’t change a whole system overnight. But change comes gradually. Reach out to people nearest you, make a suggestion and they will listen.”

Sharmini takes a very philosophical approach to how far she can continue to climb in her own organisation to break through the glass ceiling of another male-dominated boardroom. “Will I become a board director one day? I don’t know. At the moment they are all men.” she said. “I’ve been very transparent in how I handle my work and my efforts are valued and appreciated. Will that same attribute get me into the boardroom? Only time will tell.”

Considering her impressive rise through the ranks in a part of the world where female professionals are currently six times less likely than men to make it to the top, you certainly would still not bet against her achieving that aim. And I for one, will raise a drink to that.

The full report can be downloaded here.