A management initiative, 'building talent edge' by Baxter International Inc has been honoured with Catalyst 2009 award for its Asia Pacific diversity initiative championing women in healthcare business.

Catalyst, a global non-profit organization termed the initiative as 'fresh thinking' and as a 'commitment to making women in the workplace a top priority.' The organization selected the leading healthcare company after year-long scrutiny of such initiatives globally, a release said here.

The initiative is an effort aimed at creating an inclusive, diverse and sustainable organization ensuring growth and maximized opportunities for women. Baxter, through robust recruitment and development strategies, has successfully developed a 50/50 gender balance across management level and critical positions throughout 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region two years ahead of schedule.

Building Talent Edge has delivered solid increases for women in critical positions across Baxter's Asia Pacific operations: women in management and executive positions increased from 31 per cent in 2004 to 50 per cent in 2008, and four out of 16 general managers are women.

Representation of women in individual countries is also strong: approximately 30 to 70 per cent of management and executive positions in each of the 14 respective countries are held by women. From 2006 to 2008, women's representation on the Asia Pacific leadership talent increased from 25 to 37 per cent.

Baxter India, a subsidiary of Baxter International Inc, was set up in India in 1997 to provide critical therapies for people with life threatening conditions. The company is headquartered in Gurgaon and has offices across the country. Over the subsequent 11 years the company's investments in India exceed $60 million.