The World Economic Forum is to continue with a quota system to ensure a higher level of women attendees and participation at next week’s annual meeting in Davos.

Many of the largest firms at this year's gathering of powerful political and economic figures will be obliged to ensure that at least one of their five-strong delegation is female. Those companies that fail to do so will once again be limited to just four senior delegates, according to Saadia Zahidi, head of gender parity and human capital at the WEF.