30% Club Ireland hosts second Annual Conference

Over 150 business leaders attended the second Annual Conference of the 30% Club Ireland today, showing their commitment to better gender balance at all levels of business. The event, which took place at the Science Gallery in Dublin, was entitled ‘Next steps - Men and Women Working Together to Achieve Real Change.’

The 30% Club is a global movement of international Chairs and CEOs who are committed to better gender balance at all levels of their organisations through voluntary actions. The movement seeks to gain support for gender balance in business from leaders of public, private, state and multinational companies and other interested groups.

To mark the second Annual Conference a research study report, with a foreword from former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, was commissioned by 30% Club Ireland in association with Dr Melrona Kirrane, Leadership & Talent Research Institute, Dublin City University Business School and BNY Mellon. The study presents the results of the most up-to-date insight into women’s role in management in Ireland.

The findings show that women occupy a disproportionately low number of managerial roles across organisation types, sectors and size. Even at the most junior level of management women only occupy 34% of positions and their representation continues to fall significantly at each subsequent stage of the management hierarchy. Internal to organisations, senior women managers are most commonly found in HR and marketing roles, and few senior leadership positions are found in Finance, Sales, Operations and IT. Also noted was the fact that there are more women in leadership positions in companies headed by a female CEO than a male CEO.

This research will provide a baseline for a longitudinal study over the next 5 years.  It is hoped that it will trigger a debate on why women are not progressing in management in Irish business, and how the pipeline of female business talent can be strengthened.

Since its launch in 2014, CEOs and Chairs from over 120 top Irish companies have become official supporters of the 30% Club. Speakers at the conference included former Secretary General of the European Commission, Catherine Day; Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Robert Watt; and Global Chair of the 30% Club, Brenda Trenowden.

The 30% Club in Ireland is led by Marie O’Connor, partner at PwC. Speaking at the event, Marie O’Connor, said: “It is important that business leaders articulate why supporting women in business is a vital competitive issue and reinforce this by how they behave within the leadership team.  Getting this right will enable businesses to attract and retain top talent, enhance innovation and customer satisfaction.”

Speaking at the event was Brenda Trenowden, Global Chair of the 30% Club, who said: “Gender Equality is at the heart of business growth worldwide. We are leading a collaborative campaign that has moved beyond the words to identify the actions that will lead to sustainable results. We have seen the research, proven time and again, at national and international level that business booms with a stronger gender balance in place and makes for a better work environment. 30% Club Ireland’s progress has been remarkable in almost two years it has been established. It will play a key role in highlighting the need for best practice and learning among business leaders, and creating new pipeline initiatives from the schoolroom to the boardroom.  I am delighted to be part of this event today.”