The 30% Club is a global campaign supported by Board Chairs and CEOs of medium and large organisations, committed to achieving better gender balance at leadership levels and throughout their organisation, for better business outcomes.
Established in 2015, the Irish Chapter hosts more than 300 organisations representing more than 650,000 employees.
Since February 2019 we are very proud to name Mary McAleese and Martin McAleese as our joint patrons.
To support the achievement of a minimum of 30% Gender Balance at all senior decision-making tables across Ireland, including Boards and c-Suite. We are business led, representing the needs of our supporter organisations, and the daily workings of the group are managed by a volunteer panel representing a cross section of those organisations.
We deliver our strategy through three key pillars.
Activate senior leaders
Engage chairs and CEOs to drive change and support organisations in their diversity & inclusion endeavours, with a specific focus on gender.
Influence those with power to drive change
Influence at a national level on diversity related topics and working complementary to other national initiatives including Balance for Better Business, the State Boards Diversity Initiative, Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality and other interest groups.
Enabling future women leaders
Support the development of talent pipeline through mentoring, executive education scholarships and board-ready initiatives
ISEQ 20
Elizabeth Sheehan
Country Executive, 30% Club
Portfolio NED
Paula Neary
Country Chair, 30% Club
Senior Managing Director, Accenture
Melíosa O’Caoimh
Country Head, Ireland
Northern Trust
Emma Jane Joyce
Head of Sustainability
NTMA
Jenny McCoy
Head of Customer Experience
IMI
Marie Louise Gallagher
Partner
PWC
Lorraine Griffin
Partner, Chairperson
Deloitte Ireland
Suzie Nolan
Head of Property
Aviva
Martyn Rosney
Partner
Reputation Inc
Jeanne Chow Collins
ESG and Engagement Analyst
KBIGI
Rosemary Garth
Head of PR & Comms
Tesco
Rachel Hussey
Partner
Arthur Cox LLP
David Åhs
Partner Group Engineering Manager
Microsoft
Peter Cosgrove
Managing Director
Futurewise
Rio Howley
Partner
KPMG
Lorna Conn
CEO
Cpl
Margot Slattery
Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion
ISS World Services
Carol Andrews
Co-Chair
Balance for Better Business (B4BB)
Aongus Hegarty
Co-Chair
Balance for Better Business (B4BB)
Marie O’Connor
Former County Chair
Frank O’Keeffe
Managing Partner
EY Ireland
Vivienne Jupp
Former Chair
CIE
Anne Heraty
Former CEO
CPL
Brid Horan
Chancellor
DCU
Bernard Byrne
CEO
Davy
Michael Buckley
CHAIRMAN
KKR Alternative Investments & KKR Credit Advisors
Hear about all our latest events and activities below.
A new report launched today by the 30% Club Ireland, supported by Accenture, highlights the economic and workforce benefits of integrating care – childcare, eldercare, and self-care into corporate policies.
The 30% Club and Lintstock has published new analysis showing the difference gender diversity makes to the running of corporate boards.
The 30% Club Ireland has announced that leading Irish law firm Matheson will provide funding for activities, through its support of the 30% Club Country Executive Role, for the next 12 months.
The 30% Club Ireland, whose aim is to achieve better gender balance at all levels in Irish businesses, has announced two new development opportunities for women in business – a 2023 programme of 27 postgraduate...
A roadmap for progress
Since we established the Irish Chapter of the 30% Club in 2015, we continue to be struck by the generous spirit of collaboration across our supporters, and their commitment to creating gender balance, collectively, across all aspects of business in Ireland. We also found that our supporters range from those at the early stages of their journey who welcome the opportunity to benefit from those further ahead, and those well advanced in their journey who now ask, ‘where to next’. It was against this backdrop that we have collaborated across all our Industry groups to provide a comprehensive toolkit of ideas and supports to help organisations across all sectors as they plan their D&I journey.
The toolkit highlights a potential roadmap for companies to follow, whether they want to plan an entire journey or focus on a particular stage or theme. It also includes sample policies, ideas, and case studies in action across our member supporters. The toolkit offers suggestions and ideas only, based on our collective experiences at a point in time and is not considered to be legal or other formal advice. It’s also not intended to cover all potential areas relating to the subject matter. We would ask you not to rely on it or its contents for any purpose other than to prompt creativity in your own plans
In line with our mission to support the progression of all women, the toolkit is not focused solely on gender and instead provides opportunity for highlighting what works across the full diversity and inclusion agenda and recognising the value of a holistic plan.
For more information contact info@30percentclub.ie
A unique directory of senior, highly qualified women, who are eager and available to commit their time and expertise to board roles.
When the Irish Chapter of the 30% Club was launched in 2015, the female gender balance across the boards of the ISEQ 20 stood at 12%. By 2021, through a concerted effort by Chairs, CEOs and board actions the number had grown to 31%. Our objective is to ensure that number is established as the floor for best practice rather than as a ceiling, and to see the figure grow and extend to all businesses across Ireland.
This growth is dependent on the availability of diverse talent, but more importantly on the visibility of diverse talent. To connect boards with such talent, the 30% Club now operates Board Connections – a unique directory of senior, highly qualified women, who are eager and available to commit their time and expertise to board roles. Board Connections was previously known as the Board Diversity Initiative which was established in 2009 and has been an important resource in assisting organisations identify senior women eminently capable of being board members. More than 170 board roles were filled by this initiative. In order to secure the future sustainability of the Directory, ownership transferred to the 30% Club in 2021.
Board Connections, the production of which is kindly sponsored by Arthur Cox LLP is available on request to Boards, Search Firms and other agencies committed to achieving greater balance at board level.
How do I put myself forward to be included?
To be included, all candidates should
What’s the process?
For details on applying please click here >>
How do I get access to the Board Connections directory?
Chairs, CEOs and those involved in the selection process for Board roles can request access by contacting info@30percentclub.ie
At the 30% Club we believe very strongly in the view that executive education is an important support for career progression into senior roles, for men and women. We also support the view that diversity in the executive classroom is just as important in delivering better outcomes, as diversity in the workplace.
That’s why the 30% Club has established partnerships with a number of learning institutions to address the under-representation of women pursuing post-graduate management education, by offering scholarships aimed at women.
Through these partnerships, we seek to build a continuum of change, highlighting the impact of executive education in accelerating career development and helping women, like you, to decide to undertake further education.
For details of our 2025 scholarship brochure, please click the link.
Follow us on LinkedIn (30% Club Ireland) for more regular updates.
Contact us on: ie_30club_scholarships@pwc.com
The IMI/30% Club Network Mentor Programme offers organisations across Ireland the opportunity to participate in a unique cross-company initiative designed to deliver an exceptional mentoring experience to your high potential talent mentees and your senior executive mentors.
Mentoring is a critical leadership development opportunity and a key element of any human capital strategy designed to attract, retain, develop and maximise an organisation’s key talent capability. Developmental mentoring also helps your talent with the quality of their thinking on issues that really matter to them and to your organisation.
Key Programme Objectives:
Mentors and mentees meet virtually one-on-one and have access to a series of online leadership and development events.
For more information: click here
CONTACT
Della Holmes-Slevin and Niamh Bicknell, mentoring@imi.ie
Established in June 2023, the 30% Club Ireland Investor Group is designed to further enhance our promotion of diversity across companies in Ireland. As asset owners and asset managers with a fiduciary duty to our beneficiaries, we are committed to using our influence to achieve and maintain a minimum of 30% gender representation on the board and at the executive management level of Irish companies. 30% gender representation on boards is not the end goal but the threshold at which there is meaningful representation to exercise voices. Founding members include ISIF, ILIM and KBI, with a combined AUM in excess of €125bn – and action is accompanied by a Statement of Intent.
The main purpose of this Statement of Intent is to signal the collective voice of the 30% Club Ireland Investor Group to companies, regulators, policy makers, other investors and the wider marketplace, and to demonstrate the ways in which investor group members will use their influence, including exercising ownership rights and undertaking stewardship to encourage progress on gender diversity that is sustainable over the longer term. The statement includes a call to action for “investee companies to take prompt and considered action to achieve and exceed the 30% gender diversity target and to enhance the presence of other underrepresented groups on their boards and at the executive management level.”
To read the Statement of Intent click here
For further information, or to become a member of the Investor Group, please contact:
Jeanne Collins – jeanne.collins@KBIGI.com or Emma Jane Joyce – EJJoyce@ntma.ie
The Professional Services Firms’ Initiative was established in Ireland in 2015, to consider ways in which the group can support efforts towards increasing gender balance in law, accounting and consulting firms in the Irish market. The initiative is supported by the Managing Partners of Ireland’s leading professional services firms and is currently exploring next steps.
CONTACT
A public sector initiative under the 30% Club Ireland was established in 2019, with a Working Committee set up in 2020. Membership of the current Committee is drawn from right across the public service, with representatives from the agriculture, defence, health, higher education and local government sectors, An Garda Síochána, the Public Appointments Service and Government Departments. The focus of the initiative is to help promote gender balance across civil and public service by sharing ideas and good practice, drawing on common opportunities and experiences while recognising the different challenges that exist in various sectors. It aims to engage both men and women and work alongside formal and informal structures to promote shared aims around a good working experience for all staff.
Details of the Public Sector Network, its activities and events are available at https://www.30percentclubpsn.ie
For more information contact the Working Committee at PSN30Club@equality.gov.ie
The Agrifood Diversity & Inclusion Forum was established in 2017 to promote diversity and inclusion in the Irish food and drink sector. Attracting, retaining and developing talent is one of the largest risks facing the food & drinks sector. This initiative aims to secure commercial success through the recognition that attracting the best talent depends on making current and future workers feel they are valued and that their contribution is recognised. The Forum is supported by Bord Bia and Aon and membership is made up of business leaders from the Irish food and drinks sector.
CONTACT
For more information click here
Established in 2016, the Financial Services Group has a clear purpose:
“To be a focused catalyst for meaningful change within the financial services industry, where the opportunity to develop and capitalise on a diverse talent pool can provide real positive commercial and competitive benefit to the sector primarily and ultimately to the Irish Economy and Irish Society.“
In line with the overall strategy of the 30% Club, the group focuses on three key areas to drive change
Activating members – engaging directly with senior leadership in the financial services community to create support, ambassadors, and drive change within organisations.
Influencing for change – focusing on attracting talent into the industry and showcasing career opportunities within the sector as ‘Careers less Ordinary’. This has involved building alliances with other groups influencing for change including Ireland for Finance, and as a lead supporter for the Women in Finance Charter Ireland.
Enabling Talent – in addition to being key supporters of the 30% Club Scholarship and Cross Company Mentoring programmes, the financial services group also focuses on a series of Masterclasses each year designed to support talent pipeline directly or to prompt ideas for organisation improvements to drive talent development.
Previously the group sponsored groundbreaking research providing a benchmark for female representation in Financial Services in Ireland – “Making the Change Count” Please click for link to report and produced the early prototype for the 30% Club Diversity & Inclusion toolkit
Added in 2021 – A Career less Ordinary
In support of Ireland for Finance the 30% Club Financial Services Group launched an exciting new initiative ‘A Career less Ordinary’ highlighting a set of role profiles describing a broad range of jobs within the industry to help inform young students considering the industry as a positive career option. The programme runs with the support of Careers.portal.ie, Ireland’s largest career guidance website
To see the promotion video click here.
To see some of the role profiles click here. Or visit www.careers.portal.ie
CONTACT
The Pharma Diversity & Inclusion Working Group was established in 2019 to promote Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in the Pharmaceutical sector in Ireland. Membership of the working group includes representatives from Biopharmaceutical, Pharmaceutical and Chemical companies across all areas of the country and the group is supported by BPCI (Ibec’s industry body for the Pharma sector).
Challenges – The key challenges for the sector include the ability to attract high quality talent, to retain them in the industry and to help them develop their careers all of which will benefit individual Pharma companies, the sector as a whole and ultimately the Irish economy.
Ambition – The ambition of the working group is to be a cohesive voice specifically for the Pharma sector in Ireland and it is the first D&I Forum focused on improving the challenges encountered by BioPharmaChem companies.
Vision – The stated Vision of the working group is to Attract, Retain, Return and Grow the best talent for the BioPharmaChem sector in Ireland.
Purpose – The stated Purpose is to be useful to BioPharmaChem businesses in achieving their culture and inclusion ambitions, with an initial focus on gender balance.
To achieve its ambitions, the working group has developed a number of initiatives under 3 pillars
In parallel, the working group will continue to inform our work through research & benchmarking and to advance diversity in our sector through increasing awareness across the sector membership.
CONTACT
For more information click here
Established in 2020, The Technology subgroup was set to continue to promote diversity and inclusion within this sector. The Technology sector intention is to be a catalyst for change within the technology industry; collaboratively driving the progression of female talent into senior Tech roles of influence. In doing so, creating positive commercial and competitive benefit to the sector as a whole in Ireland and providing a template for balanced senior leadership to the industry on a global scale.
In line with the overall strategy of the 30% Club, the group focuses on three key areas to drive change.
Activating members –
Build senior leadership engagement and advocacy.
Encourage industry collaboration and enhance company-led talent development to include an industry-led collaborative open-source approach
Influencing for change: Create strategic alliances for future needs – building complementary relationships with other advocacy groups and communities, including the areas of academic and political influence while focusing on female progress at senior level.
Enabling Talent: Drive visibility on progress and senior roles by
The 30% Club Technology Group also partners with CWiT (Connecting Women in Technology) who focus on STEM initiatives within organisations, and across school programmes, as a strong contributor to talent pipeline development. For further information www.cwit.ie.
CONTACT
James Magill, Vodafone Ireland. James.Magill@vodafone.com
In February 2017, IMI and the 30% Club conducted a focus group with over 50 women in senior leadership roles in Ireland. Based on the insights from this focus group and other global research, Taking the Lead is designed to give women executives an opportunity to come together and share their leadership experiences in a learning environment that has direct relevance and personal impact.
The programme will help you develop accelerators like purpose, empowerment and your personal brand whilst learning to address inhibitors like overwhelm, unconscious bias and power-play.
Taking the Lead will:
For further information, please click link
CONTACT
What is Network 30
Network 30 is a forum where leaders of Womens/Gender Networks in 30% Club member organisations can come together to network, collaborate and share ideas on what they have done, what has worked well, and ideas for future plans
Why has it been established
As the focus on gender diversity has developed in Ireland we have seen growth in the number of organisations with gender networks where
Many organisational networks are well advanced, others are at the early stages of development and would like to learn more
Some networks are very Dublin centred; some are located in other specific cities and some organisations have the challenge of being multi site/multi geography – all of which can lead to great opportunities for cross organisation local events
Ultimately all networks are looking to add value, and it makes sense for us to learn from each other and share resources where there is a good fit
Where does it fit in the 30% Club Structure
Network 30 complements, and sits alongside the work of the 30% Club, the talent initiatives and the Industry Groups. Membership is for the gender network leads, so that gives access to another audience, and the agenda focuses on information sharing specific to gender networks, which brings additional topics to the table.
CONTACT
A code of conduct for search professionals to adhere to in the placement of diverse talent across senior roles in organisations, with the support of business decision makers.
As organisations strive to achieve better performance through more diverse balance across senior decision-making roles, recruitment and appointments becomes a pivotal process. The Executive & Board Resourcing Code is designed to support search firms and organisations in more effective delivery of this process. The Code is based on four key principles incorporating Strategy & Goals, Talent Pipeline, Process and Monitoring & Reporting. The Code also recognises the importance of search firms and client organisations working together in partnership on delivering change. It is anticipated that the Code will become a referral point for the Balance for Better Business outputs, to be announced soon by the Government Review Group.
How the Code is applied
Executive search firms and search professionals, as signatories to the Code, commit to following the Code’s provisions in their board and senior executive search processes, irrespective of sector or company; and to ensuring that the principles and key behaviours are embedded in their day to day practices. A list of signatories is published, and signatories are also encouraged to publicise their compliance through their website and through public reporting of measures of success.
Individual organisations are actively encouraged to support the principles set out in the Code and to work in collaboration with the executive search partner, whether in-house or external, in ensuring the Code is upheld; and that ultimately greater balance is achieved across senior decision-making functions with particular emphasis at board and c-suite executive levels. In particular, it is anticipated that Nomination Committees will encourage the adoption of the principles and the suggested behaviours in both Board and internal selection processes, supported by the CEO and the HRD.
The 30% Club and Ibec have committed to promoting the Code and its signatories with our members, encouraging them to engage in future with recruitment and executive search firms who are as committed to diversity as they are. By working together, we hope that we can make further advances to address the challenge of gender balance in decision-making roles and ultimately for better business outcomes.
Click here for a copy of the Code
For more information on the Code and how you can support, contact Elizabet Sheehan, Country Executive 30% Club Ireland.
CONTACT
Email
info@30percentclub.ie
Email
info@30percentclub.ie
