Women make up 40% of board members in Irish companies
Ireland has also moved up the European rankings for female board representation. The country now ranks sixth across the EU for the proportion of women on company boards, compared with 16th place in 2018.
Published: 03:04 PM,Apr 08,2026 | EDITED : 07:04 PM,Apr 08,2026
Mindful of moving toward gender equality throughout the European Union, Ireland has made much progress in that direction. Female representation on the boards of Ireland’s largest listed companies stood at 40 per cent in 2025, new figures show.
New data from the government established Balance for Better Business (B4BB) review group shows that women accounted for 40 per cent of board members across companies in the Iseq20 index in March 2025. This represents a slight fall from 42 per cent previously cited. Across all publicly listed companies in Ireland, female board representation now stands at 38 per cent, the report said.
Ireland has also moved up the European rankings for female board representation. The country now ranks sixth across the EU for the proportion of women on company boards, compared with 16th place in 2018.
However, this marks a slight drop from fifth place recorded in November 2025.
Female representation on leadership teams at Ireland’s largest listed companies has remained unchanged at 26 per cent, it said. The report also points to a widening difference between executive and non-executive positions.
Women hold 48 per cent of non-executive director roles, but their presence among executive directors has fallen, dropping three percentage points to just 8 per cent since November last year.
While 70 per cent of publicly listed companies have three or more women on their boards, only 45 per cent of Iseq20 firms (20 largest, most liquid, and most influential companies) have three or more women on their leadership teams. Across all listed companies the average figure is 43 per cent, the report said.
The data also shows limited female representation in some of the most senior corporate positions. Within the Iseq20 index there is currently one female chief executive and one female chair. Across the broader group of listed companies there are three female chief financial officers, the report said.
Organisations with gender balanced leadership are better positioned to navigate change, said Peter Burke the minister for enterprise, tourism and employment.
“Irish businesses continue to face a period of considerable international volatility. Against this backdrop, gender balanced businesses are better equipped with the capabilities and talent to navigate change, enhance their competitiveness and unlock future growth,” Burke said. Maintaining progress would require organisations to prioritise gender balance at senior level, added Niamh Smith, the minister of state at the Department of Enterprise.
“The data published reflects continued progress by Irish businesses on their gender balance journey,” she said. “To maintain this, it’s crucial that all organisations make gender balance a core business priority. When gender balance is prioritised at the top, it accelerates change throughout organisations for the better.”
In the UK – Rathbones wealth chief executive, Camilla Stowell and Freshfields senior partner, Georgia Dawson are among the 23 members of a new leadership council set up by Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF).
The non-profit, which promotes diversity and gender equality in financial services, has brought together a group of leaders to focus on the growth, innovation and global competitiveness of the UK’s finance sector, it said in a statement.
Nishma Gosrani, a partner at Bain & Company, will chair the leadership council. “It is an honour to chair this council at such a pivotal time for UK financial services. The sector is a cornerstone of our economy, and by uniting leading minds from across finance, we aim to drive innovation and nurture talent to secure Britain’s future as a global powerhouse,” said Gosrani.
“The launch of the leadership council underscores WIBF’s commitment to advancing industry excellence and growth,” said Anna Lane, president and CEO of WIBF. She added: “By harnessing the insight of this accomplished group, we can better support the UK’s ambitions for financial services – from strengthening its international competitiveness to developing the next generation of leaders.”