8 March 26
- Female board representation in ISEQ20 companies steady at key 40% threshold
- Ireland ranks 6th in EU for number of women on boards and leadership teams
- Only 45% of ISEQ20 companies have 3 or more women on leadership teams, reflecting a continued challenge in developing gender balanced leadership pipelines
Dublin, 8 March 2026 – The latest data from the Balance for Better Business (B4BB) Review Group, reveals continued consolidation in the proportion of women on the boards of Ireland’s largest listed companies.
Released to coincide with International Women’s Day, the figures from the Government established initiative show that the proportion of women represented on the boards of ISEQ20 companies has remained steady at a key threshold of 40%, although has softened slightly from 42% to 40%. Female representation across the all listed companies cohort also continues to trend positively at 38%.
The latest data, which analyses the composition of board and leadership teams across publicly listed companies in Ireland in March 2025, reveals that Ireland now ranks 6th in the EU for female board representation. This represents a major transformation from its position in 16th in 2018, although there has been a slight decline from 5th position since November 2025.
Female representation on the leadership teams of Ireland’s largest listed companies has remained steady at 26%. The proportion of women on the leadership teams across the all listed companies cohort has increased slightly to 26%. Ireland continues to perform relatively well against its peers on leadership teams, ranking 6th in the EU for female representation on executive teams, and up from 9th position since November 2025.
However, more work is needed to accelerate the pace of progress in key areas. The gap between executive and non-executive director representation remains significant and indicates a growing pipeline challenge. While female non-executive director representation remains strong at 48%, executive director representation continues to fall, dropping by 3 percentage points to 8% since November.
The data also reveals a continued challenge in building a strong pipeline of women to key leadership positions. 70% of publicly listed companies have three or more women on their boards. In comparison, there is a significant drop off on leadership teams: 45% of ISEQ20 companies have 3 or more females on their leadership teams, followed by 43% across the all listed companies cohort.
The proportion of women in key decision-making roles also remains a key focus area. Due to changes in the composition of the ISEQ20, there is now only one female CEO and one female chair on the index. More positively, there are three female CFOs across the all listed companies cohort. There is strong continued representation of women in Senior Independent Director (SID) roles in the ISEQ20 at 59%, down slightly from 63% in H2 2025.
Commenting on the findings, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD, said, “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.
I welcome the latest findings from Balance for Better Business, published on International Women’s Day, which shows that Ireland’s largest publicly listed companies continue to embrace gender balance and are taking action to forge stronger and more inclusive leadership teams. As we look ahead to the implementation of the EU Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive, it is vital that we maintain this momentum and ensure that gender-balance is a key strategic pillar for every business in Ireland.”
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Niamh Smyth TD, said: “The data published by Balance for Better Business today, reflects continued progress by Irish businesses on their gender balance journey. To maintain this momentum, 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. By setting clear targets, appointing more female independent directors, and embedding accountability, Irish leaders can continue their journey towards achieving a more inclusive, resilient, and high-performing future for Irish business.”
Balance for Better Business co-chair Carol Andrews said: “It’s clear from our findings that Irish businesses continue to maintain and sustain progress on gender balance at board level. Climbing from 16th to 6th place in the EU for women on boards marks a major shift over the past number of years, and this progress is to be commended. However, the pace of change across the business landscape remains uneven. Gender balance should be a strategic imperative for every organisation, whatever their size or industry. I’d encourage every organisation to explore our roadmap for the key steps to accelerate the pace of progress on their journey.”
Balance for Better Business co-chair Bernard Byrne added: “Our latest data demonstrates what Irish businesses can achieve when they commit to change. While the positive momentum at board level is making a real difference, it’s crucial that we now increase our focus on senior leadership. Building gender-balanced succession pipelines are crucial to fostering a stronger and more sustainable flow of women into senior leadership positions. By taking action today, we can empower the next generation of female leaders and build a stronger future for Irish business.”
For more on the data, visit: www.betterbalance.ie/
For media queries contact:
Suzanne Sullivan, Q4 PR: [email protected] / 086 379 7291
Conor Shearman, Q4 PR: [email protected] / 086 059 6082
Notes to Editor
Balance for Better Business (B4BB)
Balance for Better Business (B4BB) is an independent business-led Review Group established by the government in July 2018 to improve and promote gender balance at board and leadership level of Irish business, which in turn will drive better business and societal outcomes.
Biographies
Carol Andrews is the current Managing Director and Global Head of Client Service Delivery, BNY and has been a member of the B4BB Review Group since the Government initiative was established in 2018. Carol is a graduate of the Women’s Leadership Forum, a Harvard Business School leadership development programme.
Bernard Byrne is a former CEO of AIB Group plc and former CEO of J+E Davy. During his tenure at Davy he played a key role in the launch of the firm’s ESG advisory arm, the sale of the organisation, and its subsequent integration into the Bank of Ireland Group. He has been a long serving supporter and a Co-Chair of the Financial services arm of the 30% Club.