Balance for Better Business is an independent business-led Review Group established by the government to improve gender balance in senior leadership in Ireland.
The Review Group is examining the gender mix within the governance and senior management of companies in Ireland and the issues which arise in connection with the appointment of company directors and senior management.
The Review Group is calling for a reform of the current system to ensure more women play a role at board level and in senior leadership teams. The Review Group has set progressive targets to 2023 for the achievement of improved gender balance on the boards and senior management of these companies. The focus of the First Report was on public companies listed on the Euronext Dublin Markets. The Second Report extends to large private companies. Multinationals will be addressed in future reports. The Review Group will monitor and publish progress against the targets.
Review Group
Bernard is a Chartered Accountant with significant leadership, financial and commercial experience as well as a deep understanding of the Irish market and economy. Bernard most recently served for as CEO of J+E Davy, Ireland’s largest independent stockbroking and wealth management business.
Andrea Dermody has over twenty years’ experience working across the Global Financial Services marketplace. With experience in Talent Management, Learning & Development and Diversity & Inclusion, most recently Andrea led inclusion and diversity for State Street in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with responsibility for fourteen European locations, 12,000 employees and 50+ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). She is now managing director of her own consulting practice, Dermody, working with clients across healthcare, technology, engineering, financial services, aviation, and semi-state environments.
Danny McCoy is CEO at Ibec, Ireland’s largest business representative and lobbying organization. Prior to joining Ibec he was a senior economist at both the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Central Bank of Ireland.
Carol is former Chairperson of An Post, a non-Executive Director on the board of BCM Global ASI Ltd and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine.
Caroline Sherry is Chief Financial Officer of Hotelworld Group plc, a travel tech company, focussed on the hostelling category. During Caroline’s tenure, Hostelworld has become a 30% Club Ireland member and won UK Plc Tech Business of the year. In addition to leading the finance function, Caroline chairs the Group’s ESG Steering Committee. Under her guidance the Group has achieved climate neutral status and is on a path to Net Zero. Caroline is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland. Caroline is a graduate of University College Cork and holds a B. Sc. and M. Sc.
Jenny is the Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government’s enterprise development agency. Enterprise Ireland’s ambition is that exporting Irish companies become the primary driver of the Irish economy.
Heather Ann McSharry is a non-executive director on the Boards of both International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) plc and Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc.
Natasha is Chief Executive Officer, Tesco Ireland and Northern Ireland appointed in March 2022 and is a member of the Tesco PLC Executive Committee.
Harry Goddard has been CEO of Deloitte Ireland since June 2019. Prior to that he was Head of Consulting and led Deloitte’s technology practice across the EMEA region.
Non-executive chairman of the board for Dalata Hotel Group Plc since 2014, John Hennessey is a Chartered Director and a practising barrister. He is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. In his past career he was Partner at Arthur Andersen (Ireland). He received an undergraduate degree from Trinity College Dublin.
Michael Lohan was appointed CEO of IDA Ireland in April 2023. Prior to his appointment, Michael held the role of IDA Global Head of Life Sciences and Talent Transformation and Innovation Departments since 2017. During that period, he was also a member of the Executive Team of IDA Ireland.
Declan Hughes, Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Rachel is Clients and Markets Partner at Arthur Cox.Advisory Group
Andrew Brownlee, Director General, Construction Industry Federation
Anne Heraty, Non-Executive Director
Anne O’Leary, VP, Global Business Group Meta
Caroline Keeling, CEO, CBA Ventures
Caroline Spillane, Chief Executive, Institute of Directors
Colin Hunt, CEO, AIB
Corrinne Hasson, Director, National Women’s Council of Ireland
Daryl Byrne, CEO, Euronext
Elizabeth Sheehan, Country Executive of 30% Club
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland
Jean McCabe, CEO, Retail Excellence Ireland
Kara McGann, Senior Labour Market Policy Executive, Ibec
Leisha Daly, Senior Director Government Affairs, Supply Chain EMEA and J&J Ireland
Margaret McCabe, Interim CEO, Public Appointments Service
Michael D’Arcy, CEO, Irish Association of Investment Managers
Owen Reidy, General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Paul Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, IHF
Paul Lynam, Director General, British Irish Chamber of Commerce
Paul Sweetman, Chief Executive, American Chamber of Commerce
P J Ryan, Head of ESG, Construction Industry Federation
Prof Niamh Brennan, Quinn School of Business, UCD
Shane O’Sullivan, CEO, Irish Management Institute
Tracey Donnery, Director Policy & Communications, Skillnets Ireland