Women in Finance Charter Annual Report Highlights Continued Progress on Gender Balance in Financial Services
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
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Irish Funds was delighted to attend the launch of the 4th Annual Report of Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter at the Central Bank of Ireland, alongside EU Commissioner Michael McGrath and Minister of State Robert Troy TD, who highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and action to advance gender balance across the financial services industry.
The 2026 Annual Report demonstrates continued progress among Women in Finance Charter signatory firms, with women now holding 38.4% of board positions and 34% of executive committee roles. Women also accounted for 51% of internal promotions into management positions, highlighting the progress being made to strengthen gender balance and develop more inclusive leadership across the sector.
Launched in 2022, Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter is a Government-funded, industry-led initiative focused on addressing gender imbalance within financial services. The Charter is supported by Irish Funds, Financial Services Ireland (FSI), Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), Insurance Ireland and Brokers Ireland, bringing together organisations committed to advancing gender diversity through measurable targets and actions.
The 2026 Annual Report highlights the continued growth and impact of the initiative, with:
104 Charter signatories
More than 71,000 employees represented, accounting for 51% of the financial services sector
229 gender balance targets set across technical, professional and board-level roles
Since baseline measurements were established, the Charter has recorded progress across several key areas:
Board representation: up 2.1 percentage points
Executive Committee representation: up 3.2 percentage points
Senior Management representation: up 0.9 percentage points
Female CEOs now represent 23% of leadership roles
The report identifies career development and leadership training, sponsorship and mentoring opportunities, and succession planning as the three most effective actions supporting gender balance progress.
Irish Funds congratulates Cathy Bryce on her appointment as Chair of the Women in Finance Charter Steering Group for 2026–2028 and looks forward to continuing to work with Charter partners and signatory firms to drive further progress across the industry.
Irish Funds members interested in participating in the Women in Finance Charter can begin the sign-up process by contacting WomenInFinance@irishfunds.ie.