NI’s Voices of Leadership call for greater gender parity in senior management

Monday 14 November 2022

Many of Northern Ireland’s most prominent and inspirational female business leaders came together on Thursday 10th November for the 2022 Women in Business Voices of Leadership Conference.

Hosted by BBC NI’s Clodagh Rice at the Galgorm Resort, this year’s leadership event featured keynote speakers Jayne Brady, head of Northern Ireland Civil Service and the organisation’s first female appointment in its 100-year history, alongside Neon XR CEO Deepa Mann-Kler, Joanne Hession Lift Ireland and Carla McGlynn of Citi Belfast.

The conference theme, ‘Everything Starts With Trust’, sparked a conversation among the 150-strong audience, with panel sessions discussing the vital strategies necessary to engender a workplace culture of trust and respect at a time when the number of women in UK management roles still languishes at 30%.

Lorraine Acheson, Managing Director of Women in Business, said: “The Voices of Leadership conference is a symbolic annual milestone in our year-round commitment to grow more female leaders within organisations across Northern Ireland and beyond. Given the challenges businesses currently face, there is a real need for leadership built on empathy and trust.

“Through Voices of Leadership and our female-focused programmes, Women in Business aims to bring greater gender parity to senior management positions across Northern Ireland and beyond and help empower the next generation of female leaders.”

2022’s Voices of Leadership conference was sponsored by Citi alongside supporting sponsors InterTradeIreland and Tarasis Enterprises. Carla McGlynn, Markets Data, Risk and Controls Technology Lead at Citi Belfast said: “We were delighted to be the title sponsor of the Women in Business Voices of Leadership conference. The venue, the theme and the calibre of speakers enabled a meaningful and engaging conversation on what trust means to us. At Citi we have worked diligently to advance equality and make progress towards a more equitable future. We are proud that 47% of our leadership positions onsite are held by women.”

Lorraine concluded: “It was a real delight to welcome so many female leaders for a full-day showcase into how trust can be built and nurtured in the world of business.”

View the Voices of Leadership Conference gallery here.

Monday 14 November 2022