Moira Aston took up the role of Chief Executive Officer at Canoeing Ireland in December 2018, bringing with her a strong background in sports administration.
Prior to this she held senior roles at Athletics Ireland, moving through membership, safeguarding and competition divisions before becoming Director of Operations.
Under her leadership, Canoeing Ireland has undergone a period of significant transformation. She has spearheaded a governance restructure, implemented a professional high-performance system, and overseen dramatic growth in organisational turnover and membership.
Her ambition is not only for competitive success, but also for broad-based participation: she emphasises the importance of welcoming diverse paddlers, across gender, ability and discipline, and building a strong foundation of involvement.
In March 2025, Aston became the first female Vice-President of the European Canoe Association and took a seat on the board of the International Canoe Federation, reflecting her growing influence on the international paddlesport stage.
Her broader governance roles include board membership of the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the Federation of Irish Sport
She has a strong focus on culture and people and a belief that sport organisations must operate as sustainable, coherent businesses while retaining their volunteer-spirit.
She is worthy of another listing in our Women of Influence for 2025.
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This is the 13th edition of the Sport for Business listing of 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport in partnership once more with our friends at AIG.
We began this journey in 2013, when we were challenged to produce a list of 20 Influential Women in Irish Sport. The 20 stretched to 30, then 40 and 50, and it still does not do justice to the talent out there.
Substantial progress has been made during this time. The Government, mindful of the importance and need for gender equity, challenged Irish sporting bodies to achieve a 60/40 gender split on their main boards or leadership entities by the end of 2023
Internationally, the gender split in doctors ranges from 46 per cent female in New Zealand to 48 per cent in the UK, 52 per cent in France, and 54 per cent in the United States. Sport has, for too long, lagged.
The gender gap in participation is targeted to be non-existent by 2027, and the profile of our elite athletes is as high for Katie Taylor, Katie McCabe, Rhasidat Adeleke and Leona Maguire as it is for the best of our men.
We are nearing the point where sport is sport regardless of gender.
The gap remains too big in media, sponsorship, attendance, and funding, but it is only by highlighting the wrongs that we can make them right.
This year’s list will again draw from all the multiple areas that make up sport. From the fields of play to the corridors of power, from the boardroom to the studio, and from every corner of the country.
We will divide the list into the CEO Club, the Influencers, the Sponsors Lounge.the Administrators and others
This year,once again, we will challenge ourselves to generate a minimum of 40 percent of new entrants, to ensure that fresh recognition is given to those who are making a mark.
This will mean some who fully deserve to remain stepping aside but that is part of what influence and leadership is about and they are in no way diminished by their not being on the list this year.
The list we will build over the coming weeks is a snapshot of women who are changing the way sport is played, consumed, grown, and delivered.
They are part of making the role of women in sport unexceptional by being exceptional in what they do.
Recognition of their contribution is rarely asked for but is entirely deserved, and we want your help in identifying those who you feel should be among them.
So, who do you think should be on the list for 2025?
Image Credit: Sport for Business
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
Read our Sport for Business Coverage of Industry Movers
SPORT FOR BUSINESSÂ Upcoming Events
November 20th – Playing for the Planet – A new event focused on Sustainability in Sport with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
December 9th – Our 12th Annual Women in Sport Conference in partnership with Lidl.
January – The Sporting Year Ahead 2026 in partnership with Teneo.
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