Sarah Keane has served as Chief Executive Officer of Swim Ireland since 2004, leading the organisation through a period of profound transformation. A former international swimmer and water polo player, she combined her athlete’s perspective with a reformer’s vision to rebuild Swim Ireland into one of the most respected and professionally governed sports bodies in the country. Under her leadership, the organisation modernised its structures, expanded participation at every level, and produced sustained international success, including Olympic medals.
Her national influence grew further when she was elected President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) in 2017 — becoming the first woman to hold the position. She led a sweeping programme of reform that redefined how the OFI operates, strengthening governance, transparency, and athlete representation. Sarah transformed the Federation’s culture, restoring credibility and independence while building an athlete-centred model that underpinned Ireland’s most successful Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
In further recognition of her leadership qualities, it was announced in 2025 that Sarah will become the next Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Ireland from March 2026, making her the first woman ever to lead an ICC Full Member nation. Her appointment is seen as a landmark not only for Irish sport but for global cricket governance, reflecting her reputation for integrity, strategic insight and transformative leadership.
A qualified solicitor with a master’s degree in commercial law, Sarah began her career with Matheson, one of Ireland’s leading law firms — experience that gave her the governance and legal grounding to drive reform with precision and authority.
Sarah Keane stands today as one of the most influential figures in Irish sport — a trailblazer who continues to reshape the landscape of leadership, equality and excellence across multiple codes.
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Previously Listed
Dr Una May, Moira Aston, Mary O’Connor, Michelle Carpenter, Brenda O’Donnell
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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 BUSINESS 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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