IRFU Hits 40 Percent Gender Balance on Leadership Committee

The IRFU has confirmed that following the final Union Committee meeting of the year, a gender balance of 40% has been reached with the addition of three co-opted delegates.

The IRFU Committee, which is a representative body, is now comprised of twenty-nine people, with each province providing five delegates.

In terms of reaching the magic number the IRFU has come from a long way back but the determination to do so has been doubled under the leadership of Kevin Potts and fair play to them for getting there.

The remaining positions are the President, two Vice Presidents, Chairperson, Honorary Treasurer, International Affairs Committee Chairperson, along with the three new co-opted delegates – Maeve Carton, Fiona Sweeney, and Joanne Geary.

Maeve Carton, former chair of the National Treasury Management Agency, worked for most of her career with one of Ireland’s leading companies, CRH, in a variety of roles including Group Finance Director and Group Transformation Director.

Fiona Sweeney is a business and marketing consultant with extensive experience from previous senior roles in Kerry Group, Musgrave, Coca-Cola and Diageo.

Joanne Geary is Managing Director of MyHome.ie and previously worked with Sherry FitzGerald and Savills.

IRFU President Greg Barrett welcomed the new additions saying,

“The IRFU Committee is comprised of individuals who are passionate about driving the game forward in a positive manner so I am thrilled that we are adding three highly talented and experienced female leaders in Maeve Carton, Fiona Sweeney, and Joanne Geary,” said IRFU President Greg Barrett.

“We undertook a robust recruitment process which was a great opportunity to look for some complementary skills to add to those existing on the committee and we are really pleased with the three candidates we have today brought on board,” added CEO Kevin Potts.

“These additions give us a gender balance of 40%, a commitment we made to the Government and Sport Ireland, and I am pleased we could deliver on that in the agreed timeframe. We look forward now to a fruitful working relationship with all parties driving Irish rugby forward in a positive and inclusive manner.”