To celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday, and Women in Sport Week that has been running throughout this week, we bring you a timely reminder of the 50 Women who made it onto our 2025 Sport for Business AIG Women of Influence in Irish Sport feature.
This was the 13th time we have compiled a list and set ourselves the challenge of introducing 20 new names each year. We will be doing the same again in the autumn because we can never ease up on pushing for equality of respect, equality of leadership and equality in sport.
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. It is not hard, then, to imagine a world with genuine gender equity; it’s just that sport has been slower than other sectors to catch up.
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 was broken down into four groups: the CEO Club of 10, the Leadership Team of 23, the Influencers of 9 and the Sponsors Lounge of 8.
The list 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 requested but is entirely deserved.
Nominations for the 2026 list will open up next Autumn but will be complied by the actions of those who are listed from today, and on every day through their careers.
For 2025 then congratulations to:
Image Credit: Sport for Business
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