snapshot of female representation on the boards of funded National Governing Bodies of Sport.

Progress towards Gender Balance on Boards - Leadership Composition Snapshot 3

15 Dec 2021
Cameron Molloy Moules
National

In line with its Policy on Women in Sport, Sport Ireland has published the latest snapshot of female representations on the boards of funded National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships.

The snapshot is published as part of the Leadership & Governance pillar of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy and outlines the current position and progress made since the publication of the Policy.

A key objective of the Leadership and Governance target area is to progress towards greater gender balance in board membership of funded bodies. The second objective is to provide a pathway for women aspiring to become leaders of funded bodies.

The first update, published in March 2020, showed that females made up an average of 29% of boards across funded National Governing Bodies. This was an increase from 24% when the Sport Ireland Policy on Women in Sport was published in 2019. This figure now stands at 32% in National Governing Bodies (including Sport Ireland, the Federation of Irish Sport, Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland). This figure has remained the same in Local Sports Partnerships over the last year with females accounting for 37% of Board members.

Commenting on the snapshot, the Minister of State for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs Jack Chambers TD said: “The figures in this snapshot are encouraging and I am delighted to see that the average number of females on NGB Boards has increased to 32%. I want to acknowledge the significant efforts that sporting bodies are now making around gender diversity on their boards. It is evident, however, that more work needs to be done. In the new Action Plan for Sport 2021-2023 we are asking all NGBs to achieve 40% gender representation on their boards by the end of 2023.  It is a particular priority for me to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% reflects this prioritisation.”

Sport Ireland Director of Participation and Ethics, Dr Una May, commented; “Under the National Sports Policy and the latest Sports Action Plan, NGB’s are well underway for reaching, the Government’s target for State Boards of a minimum of 40% representation of each gender in the membership of their Boards by the end of 2023. While the snapshot is released annually, the work continues daily throughout the year. Sport Ireland works closely with organisations to provide resources and support to attain gender diversity, in particular in the make-up of boards and this progress can be seen in the most recent snapshot”. 

As well as acknowledging the board composition of funded bodies, Sport Ireland is also monitoring the proportion of women in leadership positions within funded bodies. At present, female CEOs represent 28% of the total CEOs in NGBs (including the Federation of Irish Sport, Olympic Federation and Paralympics Ireland). Ten NGBs have a female President while 15% of Boards have a female Chairperson. Females also account for 46% of Coordinator roles in the Local Sports Partnerships and 21% of Chairs of these Boards are female.

Sport Ireland hosted a series of webinars for CEOs, LSP Co-ordinators and Board members on the best practice framework for developing and maintaining gender diverse Boards. These webinars will continue in the coming year.

Sport Ireland Women in Sport Lead, Nora Stapleton, added: “This latest snapshot shows that progress continues to be made in addressing gender balance on the boards of National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships. Numerous NGBs and LSPs continue to deliver excellent Women in Sport Leadership programmes”.

Information correct as of 31st Oct 2021.

NGBs with 30% or more women in their Board

NGB

%  of Women on Board

American Football Ireland

33%

Athletics Ireland

38%

Badminton Ireland

40%

Baton Twirling Sport Association of Ireland

75%

Croquet Association of Ireland

56%

Angling Council of Ireland

36%

Deaf Sports Ireland

33%

Fencing Ireland

55%

Golf Ireland

46%

Gymnastics Ireland

50%

Hockey Ireland

40%

Horse Sport Ireland

38%

Irish Judo Association

38%

Irish Sailing Association

40%

Irish Squash

31%

Irish Taekwondo Union

50%

Diving Ireland / Irish Underwater Council

33%

Irish Waterski & Wakeboard Federation

50%

Irish Wheelchair Association Sport

63%

Ladies Gaelic Football Association

56%

Mountaineering Ireland

33%

National Community Games

60%

Racquetball Association of Ireland

31%

Rowing Ireland

31%

Rugby League Ireland

44%

Special Olympics Ireland

42%

Speleological Union of Ireland

30%

Student Sport Ireland

45%

Swim Ireland

55%

Table Tennis Ireland

33%

The Camogie Association

65%

Triathlon Ireland

33%

Vision Sports Ireland

33%

Volleyball  Ireland

56%

Federation of Irish Sport

45%

Paralympics Ireland

63%

Olympic Federation of Ireland

46%

Sport Ireland

46%

Basketball Ireland

33%

 

NGBs with less than 30% women on their Board

NGB

%  of Women on Board

Archery Ireland

20%

Cycling Ireland

13%

Bol Chumann na hÉireann

0%

Bowling League of Ireland

11%

Canoeing Ireland

20%

Cricket Ireland

17%

Football Association of Ireland

17%

GAA Handball Ireland

8%

Gaelic Athletic Association

20%

Horseshoe Pitchers Association of Ireland

0%

Irish Amateur Wrestling Association

14%

Irish Athletic Boxing Association

0%

Irish Clay Target Shooting Association

14%

Irish Ice Hockey Association of Ireland

20%

Irish Martial Arts Commission

24%

Irish Olympic Handball Association

14%

Irish Orienteering Association

27%

Irish Rugby Football Union

13%

Irish Surfing Association

17%

Irish Tenpin Bowling Association

0%

Motor Cycling Ireland

22%

Motor Sport Ireland

13%

ONAKAI

18%

Pitch and Putt  Ireland

9%

Snooker & Billiards Ireland

0%

Tennis Ireland

29%

Tug of War Ireland

14%

Weightlifting Ireland

14%

 

NGBs with a 60/40 split of gender on their Board

NGB

%  of Women on Board

Badminton Ireland

40%

Croquet Association of Ireland

56%

Fencing Ireland

55%

Golf Ireland

46%

Gymnastics Ireland

50%

Irish Sailing Association

40%

Irish Taekwondo Union

50%

Irish Waterski & Wakeboard Federation

50%

National Community Games

60%

Special Olympics Ireland

42%

Student Sport Ireland

45%

Swim Ireland

55%

Volleyball  Ireland

56%

Federation of Irish Sport

45%

Olympic Federation of Ireland

46%

Sport Ireland

46%

Rugby League Ireland

44%

Hockey Ireland

40%

Ladies Gaelic Football Association

56%