PTSB named as title sponsor for Women in Finance conference
02 Sep 2019)
Dublin. 02 September 2019. Following sell-out events in London, Sydney and Amsterdam, the world’s largest conference dedicated to driving gender diversity in Finance is coming to Dublin. Today we announce that Permanent TSB have become title sponsors of the Women in Finance Conference that will take place in The Convention Centre Dublin on September 12thand 13th.
Announcing the title sponsorship, Eamonn Crowley, Chief Financial Officer, Permanent TSB, said “I am excited to announce Permanent TSB as the title sponsor of the Women in Finance Conference. This event will see over 1,000 delegates attend sessions over two days to discuss diversity and inclusion throughout the Finance industry. In Permanent TSB, we firmly believe that by nurturing different perspectives, we will encourage open dialogue and new ideas in a trusting and open environment. Sponsorship of this event aligns perfectly with our own Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in the Bank, a journey that began some years ago and has seen real and meaningful progress that has impacted positively on our organisation.
Julie O’Neill, Senior Independent Director at Permanent TSB and the 3rd woman to be appointed to a post of Secretary General of a Government Department in Ireland, will deliver the opening address at the Conference.
Commenting at the announcement of the sponsorship, Ms O’Neill said, “I am delighted to have been asked to give the opening address to the Permanent TSB Women in Finance Conference. I joined the Irish Civil Service while the marriage bar was still in place but went on to become Secretary General of the Department of Transport for 7 years before joining the private sector including as a Board member of Permanent TSB since 2014. It will be a privilege to meet the 1,000 delegates at this conference, mainly women, who are making a vital contribution to today’s financial services, I hope I can draw on my own personal experiences in a way that is relevant to the audience as we draw on the power of diversity in the sector. It is now more crucial than ever to continue the conversation around gender equality in the workplace, as the finance industry intensifies its efforts to tackle gender imbalance, drive innovation and create competitive advantage.”
Female talent remains one of the most underutilised business resources. As career level rises, female representation declines. Less than one in five CEO positions in the financial sector in Ireland went to women last year. Ireland has seen its gender pay gap widen from 12% in 2014 to 14% in late 2017. There is clearly a need for change. Permanent TSB are a founding member of the Dress for Success Dublin Pay Gap Reporting Pioneer Group. This group have pledged to work together over the next 12-18 months and, aligned with the methodology proposed in the pay gap draft legislation, have committed to publish early with numbers and define a bespoke narrative and strategy to move towards eradicating the pay gap between men and women.
Mr Crowley concluded, “A diverse and inclusive organisation leads to a better understanding of customers, better decision making and protects against group think and unethical behaviour. Over the past number of years, we have increased our focus on achieving greater gender balance at all levels throughout Permanent TSB. Achieving gender balance is not a quick fix. However, this approach has led to an increase in female representation at
Senior Leadership level in Permanent TSB from 28% to 36% and where 45% of middle managers are now female. We see this Conference as an important step in driving this agenda even further.
ENDS
Note to the Editor
Julie O’Neill served as Secretary General of the Irish Department of Transport from 2002 until 2009 and in a public service career spanning 37 years, worked in strategic policy development and implementation with eight Government Departments.
She was appointed to the Board of Permanent TSB in January 2014 and has been the Senior Independent Director since April 2016.
She is an independent strategic management consultant and a Non-Executive Director at Ryanair p.l.c. and AXA Life Europe. She is chairperson of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, a member of the Institute of Directors and a Licentiate of the Institute of Banking from whom she has received the designation of ‘Certified Bank Director’.
The Permanent TSB Women in Finance Conference will be held on September 12th and 13th in The Convention Centre Dublin
Issued on behalf of Permanent TSB by Gordon MRM