Mary Robinson calls for equal representation in leadership at the LEAD Conference in Dublin
Mary Robinson speaking at the LEAD Conference in Dublin on 7 October
More than 600 professionals from across Europe’s retail and consumer goods industry gathered in Dublin on 6 and 7 October for LEAD (Leading Executives Advancing Diversity) Network’s 2026 annual conference.
Delegates from more than 35 countries, including Ireland, the UK, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands, attended the two-day event at the RDS Convention Centre. Under the theme All In: Shaping An Inclusive Future, the conference brought together professionals from across the industry to explore how inclusive leadership and workplaces can support people, strengthen businesses and drive sustainable progress across the sector.
Former Irish President and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson joined the conference for a keynote conversation exploring the importance of equality, inclusive leadership and the role businesses can play in driving wider change.
“The retail and consumer goods industry touches the lives of millions of people every day and has an important role to play in advancing equality. Women must be equally represented in leadership and have an equal voice in the decisions that shape our workplaces and our societies,” said Robinson.
“We should be aiming for 50:50 representation of women and men in leadership. But achieving parity is not simply about numbers. It requires workplace cultures that enable women to lead, progress and fulfil their potential. When we create more equal and inclusive workplaces, everyone benefits.”
According to LEAD Network’s Gender Diversity Scorecard for Europe, women now hold 39% of senior leadership roles in the sector, up two percentage points from 2023.
Achieving global gender parity
Achieving parity requires workplace cultures that enable women to lead, progress and fulfil their potential, according to Mary Robinson
More than 50 industry leaders contributed to plenary and interactive sessions across the two days, examining issues including leadership, AI, workplace culture, career progression and how organisations can embed equity into business systems and decision-making.
Speakers included John Amaechi OBE, organisational psychologist, leadership expert and best-selling author; Umi Patel, VP of Marketing, International Beverages at PepsiCo; and Andrew Keating, Group CFO of Musgrave Group.
Commitment to inclusion
The conference also celebrated some of the organisations and individuals turning commitments on inclusion into practical action across Europe’s retail and consumer goods sector.
Beiersdorf was named Best in Class, recognising its work to achieve global gender parity in leadership 18 months ahead of target by treating it as a core business KPI, embedded in governance and executive accountability. The company has also transformed its leadership culture through its Global DEI Essentials Journey, reaching 85% of people leaders worldwide.
Allyson Zimmermann, CEO of LEAD Network, said: “Bringing more than 600 people from across our industry together in Dublin has shown the extraordinary energy and commitment there is to creating workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, progress and lead.
“Our theme this year was All In, and over the past two days we have seen what that means in practice: people sharing what works, challenging one another, learning from different experiences and taking those ideas back into their own organisations.
“It was a privilege to welcome Mary Robinson and hear her powerful perspective on equality, leadership and the importance of turning ambition into action. I would also like to congratulate all our award winners, who are demonstrating what meaningful progress looks like in practice.
LEAD Network supports the development of future leaders, helps organisations build inclusive, high-performing teams and brings the industry together to drive progress on talent and workplace culture.
Learn more at theleadnetwork.net.
