Ireland must do more to bridge Europe’s biggest gender gap in advanced digital skills and help women shatter this ‘shocking’ ceiling, Una Fitzpatrick, Director of Technology Ireland, has said.
Speaking at a graduation event for the NOVA Women in Tech Leadership Programme, Ms Fitzpatrick said Ireland’s tech sector had to face the blunt reality that there are too few women in senior leadership positions.
NOVA was created by Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet in partnership with Connecting Women in Technology (CWiT), to address this reality that there are too few women in senior roles, and too few equipped with the judgement to lead through AI-driven change.
Commenting, Una Fitzpatrick said:
“We must be candid about why a bespoke pathway like NOVA is essential. We operate in an era of rapid technological transformation, yet structural imbalances remain stark.
“Recent research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) revealed a sobering truth: Ireland has Europe’s largest gender gap in advanced digital skills use at work. While 44% of men in Ireland utilise advanced digital skills in their daily jobs, only 18% of women do. This 26-percentage-point gap is nearly double the European average.
“We know that entry-level numbers in tech are promising, but the sector continues to suffer from a severe ‘leaky pipeline’. Women hold only 14% of senior technical and engineering roles, and an estimated, shocking 5% of top executive leadership positions.
“This is precisely why NOVA was built. It is not just an educational programme; it is a direct, strategic intervention designed to shatter that 5% ceiling.”
The programme focused on combinng human-centred leadership with the strategic technology and advanced AI-enabled capabilities increasingly required by organisations. The graduation ceremony took place on July 2, where participants received their certificates following six months of leadership development, coaching and practical learning. The programme was delivered by Genos Europe.
Ms Fitzpatrick, who was last week appointed vice-president of DIGITALEUROPE, the body that represents Europe’s leading industrial and techology organisations, said the NOVA participants were already delivering a practical return on investment, adding:
“We see it in graduates who are using the futureproofing with AI and tech awareness modules to seamlessly bridge the gap between deep technical implementation and high-level business strategy.”
Ironically, in an age where AI is making human leadership more valuable, women are ideally suited for these challenges.
She added: “In a world increasingly driven by automated algorithms, you have proven that the ultimate leadership differentiator is being distinctly, undeniably human.”
For Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, the successful completion of the inaugural programme builds on more than a decade of supporting women across the technology sector through its award-winning women returner programmes, which have helped more than 900 women return to careers in technology.
The inaugural group brought together over 20 senior professionals from across the CWiT network, representing organisations including PWC, Ergo, ADM, HPE, Workday, Kerry Group, ESB, Mastercard, Salesforce, BT, Accenture and Microsoft.
Máire Hunt, Director of Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet, said:
“The graduation of our first NOVA cohort marks an important milestone, not just for the participants, but for Ireland’s technology sector. These women have invested in developing the leadership skills that organisations increasingly need as technology and AI continue to reshape every industry.
“The ambition behind NOVA has always been to help exceptional women accelerate into influential leadership roles where they can shape strategy, innovation and culture.”
Naomi Ryan, PwC Director and Co-Lead of the Connecting Women in Technology (CWiT) network, said:
“The real value behind the programme, and what’s really impactful, is the level of collaboration behind it. CWiT, in partnership with Digital Skillnet, brought together a network of leading organisations, reflecting a shared commitment to investing in the next generation of women leaders in technology.
“PwC is proud to host the graduation of this inaugural cohort and to celebrate the achievements of these incredible women. Beyond the programme itself, graduates now have a network of organisations across Ireland that they can lean on throughout their careers. As technology and AI continue to reshape every industry, the need for diverse and adaptive leadership has never been greater. I hope the NOVA graduates now have the skills they need to step forward, take on greater responsibility and help shape the future of Ireland’s tech sector.”
Tracey Donnery, Director of Policy & Communications at Skillnet Ireland, who presented certificates to the graduates, said:
“Building a strong pipeline of diverse leadership talent is essential to Ireland’s future competitiveness. Programmes such as NOVA demonstrate how industry-led collaboration can equip professionals with the skills, confidence and networks needed to lead through change.
“Congratulations to this outstanding first cohort. Their commitment to investing in their own leadership development will not only benefit their organisations but also help strengthen Ireland’s technology sector for the future.”
Ireland’s technology sector employs more than 170,000 people across global multinationals, indigenous companies and a vibrant start-up ecosystem. As organisations continue to adapt to rapid advances in AI and digital transformation, leadership development initiatives such as NOVA are expected to play an increasingly important role in preparing the next generation of technology leaders.