The law firm will take over the annual sponsorship of the organisation’s country executive role from EY, which has provided financial support for the last two years, following in the footsteps of previous funders including AIB, Accenture, PwC and Northern Trust.

The Irish chapter of the 30% Club works to support the achievement of a minimum of 30 per cent gender balance at all senior decision-making tables across Ireland, including boards and C-suite. It is business-led and represents the needs of supporter organisations across the public and private sector.

Since its inception 10 years ago, the percentage of women on boards in Ireland has increased from 12 per cent to 39 per cent for the ISEQ 20, and 28 per cent for other listed companies.

Melíosa O’Caoimh, chair of the 30% Club Ireland, said: “The 30% Club campaign is very much based on a volunteer model, and in the absence of any membership fees, support from key organisation members is critical to ensure that important activities, communication and representation take place.

“To this end, I am delighted to welcome Matheson on board as key sponsor for our dedicated country executive role this year.

“I would like to extend my warm thanks to Frank O’Keeffe, managing partner, and the team at EY Ireland, who kindly provided sponsorship for the last two years, which is much appreciated.”

Matheson managing partner Michael Jackson said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Irish chapter of the 30% Club, having been a member and supporter for many years. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as a firm, and is one of the core pillars of our impactful business programme.

“At Matheson, we believe that diverse perspectives are essential for driving innovation and success. We have a long-standing focus on gender equity within our firm and are committed to creating an environment in which women are able to progress and where all genders feel supported to thrive professionally while balancing their responsibilities inside and outside the workplace.

“By aligning with the 30% Club, we aim to further our commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace and champion meaningful progress towards greater female representation at leadership levels.

“We look forward to working with the 30% Club chair, country executive and advisory board this year, as they continue to build on the success achieved to date across the business landscape in Ireland.”

Mr Jackson has also joined the 30% Club’s advisory board, alongside three other senior figures including Oonagh McPhillips, secretary-general of the Department of Justice.

Gillian Harford, the 30% Club country executive, said: “Our advisory board has an important role in terms of shaping the strategy of the Irish chapter, and they feed into the direction of travel. They sit across different sectors, which gives good balance and insight from a variety of perspectives. I would like to welcome our new members and thank them for contributing to this role.

“I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Matheson for supporting my role as country executive.

“We have the key chair and CEO conference coming up very soon, which will be our 10th annual conference, and on 1 March, we launched our annual Executive Education Scholarship Programme, with more than 50 opportunities supported by Ireland’s leading education establishments.

“This year, for the first time, the programme also will include virtual options, improving accessibility for women across any part of Ireland, and for those who work in a more agile way.

“Additionally, we will continue to work closely with the 30% Club Chapters across the world — where Ireland is recognised as a progressive member.”