Ireland
WGH Ireland was formally established in March 2020 and launched online in a webinar in May 2020 on the Gender Dimensions of the COVID-19 Pandemic, together with our host organisation, the Irish Global Health Network (IGHN). WGH Ireland is a group of individuals representing academia, non-governmental organisations and the private sector, who come together to support gender equality in global health leadership.
Ireland Chapter
is working to:
Our goal is to advance gender-transformative leadership in global health in Ireland and worldwide by creating an enabling, supportive environment through advocacy, education, and networking that promotes gender equity. A key objective for the Irish Chapter of WGH is to create a space for networks of Irish and Irish-affiliated persons to learn about and advocate for women’s representation in global health.
A key objective for the Irish Chapter of WGH is to create a space for networks of Irish and Irish-affiliated persons to learn about and advocate for women’s representation in global health.
We are leveraging relevant platforms, in particular with IGHN, to highlight the work of Irish and Irish-affiliated women and feminists in global health
- Raising awareness of these women
- Providing a platform for them to speak and act as role models for others
- Joining webinars and conferences
Key acomplishments
omplishments
- Co-hosted an EU-supported event in Dublin, IGHNxEU: Empowering Women for a Healthier Europe, which brought together an extraordinary community of leaders, advocates, and changemakers for an inspiring day at the Royal Dublin Show, Dublin, on Friday, 14 November 2025. The following day, a roundtable event brought together 40 invitees to brainstorm on the key issues around women and health in Europe in advance of Ireland assuming the EU Presidency in July 2026. The resulting policy brief outlines the key priorities and recommendations emerging from IGHNxEU 2025, calling for stronger, gender-responsive EU and national policies to advance women’s health and rights. It highlights the need for coordinated, intersectional action; better data and research; meaningful inclusion of underserved communities; investment in community-based care; and embedding women’s health across all policy and funding frameworks. Supported by the EU4Health Programme, the brief provides a concise roadmap for building a healthier, more equitable Europe for all women.
- Co-hosted ”The 8th” IGHN film screening. This thought-provoking film delves into the historic campaign for reproductive rights in Ireland, offering a poignant reflection on the journey towards progress and change.
- Partnered with IGHN in the IGHNx: Humanity and Health conference, 2023
Our work is led by a core team:
- Fiona Lawless
- Paula Quigley
- Tejaswy Swathy Kovuri
- Adrienne Seabrooke
- Rebecca Husband
- Brynn Gilmore – co-founder
With oversight from an Advisory Board:
- Nadine Ferris France, Executive Director IGHN
- Peggy Maguire, Director EIWH
- Ailbhe Smyth, activist
- Annette Kennedy, former Director of the International Council of Nurses (ICN)
- Frédérique Vallieres, Director Global Health, Trinity College Dublin
- Caroline Forkin, private sector
