Ambassador Anne Anderson Named One of Ireland’s 25 Most Powerful Women

The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) celebrated the 2015 “Ireland’s Most Powerful Women: Top 25 Awards” June11th, naming Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Anne Anderson as one of the country’s most influential leaders in public service.

More than 700 people attended the joint Leadership Summit and awards ceremony at Dublin’s Intercontinental Hotel, where Philomena Lee, Microsoft M.D. Cathriona Hallahan, and Enterprise Ireland Chief Julie Sinnamon gave keynote addresses.

Anderson, who received the Public Sector Leaders Award, was recognized for her impact in public service in the United States, often reluctant herself to receive praise for the diplomatic successes she has achieved.

Speaking at the event, WXN founder Pamela Jeffrey emphasized the wage gap and called on the women present to continue to promote their peers, learn from the successes of these women in the workplace, and support meaningful change in the growing system of inequality.

“The gender pay gap in Ireland is 14.4% and getting worse according to EU statistics. The stats also show that women with children tend to fare worse in the pay scale against male counterparts,” said Pamela Jeffery, Founder, WXN.

“Women need to be facilitated in their career progression and confident in their own value in the system. This is why we identify, promote and celebrate successful and influential women in Ireland,” she added.

In addition to Anne Anderson, other recipients of the Top 25 Award included: Ulster Bank NI’s Head, Ellvena Graham; Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan; Vodafone Ireland’s Anne O’Leary; Paypal’s Louise Phelan; Glanbia’s Siobhan Talbot; Keeling’s Caroline Keeling; Bank of Ireland’s Julie Sharp; Tesco’s Christine Heffernan; Judge Fidelma Macken SC; Love Hate’s Suzanne McAuley; youth campaigner, Joanne O’Riordan and vocal legend Veronica Cross.

Founded in 1997, WXN is dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles and has a memberhship of over 19,500 women who offer networking, mentoring, and professional and personal development to this fast-growing community. Ireland’s Most Powerful Women: Top 25 Awards has been celebrated since 2012, with past awardees such as former president Mary Robinson, writers Maeve Binchy and Edna O’Brien, actress Fiona Shaw, and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power. ♦