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Engaging Men in Gender Balance

Published on December 18, 2024 by Rebecca Fountain

PWN Dublin Engaging Men Programme is now open for registration

Please check out our event page for a full listing of our events related to this programme. While the open and closing events for this programme are open to all genders, the interactive workshops are open exclusively for men.

The need to Engage Men - Achieving Impact Together

Countless studies have shown that achieving gender balance in the workplace is key to unlocking an organisation’s full potential and driving real business growth.

Yet, progress towards gender equality has hit a bit of a roadblock, both globally and in Ireland. While women and underrepresented groups have long championed gender balance initiatives, men have typically been less engaged. Interestingly, Ipsos research reveals that over half (55%) of men worldwide now feel that the push for women’s equality has gone so far that it’s resulted in discrimination against men.

PWN Dublin is passionate about tackling this issue head-on, and we believe that a crucial part of our collective success will be achieved by involving male leaders and colleagues in our mission.

A well-known study by Boston Consulting Group highlights that in companies where men actively participate in gender equality efforts, a remarkable 96% report progress. On the flip side, only 30% of companies without male engagement see similar progress. This isn’t surprising, considering men make up about 75-80% of executives and around 60% of line managers globally. The decisions these male leaders make can significantly impact women’s careers.

That’s why PWN Dublin is calling for a renewed focus on engaging men alongside to reignite our efforts towards achieving gender balance both at work and at home.

We are thrilled to announce that our next Engaging Men Programme will launch in Mar 2026!


A New Programme for Engaging Men 

Our programme aims to engage male allies and develop a dialogue with them regarding the benefits they can achieve from gender balance, and the role they can play as supporters and agents of change.  

The programme is delivered by Robert Baker, PWN Dublin's Allyship and Inclusive Leadership Partner, Founder and CEO of Potentia Talent Consulting, and long-time PWN Global Ambassador and expert in engaging men in gender balance. 

Our programme launch is planned for the 11th March 2026. It will build on the most successful 2025 pilot, which leveraged learnings from initiatives globally. It will: 

  • Focus on the research that shows the benefits to men from engaging in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and gender balance 
  • Support male leaders to develop their skills as inclusive leaders and very powerfully engage them by highlighting the advantages for them in their careers and in their personal lives 
  • Highlight the Voice of Women and enhance the awareness of these male leaders to the barriers and challenges women face in the workplace 
  • Tie this into how women and men, and indeed all genders, can support each other to achieve greater impact.  

The programme will comprise:  

Date/TimeEventAudience
11 March 2026, 18:00 - 21:00
Launch Event - Redefining Masculinity for the Modern Age
This is an in-person event, open to all genders. Registration will open in Jan 2026
25 March 2026, half-day
Workshop - Day 1 - What Being an Ally for Gender Balance is all About
This is an in-person workshop for men only. 
28 April 2026, half-dayWorkshop - Day 2 - The Benefits of Inclusive Leaders
This is an in-person workshop for men only
20 May 2026,18:00 – 21:00
Closing Event - Men and Women Working Together for Impact
This is an in-person event, open to all genders.
19 November 2026, time TBDSharing and Celebrating Progress and Impact 
This is an online event, open to all genders.


How to participate in the Programme 

The opening and closing events will be open to PWN Dublin members and non-members, interested in discussing how to advance gender balance in the workplace. It will include men who will be joining the Workshops. 

We sincerely hope you will join in our mission to engage men in gender balance and learn how this benefits all genders, all organisations and all homes and families. 

More about Robert Baker, Founder and CEO, PWN Dublin Allyship and Inclusive Leadership Partner

Robert has been a passionate supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout his 40-plus-year consulting career. He now runs his own company, focusing on delivering keynotes, workshops and coaching for business executives to help them develop their inclusive leadership skills and build diverse and inclusive workplaces.  

Robert is a Board member of European Women on Boards, responsible for D&I Strategy, and is a Trustee of UN Women, UK. Robert is a Disrupter in Residence in DE&I on the Global MBA Program at EDHEC Business School and also a visiting lecturer on Male Allyship at the University of Amsterdam Academy. 

Robert is a Global Ambassador for PWN Global, having previously been Global Co-President and Vice President, Engaging Men. 

In recognition of his work in gender balance, Robert was named a Top 50 Trailblazer in Gender Equity in January 2023 by We Are The City and was awarded as Corporate Male Champion of the Year 2024 by Women in Management.