International Women's Day - An Academy Perspective

5 Mar 2026

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8^th, marks a day to celebrate the achievements of all women around the world and to serve as a reminder calling on all of us to work towards greater gender equality. 

Give to Gain is the theme for IWD 2026, encouraging a mindset of generosity and collaboration, emphasizing the power of reciprocity and support. It’s a moment to reflect not only on progress made, but on the collective strength we build when we uplift one another.

We invited colleagues across UCC Academy to reflect on what this day represents, the people who inspire them, and the steps we can take to keep advancing gender equality.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally?

Lanlih Keane, CEO, UCC Academy: It is a chance to celebrate progress and organise around the work that remains.

Jonathan Leahy Maharaj, Design Lead: I was raised by women, a strong single mother, and a strong matriarchal grandmother. I am husband to an incredible woman, and a father to two young women, both carving out their place in the world. IWD is a day to celebrate and say thanks to them all.

Lindsay McCabe, Contracting and Operations Manager: I think it means recognizing women’s achievements, celebrating how far women have come, a commitment to building a more equal world where our voices matter as much as men’s.

Nicole McDonagh, Conference Lead: For me International Women's Day is a time for me to reflect upon the women that shaped me - my mother, sisters, mentors or other female colleagues that opened doors for me, the young women I am trying to help or support. It can also act as a time to reflect on the progress I've made and celebrate the wins. We can be so quick to move onto the 'next thing' without sitting with what we've accomplished.

Sian James, Project Officer: A celebration on how far women have come in society in Ireland.

Who is a woman – past or present – who has inspired your work or outlook on life?

Lara Diez, Interim Head of Finance: Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was a celebrated American novelist and the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, known for her profound exploration of the Black experience in America. I named my first daughter after one of her books 'Sula'.

Jonathan: Design can be quite a female led industry, so we get to have LOADS of heroes: Paula Scheer, Jessica Hirsche, Jessica Walsh… there are quite a few.

Lanlih: Catherine Corless. I have always deeply admired the work she did on behalf of the Tuam mothers and babies. She gave a voice to the voiceless and took on a very powerful organisation for their benefit.

Maeve Fitzpatrick, Head of Project Solutions:  A campaigner and author, whose evidence-based writing I like is Caroline Criado Perez, who wrote Invisible Women. This book aims to show - with data - how the world has been set up based on men as the 'standard', an invisible bias which has very real implications in healthcare, government policy, education, economic standing, everyday practicalities etc. Here's a tagline for it to pique your interest!

“Imagine a world where your phone is too big for your hand, where your doctor prescribes a drug that is wrong for your body, where in a car accident you are 47% more likely to be seriously injured, where every week the countless hours of work you do are not recognised or valued.  If any of this sounds familiar, chances are that you’re a woman.”

What small action can each of us take that would make a big difference?

Lindsay: I think uplifting other women is imperative. Too often I see women (and men) who are happy to take credit for someone else’s work or to elevate themselves to the detriment of another woman. If we lift up the women and give credit where it’s due, everyone can rise together.

Nicole: Calling out everyday bias as you see it - this can be in a calm, respectful way but can have an impact on someone’s outlook.

Lanlih: Look around every room that we are in and ask ourselves if we have the right representation (across gender, race, social class etc.)

Maeve: I don't know if it's 'small' because it can be really tough to do, but micro-aggressions have been a source of frustration for me, and I would like to raise my kids to not be afraid to call them out. Whether it's a generalisation in a thoughtless comment, a gendered assumption, or a micro-aggression that is "just a joke", if we can call out the behaviour, we'll collectively raise the bar. And sometimes to tackle the inherent assumption to the male, you have to go a bit passive aggressive to handle it...like when people reference "the World Cup" or "the final", I like to try and remember to interject with "oh you mean the men's final?" / World Cup etc.!

What is one hope or aspiration you have for gender equality?

Jonathan: That gender stops being a question, an answer, a reason and an excuse.

Sian: I hope for progress in gender equality in countries such as Afghanistan and that women will be able to access education and express themselves freely.

Lanlih: That we understand that true diversity benefits everyone.

Lara: That the need for conversations around gender equality are not needed as it will be in place.

Nicole: My hope stems from the women and girls in my life. I want all of us to move through a world without having to second guess our worth, safety or be viewed as 'too much' - be that confidence or being assertive. Your gender shouldn't limit you.

Maeve: I think it's important that we strive for gender equity, rather than equality. Before I had children, I would have been the first to say that gender is a social construct that we impose on children early on and create divisions through our pink and blue "categorisation". Then I had one of each and it's opened my eyes to some inherent differences (that I see, not to generalise). So, I would rather we strove for equity in opportunity, access, regard and respect, rather than generalise to the extent that shared characteristics and experiences are not celebrated.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this article in celebration of International Women's Day.