Trinity College Dublin named EU Gender Equality Champion

Trinity was named a Sustainable Gender Equality Champion. The historical highlights Trinity cited in support of its application included: 

• Successfully achieving a Bronze level Athena SWAN Gender Equality Charter Award in 2015 – one of the first universities in Ireland to do so.  

• The establishment of the first university creche in 1969, offering childcare to students and staff. 

• The establishment of the Centre for Women’s Studies in 1989. 

• The achievement of 17 Bronze Athena Swan awards across the University, with an application currently underway for a Silver institutional award. 

• The 2021 appointment of the first female Provost, Dr Linda Doyle.

Above: Lorraine Leeson, Siobán O'Brien-Green, Provost Linda Doyle and Antoinette Quinn 

Top image shows Provost Dr Linda Doyle with Prof. Lorraine Leeson, Siobán O'Brien-Green and Antoinette Quinn in front of a portrait of art historian and founder of Trinity's Art History department, Anne Crookshank (Paul Sharp).

Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle said:

“I am very proud that Trinity has won this award. Gender equality is a cornerstone of the deep-rooted fairness that we want Trinity to always embody. We have more to do and this wonderful award reminds us that we are on the right track. 

“I want to acknowledge the work of the team in our Equality Office, particularly our Associate Vice-Provost for EDI, Prof. Lorraine Leeson, and Acting Equality Officer, Dr Siobán O’Brien Green. I also want to acknowledge the work of our Director of HR, Antoinette Quinn, and our HR team for their work in this key area.” 

“This is a wonderful recognition of the intentional interventions that have been made over an extended period of time to open up pathways to participation for women in Trinity. There is a proverb that says that, when we drink water, we should never forget those who helped to dig the well: this award then also gives us the opportunity to stop and reflect on the incredible commitment to change that has been brought about over the past century, the past decades, and in the past years.  

“There is still a way to go but today, we celebrate this incredible recognition of the work that has been done.”