The GFSB marked International Women’s Day with a dynamic afternoon of workshops and discussions at ISOLAS LLP, organised by its Women in Enterprise (WIE) Committee. Centred around this year’s global theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ the event brought together men and women from across Gibraltar’s business community to explore how we can all play a role in closing the gender gap.

Why this matters
Gender equality isn’t just a moral imperative—it makes economic sense. Deputy Governor Marc Holland opened the event by reminding attendees: “The World Economic Forum has calculated that, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender equality. When more women work, economies grow.”

What happened
The event featured a series of interactive workshops, offering practical tools and fostering open conversation on different forms of gender bias.

• Ross Mulkern from the Mulkern Foundation tackled linguistic bias, exploring how the words we use shape gender perceptions in the workplace and beyond.
• Kaiane Aldorino Lopez, Miss World and former Mayor of Gibraltar, shared personal experiences of visual bias and led an insightful group discussion on how women are often judged by appearance.
• Jo Abergel from Rock Learning hosted an unconscious bias quiz, demonstrating how our values and experiences can unconsciously influence decisions and interactions.
• Paul Perez and Joey Morillo from Gibraltar’s LGBTQ+ Committee ran an interactive session on gender identity and expression, using a card sorting game to encourage reflection on complex themes.
• Jerome De Keyser, international hockey player and coach, gave a personal account of the challenges female athletes face for equal recognition, sharing insights from his experience representing Belgium at two Olympic Games.

What’s next
The afternoon’s conversations will continue on a special episode of the Gibraltar Business Podcast, featuring interviews with Emma Lejeune, partner at Isolas, Jerome De Keyser and Jo Abergel. Expect real insights into how we can build a more inclusive business community.

Michaela Rees, Chair of the WIE Committee, closed the event by saying: “It’s important to celebrate International Women’s Day by creating safe, open spaces for discussion. Sharing experiences and ideas is vital if we’re going to close the gender gap and ensure all genders have an equal opportunity to succeed.”

Join the conversation
If you’re ready to continue the conversation and grow your leadership skills, join us at the next Women in Enterprise (WIE) Breakfast Meeting. Hosted at ISOLAS, this third bi-monthly session will focus on the essential skills that define great leadership. Expect inspiring discussions, practical insights, and the chance to connect with a dynamic community of professionals committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Sign up now and be part of a morning that empowers, motivates, and strengthens leadership skills. We look forward to seeing you there!