International Women's Day 2026

Balance the scales

A fair and resilient financial market flourishes when every voice is heard, every pathway is accessible, and participation is genuinely balanced.
By empowering women and addressing barriers, we strengthen the financial ecosystem for everyone.

At Euronext we believe that, collectively, we can drive decisive action to improve gender-balanced in institutions. We are fully committed to retain, develop, and grow the representation of women, by inspiring and promoting tangible practices within the company and towards our community, while supporting our ecosystem.

Euronext is diverse and inclusive by nature and by commitment. We see all forms of diversity as a key success factor of our federal model. We strive to create a more gender-equal world and to inspire, celebrate, and amplify the efforts of women and their allies. 

Call to action from different geographies

In March 2026, Euronext  led a range of initiatives, both internally and externally, aimed at advancing gender equality in financial markets.

Women are increasingly shaping the financial ecosystem, whether as investors, decision-makers, business owners, or through growing financial literacy. This International Women’s Day, we focused on balancing the scales: recognising women’s expanding role in finance, while confronting the gaps, biases, and structural barriers that continue to limit full participation. 

On International Women’s Day, Euronext joined exchanges worldwide in the annual Ring the Bell ceremony for gender equality. This initiative was brought together by the International Finance Corporation, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, UN Women and the World Federation of Exchanges.

Together, we can accelerate change and balance the scales.

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Belgium

On 6 March, and in partnership with Women in Finance, Euronext hosted a Ring the Bell ceremony and a panel discussion with Sylvie Huet, CEO of Degroof Petercam; and Brigadier General Katrien D’Hert from Belgian Defence.

Through their testimonials, the speakers shared their personal stories, reflected on differences between sectors, highlighted examples they would like to see develop and explained what balancing the scales means to them.

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Denmark

On 9 March, Euronext Securities Copenhagen celebrated International Women’s Day with an internal event. The day began with a welcome address by Niels Siggaard-Rotendahl, CEO of Euronext Securities Copenhagen, followed by a keynote address from Joo Runge, Chairwoman of Women in Tech Denmark. It concluded with a ceremonial bell ringing and a networking session to encourage dialogue, connection, and reflection on gender equality in the workplace.

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France

On 9 March, Euronext Paris began the day with a Ring the Bell ceremony and an introductory speech by Delphine d'Amarzit, Chairwoman and CEO of Euronext Paris.

The event continued with a testimonial from Laurence Boone of Santander France, followed by a presentation on key figures and measuring gaps to accelerate change by Floriane de Saint Pierre, founder and chair of Ethics & Boards.

Attendees then participated in a dynamic speed networking session with senior professionals from BNP Paribas Asset Management, JPMorgan Chase, EY, TP ICAP and Ma Question Préférée, concluding with new connections and fresh insights.

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Greece

On 6 March, Athens Exchange Group celebrated International Women’s Day with a Closing Bell Ceremony, bringing together guests from across the ecosystem and members of staff.

The bell ringing was followed by a panel discussion on gender equality, where participants shared experiences and reflected on the barriers that remain. The day concluded with a cocktail reception, offering guests the opportunity to connect, exchange insights and celebrate progress together.

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Ireland

On 5 March, Euronext Dublin hosted an internal event featuring remarks from Daryl Byrne, CEO of Euronext Ireland, and a representative from Women in ETFs. The day continued with a Ring the Bell for Gender Equality ceremony, followed by a networking session on the trading floor, celebrating women’s contributions to finance and leadership.

On 6 March, employees participated in an International Women’s Day lunch organised by An Cosán, a local charity supported by the Euronext Foundation that provides education to women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Italy

On 6 March, Borsa Italiana, alongside UN Global Compact Network Italy and Women in ETFs, opened the day with remarks from Fabrizio Testa, CEO and General Manager, followed by a keynote from UN Global Compact Network Italy. A panel discussion brought together leading voices from the ecosystem, including Marina Forquet Famiglietti, Head of HR Italy and Fixed Income at Euronext. She will also close the event with personal remarks, drawing on her governance experience, including three mandates on the Board of Borsa Italiana and four years on the Board of Euronext Securities Milan.

On 9 March, Borsa Italiana will also hosted Building Bridges: From Today’s Leaders to Tomorrow’s Talent at Palazzo Mezzanotte, in collaboration with 100 Women in Finance. The event introduced young women to finance through round tables with senior professionals and emerging talent, sharing career insights and lessons on curiosity, resilience, ethics and collaboration, followed by a networking aperitif.

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Netherlands

On 6 March, in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact Network Netherlands and Women in ETFs Netherlands, Euronext Amsterdam Rang the Bell for Gender Equality to highlight progress and ongoing challenges.

The programme will began with Breaking Barriers, a spotlight story by Suzanna Jansen, followed by insights from Abigail Erikson, Chief of the UN Trust Fund, and Merei Wagenaar from Un Global Compact, followed by a keynote by Iran-correspondent and author Thomas Erdbrink.

A presentation by Linda Senden, UN Women Representative for the Netherlands 2026, and a panel of industry leaders of KLM - Airfrance and KPMG explored how businesses can drive long-term diversity and inclusion. The event concluded with a networking lunch hosted by Women in ETFs Netherlands.

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Norway

On 6 March, Euronext Oslo Børs, together with Euronext Securities Oslo, Nord Pool and Admincontrol, celebrated International Women’s Day with a full day of activities for the Norwegian teams. The day began with a breakfast seminar featuring Thomas Wilhelmsen, CEO of Wilhelmsen Rederi, followed by a ceremonial Ring the Bell.

In the afternoon, colleagues participated in internal activities designed to foster connection and a sense of community across all Euronext Oslo entities.

On 9 March, Nord Pool hosted an internal breakfast event under the theme Balancing the Scales: Real Stories of Women Shaping Life and Leadership. Emma McKiernan, Executive Vice President at Nord Pool – Nordic, Baltic & UK, shared personal experiences and reflections on the vital contributions women make both within organisations and in everyday life.

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Portugal

On 6 March, Euronext Portugal celebrated International Women’s Day by participating in Interactive Talks guided by Academia da Diversidade, under the theme Balance the Scales. The session sparked dialogue on gender equality, equity and inclusive decision-making, showing how balanced teams drive fairness, trust, innovation and results. The talks were made available to teams in Porto from Euronext Technologies and Euronext Securities, as well as to teams based in Lisbon.

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United Kingdom

On the morning of 4 March, Euronext London celebrated International Women’s Day with a bell ceremony with clients. Simon Gallagher, CEO, delivered the opening speech, followed by a countdown and the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality. The programme continued with a networking breakfast, providing an opportunity to connect, share insights, and reflect on gender equality in the workplace.

On 9 March, Euronext London held an internal lunchtime event hosted by Simon Gallagher, CEO, bringing together all staff to celebrate International Women’s Day with a bell-ringing ceremony and the screening of a short video created with contributions from colleagues on what Balancing the Scales means to them, followed by a networking lunch. 

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India

On 10 March, the Euronext office in India marked International Women’s Day by hosting a financial literacy session dedicated to strengthening women’s financial awareness and confidence. The session provided valuable insights into key aspects of personal finance, including effective money management, financial planning and building long-term financial security. By creating a platform for open learning and dialogue, the session contributed to encouraging greater financial literacy and promoting mindful financial decision-making among women.

Last year’s event: looking back to International Women’s Day 2025

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