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Diversity and Inclusion Committee

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BALANCE LGBTQ+ network group

BALANCE LGBTQ+ network group

About BALANCE: the Institute LGBTQ+ network group

The LGBTQ+ network group was established in 2021 as a result of initiatives being rolled out by the Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion (D & I) Committee. BALANCE has been set up as an Institute special interest group and reports into the D & I Committee.

Purpose

Strategy24 emphasises the importance of sense of belonging, mobility and diversity and ongoing learning.

The purpose of this network group is to achieve that in the context of LGBTQ+ members, students and other potential members.

It is focused on bringing greater awareness and promotion of LGBTQ+ inclusion and intersectionality across Institute staff, members, students, and member businesses through networking events, information sessions, data capture, publications and encouraging senior LGBTQ+ members to be visible and engaged role-models.

Another objective is to engage and build relationships with non-LGBTQ+ people within the Institute network with particular emphasis on highlighting the importance of the straight-ally in addressing LGBTQ+ issues at middle-management level.

A key focus will be to foster a sense of belonging where Balance should provide an inclusive space in which LGBTQ+ members can meet, engage, share, and develop.

The network group initiatives will also help to promote Chartered Accountancy as a career of choice for LGBTQ+ people.

Get involved - check out our events and activities

Would you like the opportunity to share insights and best practice with like-minded professionals as part of the BALANCE network group or to attend our events and interactive webinars?

If so, we would be delighted to hear from you.

You can visit our events page here.

If you are interested in getting involved with BALANCE and/or hearing about upcoming events and initiatives, please email us in confidence direct to the committee's dedicated email address.

Meet the group - BALANCE committee 2021-22

Name	About me
John McNamara - Chair	I am the first chair of BALANCE and a member of the Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee which has sponsored this first network group. I am passionate about giving visibility and support across the equality landscape and seeing how the Institute can play a wider role in supporting its members, students and staff is a key motivation for me. Balance has been structured to welcome as much engagement as possible and we would really like you to reach out to us if interested in getting formally involved in the network group or in putting forward suggestions for future activities. We are keen to benefit from as many perspectives as possible and to share learnings as the network evolves.
Áine Crotty
Anne-Marie Whelehan	I recently joined the LGBT+ working group as I was interested in the area of Inclusion in general. I have a career in financial services and can see the value of people bringing their whole selves to a professional environment. When people are enjoying their work, they are lovely to work with and bring out the best in people around them. Thus removing any barriers that restricts people giving their best on a daily basis is good for everybody. My experience tells me that in a lot of instances, in order to thrive, most people only need small assistance in terms of breaking down barriers, overcoming hurdles or being seen. I think all organisations should provide this support. I’m happy to play any small part I can in order for Chartered Accountants Ireland to be a truly Inclusive organisation.
Brendan Ruddy	I was born and grew up in Ballina in County Mayo and was the first in the extended family to attend university – UCD was a very liberating experience in contrast to my life in the West of Ireland! I successfully completed my chartered accountancy training in 1991 which has opened many doors for me professionally since then. It is worth noting though that when I proudly qualified as a Chartered Accountant it was at a time homosexuality was still illegal in Ireland and had I met my now husband three years before the decriminalisation in 1993. As someone who openly identifies as a gay man, my involvement with this group is a natural fit. The Network group are an exciting and energetic group who are a pleasure to engage with and want to make a difference for all students and members. In getting involved myself as the elder lemon I am hoping that my experience of mental health difficulties will also be relevant in the medium term as the Institute looks to the intersectionality of all equality issues that can potentially contribute to discrimination in the workplace. I always say and believe: anything less than equality is inequality.
Clare Monaghan
Eimer Proctor	Hi, I am Eimer Proctor I work in practice as a Manager within Audit, Accounts and Advisory at ASM Chartered Accountants in Belfast. I am married three years in March 2022 to Emma and we are expecting our first baby on 2 February 2022. I am a recent recruit in late 2021 to the LGBTQ+ Committee and am very excited to be involved with this new and upcoming subcommittee. I came out in my mid 20s and believe if it wasn’t for the support of my workplace at that time, it would have been a lot harder. Therefore, the role of our group is paramount to help support all our members with not only this process but also the hurdles they may face as they get used to their new space. I look forward to what 2022 brings for this group and encourage all our members to get involved with not only our committee but the other committees and events that are on throughout the year through Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Jonathan Totterdell	I joined the BALANCE committee due to my wide interest in diversity, equity & inclusion. Seeing Ireland go through a visible change over the past decade has been a great experience, my small contribution to that would be to keep the conversation going within practice and business. I have been particularly interested in role models in the industry and the importance of having diverse senior leaders in organisations across the Irish business landscape.
Justin McAleese
Kenneth Henry	I am delighted to join the BALANCE committee with Chartered Accountants Ireland and look forward to an exciting time ahead as the LGBTQ+ network group grows in scope and purpose. I am delighted to join the BALANCE committee with Chartered Accountants Ireland and look forward to an exciting time ahead as the LGBTQ+ network group grows in scope and purpose. I was admitted as a member of the Institute in early 2019 and as a relatively recent member I am passionate about encouraging and promoting queer and ally visibility at all and any stage of the student and member journey. The link between mental wellbeing and inclusive workplace cultures is critical to encouraging students and members to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally, and I am eager to play my part in promoting that ethos across the profession.
Padraig Kilkenny	As a past student and current member of Chartered Accountants Ireland I noticed that there has historically been a lack of LGBTQ+ representation and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues in its communications, publications and through their events. I decided to become involved in the launch of the ‘Balance’ network as I think it is important to say to our LGBTQ+ students, members and staff that our profession is open and inclusive to them. Through this network, I hope it will contribute positively to their career experience, that they will become aware of the services available to them at Chartered Accountants Ireland and that they will have an opportunity to meet and network with their LGBTQ+ peers, leaders and allies.
Paul Cassidy
Sarah Byrne Browne