AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA EUROPEAN NETWORK OF POLICE WOMEN ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN POLICE COLLEGES

GENDER, DIVERSITY AND POLICE LEADERSHIP

GARDA COLLEGE, TEMPLEMORE, CO. TIPPERARY, IRELAND

5th to 7th November 2014

Conference Report

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CONTENTS

Introduction ...... 3

Conference Aim ...... 5

Conference Presentations ...... 5

Conference Key Conclusions ...... 9

Conference Close ...... 11

Speaker Contacts ...... 12

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INTRODUCTION

An Garda Síochána hosted an inspiring European Conference from 5th to 7th November 2014. The European conference on ‘Gender, Diversity and Police Leadership’ was held in the Garda College Templemore, Co Tipperary. This conference was organised by An Garda Síochána in partnership with the European Network of Police Women and the Association of European Police Colleges.

The conference was attended by over 50 female and male participants from 11 countries including, Northern Ireland, Germany, Poland, UK, Spain, Montenegro, Lithuania, Austria, Sweden, The Netherlands and An Garda Síochána.

Chief Superintendent Anne Marie McMahon and Chief Superintendent Orla McPartlin co- hosted the conference and welcomed delegates on behalf of Acting Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan.

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The keynote address, from the President of the European Network of Policewomen, Ms. Montserrat Pina Martinez, set the positive and inclusive tone for the Conference. She thanked Commissioner O’Sullivan and An Garda Síochána for organising and hosting the conference. Mr John Barrett, recently appointed Executive Director of Human Resources and People Development in An Garda Síochána, told delegates of the recent significant changes in the Justice Sector in Ireland, with women now in key leadership positions including the Minister for Justice, the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Acting Garda Commissioner.

Dr Norbert Leitner, Director of the Police Academy Vienna and Vice President of the Association of European Police Colleges, spoke to delegates about the importance of the partnership approach adopted by the European Network of Police Women and the Association of European Police Colleges, in highlighting the importance of Gender Diversity in Police Leadership.

Assistant Commissioner Fintan Fanning, formerly Head of Human Resource Management was the sponsor of this conference prior to taking up his new position as Assistant Commissioner, Eastern Region.

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CONFERENCE AIM

The aim of the conference was to share research, insights and international perspectives from both policing and the private sector on Gender Diversity and Leadership. The Conference speakers shared their own leadership and diversity experiences. This added significantly to the overall impact of the conference.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

The superb quality presentations from all speakers resulted in a highly interactive conference.

L – R Chief Superintendent May-Britt Rinaldo Sweden, Retired Chief Superintendent Clare O Sullivan, Mr Norbert Leitner, Vice President of the Association of European Police Colleges, Mr John Barrett, Executive Director HRM, Superintendent Margaret Nugent, Ms. Montserrat Pina Martinez, President, European Network of Police Women, Chief Superintendent Anne Marie McMahon , Ms. Paula Neary, Client Director, Accenture, Ms Helena O’Dwyer Accenture, Inspector Brian Gill, Garda Lucy Grimes.

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Paula Neary, Client Director, Accenture shared the Accenture experience in her presentation on, ‘Bringing Diversity to the Leadership Table” and “Retaining and Progressing Women in Your Organisation”. Paula was accompanied by Helena O’Dwyer from Accenture. The Accenture ‘Accent on Women’ Programme is internationally recognised as leading the field in retaining and developing women for and in leadership roles. The presentation demonstrated the importance of having a clear strategy, and making diversity in the leadership team a key business goal.

“The strategy needs to be supported with top level sponsorship, ongoing support for women and commitment to achieve stated goals” Paula Neary

Many of the Accenture, Accent on Women initiatives, have now been rolled out across the organisation worldwide to both women and men. The personal leadership and commitment of Paula to achieving the goals of Accenture’s programme was evident throughout the presentation.

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Chief Superintendent May-Britt Rinaldo, from Götaland, Sweden, enthralled delegates with her presentations, “Women strength in the police, Gender-Balance and the consequences for the work of the police force in Sweden in the year 2020” and “The Glass Ceiling, Possibilities, Offers, Education and Development”

“Great leaders spend their energy on the most effective activities to achieve the greatest outcomes. Remember, action orientation is good, but be oriented on the right actions. Don’t just be busy; be a busy leader who gets results”.

May- Britt Rinaldo

This was a real life learning opportunity for delegates as they listened to and interacted with May-Britt as she shared her many experiences and her leadership tool set, with a unique combination of honesty and humour.

Commissioner Anneke Oosting, Netherlands, who is also the Director of the National Expertise Centre on Diversity, inspired delegates with her presentation ‘Society is You”.

“Diversity is about the quality of police work and is an integral element of police expertise” Commissioner Anneke Oosting

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Anneke spoke of the importance of legitimacy in policing, linking diversity to operational duties and linking the diversification of teams to the effectiveness of professional policing. In an unforgettable presentation, supported by two ‘surprise guest speakers’ delegates were challenged to confront their own unconscious bias(es) and brought on an emotional journey by presenters who had themselves been subjected to and overcome, societal and organisational exclusion.

In the final conference presentation, recently retired Chief Superintendent, from An Garda Síochána, Clare O’Sullivan, summarised the conference findings. In her presentation ‘Looking to the Future” she reminded delegates of the importance of knowing yourself and being aware of your own bias, demonstrating leadership by developing people and setting time aside to do so. She stressed the importance and the challenges of bringing about cultural change through innovative, quality decisions and inclusive leadership.

“Police leadership is above all about connecting outward with diverse communities, building bridges and ensuring that inclusive, professional, human rights based policing is representative of, respectful to and understands the fear and alienation of all people and communities, but particularly those who feel, for whatever reason, they may not be part of an inclusive society”

Clare O’Sullivan

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CONFERENCE KEY CONCLUSIONS

The overriding conclusion was that diverse, inclusive leadership teams improve decision making and significantly improve organisational performance. However, it is still a challenge for all organisations to get a critical mass of women into leadership positions. Organisations require at least 33 per cent of women at board level to achieve significant performance improvements.

Organisational culture is still one of the biggest barriers for women to overcome. This is particular relevant in police organisations as policing was not traditionally seen as a career for women and it has taken time for women to make their way through the organisations ‘pipeline’. Ongoing support for women in terms of programmes that include sponsorship, mentoring, coaching, leadership training, maternity, back to work and networks are necessary if the overall goal is to be achieved.

The acknowledgment of the challenges faced by women and the importance of support from men and women are crucial factors to ensuring that women have the confidence to break through the glass ceiling.

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Comprehensive, inclusive strategies/frameworks are essential to making change in this area a reality. Leadership at the highest level in organisations is required to ensure that women make it to the decision making roles in organisations.

The organisations that have succeeded in having a critical mass of women in their leadership teams have seen real improvements in the quality of their decision making and overall organisational performance.

The society of today and tomorrow expect and want to see diversity in both the decision making roles and the front line of organisations.

Given the current worldwide threat to policing and security, there are real consequences for the legitimacy of policing unless there are diverse and inclusive human rights based policing services that are representative of the people they police. Key to making this connection with society is linking diversity to operational duties and linking the diversification of teams to the effectiveness of professional policing. This will require innovative and challenging leadership and diversity training for all police officers.

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CONFERENCE CLOSE

In closing the conference, Chief Superintendent Anne Marie McMahon, thanked the conference organisers, in particular Superintendent Margaret Nugent and her team and the staff of the Garda College.

She also thanked the speakers and European Network of Police Women and the Association of European Police Colleges for their support in hosting the event.

She was also glad to see that guests enjoyed the Irish welcome that is so very much part of the Garda College ethos.

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SPEAKER CONTACTS

Paula Neary

Email: [email protected]

May-Britt Rinaldo

E-mail: [email protected]

Clare O’Sullivan

E-Mail: [email protected]

Anneke Oosting

E-Mail: [email protected]

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