Niamh Leinwather
Secretary General,
Vienna International Arbitral Centre of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
In 2024, we have still not broken the glass ceiling. It is high time that we make real progress. We need to strengthen and support women throughout their careers. Each and every stakeholder has a duty to contribute to closing the gender gap. Unfortunately, international arbitration still has a long way to go before sustainable progress has been made. In my tenure at VIAC gender will play an important role.
I support the IGC Panel Parity Pledge.
I support the IGC gender-based violence pledge.
Personal Commitments
In 2025, I commit to organising a dedicated event or pre-recorded session under the umbrella of The ADR Wellbeing Toolbox project, specifically for women in ADR. This session will focus on the unique challenges women face, such as fertility and work-life balance, providing a supportive space for open dialogue, expert insights, and practical strategies to empower women in confidently navigating these personal and professional challenges.
In 2025, I commit to organising an ArbitralWomen event focused on addressing the gender imbalance in international arbitration, providing a platform to share experiences, discuss challenges, and promote actionable strategies to achieve greater gender parity in the field.