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On 13 January, the first international meeting of women heads of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of EU Member States took place in Madrid. The event brought together women leaders of SAIs from 10 EU countries, as well as the Speaker of the Congress of Deputies of Spain and the European Ombudsman. Olha Pishchanska, Chairwoman of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, joined the meeting online.
In her address, Olha Pishchanska emphasised that trust in public institutions begins with effective leadership, and that women’s leadership experience plays a special role in building resilient and results-oriented institutions, particularly in times of crisis and war.
She underlined that for Ukraine, women’s leadership has deep historical roots and today has a strong practical dimension: women play a key role in public administration, the security sector, healthcare, recovery efforts, and institutional reform during the full-scale war.
During the meeting, participants exchanged experiences in implementing gender equality policies within their institutions and discussed leadership practices as well as audits related to gender issues.
“Women’s leadership is not a universal answer to all challenges. At the same time, centuries of women’s management experience, with its focus on teamwork, responsibility, and empathy, form the basis for shaping institutional resilience strategies even in the most difficult times,” Olha Pishchanska noted.
As a result of the meeting, the heads of Supreme Audit Institutions adopted a Joint Partnership Statement aimed at building more just, transparent, representative, and independent institutions that embody the values of non-discrimination, gender equality, integrity, and public service for the benefit of citizens. The Accounting Chamber of Ukraine is among the signatories of the Statement.
Background: Women make up 64% of the staff of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, while 58% of its management positions are held by women—reflecting the institution’s commitment to equal opportunities and an inclusive management culture.
