On Wednesday, 30th April, Fertility Matters at Work (FMAW) hosted a transformative breakfast round table in the stunning library of Diageo’s Masonry building in Dublin. Bathed in morning sunshine, we welcomed a packed room of senior HR leaders, all keen to explore how fertility support can shape healthier, more inclusive workplaces.
We were thrilled to be joined by two of our members, Gerry Joanes, People and Culture Director at Diageo Ireland, and Áine Fanning, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Cpl. Both brought not only professional expertise but deeply personal lived experience, highlighting why this topic resonates on both an organisational and human level.
“We Can Publish Every Policy Under the Sun, But We Need to Live It”
Gerry, who has been with Diageo for 21 years, spoke candidly about her own fertility journey, sharing how she’d had numerous rounds of treatment and the path to becoming childless not by choice. She described how Diageo’s “Spirit of Progress” centres on building a thriving organisation, and how addressing taboos is essential to that mission.
She reflected on the hidden emotional toll of treatment: “I’d leave work after encouraging others to be open and walk out like I’d won an Oscar. That’s how much we hide, even when we know better.”
Gerry emphasised the power of listening, vulnerability in leadership, and creating true culture change: “If I had to do it again, I’d ask for help.”
“It Was Healing for Me”
Áine shared her own raw and powerful story, describing how she once administered fertility injections at work and returned the next day as though nothing had happened illustrating how fertility struggles are often invisible.
At Cpl, a major focus on diversity and inclusion led to a “Sense of Us” survey, revealing that while policies existed, employees felt the conversation was missing. “We realised we weren’t listening. We weren’t creating space to talk.” Aine talked about Cpl’s partnership with FMAW, including their launch event, which included her joining the panel conversation and how it felt like a real turning point:
“It was the most vulnerable I’ve ever been but the impact was incredible. It became one of the most phenomenally responsive engagement pieces we’ve ever done.”
The conversation didn’t just change the culture; it drove real business impact, reinforcing that “none of the business thrives without its people.”
Key Takeaways from the Discussion
The room engaged in a thoughtful conversation about the barriers middle managers face, recognising that supporting fertility is not a one-size-fits-all issue. A striking example was a case study shared how a cross-functional policy that could only support an employee’s surrogacy journey by moving him to the U.S! This highlights just how far we have to go to create practical, compassionate frameworks.
Gerry’s reminder stuck with many: “Don’t leave before you leave” underscoring the importance of staying engaged and advocating for support throughout challenging personal journeys.
Fertility Matters at Work Expands in Ireland
This event marked FMAW’s first headline event in Dublin which is such an important milestone as Ireland is a priority growth market for us. With many of our UK-based member organisations also employing staff in Ireland, we have a strong foundation for expansion. The incredible turnout and positive feedback underscored the relevance of our Fertility Friendly Accreditation and the growing demand for meaningful workplace support.
We left inspired by the honesty, bravery, and commitment in the room and excited to keep driving this crucial conversation forward across Ireland and beyond. If you’d like to discuss how we can support your organisation in becoming fertility friendly accredited, please have a look at our members and the packages we have available and get in touch.