Women’s Leadership in 2026: Between Acceleration and Backlash, These Certified Organizations Choosing to Take Concrete Action for Parity.

On this International Women’s Day, as gender equality remains at the center of economic, social, and organizational debates, Women in Governance (WiG) officially announces the 2026 cohort of organizations that have earned the Parity Certification™. These organizations stand out for their structured and tangible commitment to advancing parity within their teams and decision making bodies. 

In a global context marked both by notable progress and by troubling signs of regression in certain hard won rights, WiG reaffirms a strong conviction: parity is not a given. It is an ongoing undertaking that requires leadership, rigor, and collective ambition. 

To date, more than 150 organizations have committed to this process, establishing the Parity Certification™ as a leading benchmark across North America. Its expansion into France marks a new chapter in the international growth of a proven model designed to turn commitments into measurable results and to sustainably reshape women’s representation at decision making tables. 

A 2026 cohort that reflects clear determination 

The 2026 cohort brings together organizations from a wide range of sectors, including historically male dominated industries. Through their actions, they demonstrate that parity can be embedded as a strategic lever for governance, performance, and organizational resilience. 

This year, a record 18 organizations have reached the Platinum level of the Parity Certification™, recognizing significant and sustained progress at all levels of leadership: Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), BDC, BNP Paribas Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada, the City of Montréal, Danone Canada, Desjardins, Intact, Loto-Québec, Marsh Canada, Mercer Canada, National Bank, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Organon Canada, Sanofi, Sun Life, TMX, and WTW. 

View the list of certified organizations here: https://womeningovernance.world/2026-parity-certification/

Women in Governance also wishes to acknowledge all organizations that continue their on the ground work to advance parity, particularly in the current climate, where some are facing external pressure to reconsider the importance of these commitments. The list of certified organizations is not exhaustive. For WiG, what matters most is that action continues, practices evolve, and parity remains recognized as a critical driver of economic performance, innovation, and resilience. 

“Parity is neither a trend nor a compliance exercise. It is a strategic choice that requires courage, consistency, and leadership. On this International Women’s month, we recognize the organizations that have chosen to act decisively and to measure their progress. More than ever, accelerating parity is a collective responsibility.” Caroline Codsi, Founder and Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance. 

An official unveiling at a Montréal luncheon conference 

To formally unveil the 2026 cohort of certified organizations, Women in Governance will host a luncheon conference on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton Montréal. The event will feature an exceptional panel of inspiring leaders who will share diverse perspectives and experiences around the theme “Women’s Leadership in 2026: Acceleration or Global Backlash?” 

• Louise Otis, President of the NATO and OECD Administrative Tribunals and former Judge of the Québec Court of Appeal 

• Jérôme Pécresse, Chief Executive Officer, Aluminium and Lithium, Rio Tinto 

• The Honourable Amina Gerba, Independent Senator for Québec 

Momentum continues throughout the year 

The exemplary commitment of certified organizations will also be celebrated at Women in Governance’s two prestigious annual Recognition Galas: 

• Montreal, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Presented by Promutuel Assurance, the gala will be co chaired by Marie-Claude Dumas, President of WSP Canada, and Frédéric Guichard, President of Danone Canada.   

• Toronto, November 3, 2026, at the Liberty Grand. The event will be co chaired by Teresa Palandra, President of Mercer Canada, and Nigel Branker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Securian Canada. 

These galas provide a premier setting for high level networking, knowledge sharing, and collective inspiration. 

ABOUT WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE 

Founded in 2010, Women in Governance (WiG) works to transform workplaces and make parity a tangible reality. Its mission is ambitious: to support women at every stage of their professional journey while guiding organizations in implementing more equitable practices. WiG plays a key role in advancing organizational cultures in the areas of parity, leadership, and governance, with a vision of a future where gender equality becomes the norm rather than an objective to achieve. 🔗 https://womeningovernance.world/ 

 ABOUT THE PARITY CERTIFICATION™ 

Proudly founded in Canada in 2017, the Parity Certification™ is the first and only North American certification dedicated to advancing gender parity at all levels of leadership. Initially deployed in Canada, it is now expanding into France, marking a new stage in its international growth while remaining attentive to local realities. 

Supported by leading partners and grounded in clear indicators and measurable targets, the Parity Certification™ provides organizations with a rigorous and credible framework to structure, measure, and accelerate their progress toward parity, particularly in historically male dominated sectors and decision making roles. To date, more than one million employees work within organizations certified under the Parity Certification™, demonstrating the real and measurable impact of this initiative. 🔗https://paritycertification.world/