By Business & Finance 
UCD Smurfit and the Central Bank of Ireland co-hosted the Women in Macro Event, highlighting macroeconomic research, monetary policy, and gender equality in economics.
“Macroeconomic research feeds directly into the decisions that shape Ireland’s business environment, including interest rates, inflation, employment, financial stability, housing prices, monetary policy, and the assessment of risks ranging from geopolitical shocks to climate transition,” explained Associate Professor in Finance Alessia Paccagnini.
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School played a central role in advancing both macroeconomic research excellence and gender equality as it co-hosted the Women in Macro Event today, 24 April 2026. It was the first in-person event and was hosted by event partners, the Central Bank of Ireland.
“Speakers addressed questions that matter for Irish firms now: how monetary policy transmits through financial markets, how uncertainty affects investment, and how to forecast in real time using novel data,” said Dr Paccagnini, who is the Academic Director of UCD’s Master’s in Quantitative Finance programme and awardee of the STEM Champion prize at the 2024 Diversity in Tech Awards.
“Hosting the workshop at the Central Bank of Ireland strengthens the bridge between cutting-edge academic research and the institutions whose decisions affect Irish businesses every day,” she explained. “The collaboration builds a stronger, more diverse pipeline of macroeconomists in Ireland, which benefits every employer that depends on high-quality economic analysis, from the financial sector to government to consultancy.”
A global platform for research, policy, and collaboration
The workshop brought together an impressive network of economists and thought leaders from 15 leading organisations, including universities, financial institutions and policy bodies across Europe and the United States. See the full programme here.
Headlining the event was Professor Hélène Rey OBE, who is one of the most cited and influential macroeconomists in the world today. She holds the Lord Bagri Chair at London Business School, and her work on the global financial cycle has fundamentally reshaped how economists and policymakers think about international capital flows and monetary policy spillovers. She spoke on her recent research in international macroeconomics and finance, which is highly relevant to a small open economy like Ireland.
The event was co-organised by leading academics and economists, including Dilan Aydin Yakut (Central Bank of Ireland), Martyna Marczak (Trinity College Dublin and IM-TCD), Alessia Paccagnini (University College Dublin and CAMA), and Vitaliia Yaremko (Trinity College Dublin and IM-TCD). Offering opening remarks was Daragh Clancy, Head of the Monetary Policy Division at the Central Bank of Ireland, setting the tone for a day of high-level discussion and collaboration.
Driving gender equality in economics
“This is believed to be the first dedicated ‘women in macro’ research workshop hosted by the Central Bank of Ireland, and one of very few such workshops in Europe,” continued Dr Paccagnini. “We hope that the event encourages more women in Ireland to pursue careers in macroeconomics and policy economics.”
Women remain significantly under-represented in macroeconomics, particularly at senior levels in both academia and policy-facing roles. The Women in Macroeconomics Network, at the heart of the workshop, is dedicated to building connections, visibility, and support for women across academia, central banks, and policy institutions.
Its mission aligns closely with UCD Smurfit School’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and leadership development. By creating platforms for mentoring, collaboration, and professional visibility, the initiative ensures that women economists are empowered to shape the future of the discipline.
The event also reflects UCD Smurfit School’s growing influence as a hub for impactful macroeconomic thought leadership and research and its commitment to fostering inclusive academic and policy environments. “Combined with the European Economic Association and the European meeting of the Econometric Society (EEA-ESEM) Conference at UCD College of Business this August, the events mark a significant moment of visibility for economic research in Ireland,” concluded Dr Paccagnini.
By supporting initiatives that combine academic rigour with real-world relevance, the School continues to cultivate leaders who are equipped to address complex economic challenges while championing equality and inclusion.
For further information, please contact womeninmacro.workshop@gmail.com.
