How AI is affecting the gender balance at the top floors in the financial sector

The 2026 event will be the 8th FutureBoards Cross Border Dialogue in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London – and the 23rd FutureBoards Cross Border Dialogue altogether - organized in collaboration with Royal Norwegian Embassies and Consulates globally.

The purpose of the FutureBoards Cross Border dialogues is to help evening the gender balance in the corporate sector – in management teams as well as the Board of Directors. As a concrete result of the London events, Kvinner i Finans Charter was established in Norway in 2021. As of February 2026, 65 financial institutions have signed the Norwegian charter, and we are now building a networking/dialogue-arena for signatory employees.

However, political pushback combined with D&I fatigue in some parts of the world, has led to a perception that the gender balance debate has stalled. That actually creates an opportunity for the debate to move toward power, competitiveness, governance quality, and capital allocation. In addition, as AI reshapes the financial sector, will it accelerate meritocracy — or reinforce existing biases in leadership and capital allocation?

CO-HOSTS AND CO-ORGANIZERS

The FutureBoards Cross Border Dialogue in London on 17 September 2026 is co-hosted by The Royal Norwegian Embassy in London, kindly supported by ABG Sundal Collier Women in Finance Foundation.