G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council 

The G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) is an independent advisory body that provides recommendations on gender equality to G7 leaders and ministers.  The council brings together a diverse group of gender equality experts, including academics, activists, businesspeople and policymakers, to ensure a broad and inclusive approach to gender equality. 

History of GEAC 

Canada established GEAC during its 2018 presidency, and the council has since been convened 6 times. Since its founding, GEAC has submitted meaningful recommendations to G7 leaders for advancing gender equality and empowering women.

For example, the G7 launched an annual Dashboard for Gender Gaps in 2022 based on a GEAC recommendation. This tool tracks G7 efforts on gender equality and helps hold members accountable by identifying gaps and measuring progress.

Canada is committed to protecting and advancing gender equality.

Recommendations to G7 Leaders

Gender equality is not just a moral imperative—it is a strategic one.

Gender inequalities continue to mark economies, societies and political decision-making around the world. That’s why gender equality must remain an integral part of global discussions.

As the 2025 G7 President, Canada continues to support the work of GEAC, an independent body established under our 2018 Presidency to provide recommendations to G7 Leaders on gender equality issues. The Council calls for meaningful action to advance gender equality and apply gender perspectives across priority areas. Integrating gender perspectives across all areas of decision-making is smart policy that can drive economic prosperity, sustainable development, and democratic resilience.

Read GEAC’s 2025 recommendations:

G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps

The G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps provides an annual overview of key indicators on gender gaps covering a range of socioeconomic areas across G7 countries.

In 2022, the G7 asked the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to develop the first monitoring and accountability mechanism to gather, analyze and provide information on G7 commitments to achieve gender equality. The dashboards provide internationally comparable and transparent data.

G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps

Read the Dashboard Guide.

View the G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps by member:

The data for the United States is not included this year.

Impact Assessment Report

During its 2025 G7 presidency, Canada undertook an impact assessment of GEAC to understand how it has shaped G7 outcomes to advance gender equality, review its working methods, and capture best practices. The assessment covers the timeframe 2018 to 2024. Findings included the following:

GEAC has helped ensure that gender equality stays on the G7 agenda.
GEAC has played a positive role in advancing gender equality outcomes through the G7, with direct links or a strong correlation between GEAC recommendations and G7 commitments in several instances – most notably in the establishment of the G7 Dashboard for Gender Gaps.
The focus of GEAC recommendations generally overlaps with that of G7 commitments, indicating a correlation between GEAC and G7 efforts.
Factors contributing to GEAC’s success include:
- The G7 presidency making gender equality a priority
- Timely support from the G7 presidency
- Access to G7 decision-makers

Read the GEAC Impact Assessment Report

Chair and Vice-Chair

Members Nominated by G7 Partners for 2024-2025

Members Nominated by Canada for 2025

2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting

March 18 and 19, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Photo Credit: Government of Canada

Elin Miller, Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) Secretariat Deputy Director; Catherine Régis, Professor at the Université de Montréal; Estelle Levin-Nally, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Levin Sources; Sawako Shirahase, Project Professor at the University of Tokyo, Monica Ricci Sargentini, Journalist, Michelle Vandevord, Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, Kateryna Sherysheva, GEAC Secretariat Senior Advisor, Frances Fitzgerald, Former Member of the European Parliament and Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland, Catherine Ladousse, Co-chair of the commission Parité en matière politique, administrative et socio-économique at the Haut Conseil à l'Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes; Paulette Senior, Canadian Senator & GEAC Vice-Chair; Isabelle Hudon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Development Bank of Canada & GEAC, Sarah Sands, Journalist and Author, and Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security pose for a family photo at the 2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting in Ottawa.

Elin Miller, Gender Equality Advisory Council Secretariat Deputy Director and Elder Fred McGregor, Kitigan Zibi, speaking at the 2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting in Ottawa.

Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security; Nell Stewart, Senior Official for Afghanistan, Global Affairs Canada; Zahra Nader, Editor-in-Chief of Zan Times; Madina Mashkoori, Student at Carleton University; and Melanne Verveer, Gender Equality Advisory Council Member, sitting and conversing at the 2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting in Ottawa.

Catherine Ladousse, Co-chair of the commission Parité en matière politique, administrative et socio-économique at the Haut Conseil à l'Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes clapping and smiling.

The crowd at the 2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting in Ottawa.

Nell Stewart, Senior Official for Afghanistan, Global Affairs Canada; and Zahra Nader, Editor-in-Chief of Zan Times, speaking at the 2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting in Ottawa.

Paulette Senior, Canadian Senator & Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting Vice-Chair speaking at the podium. Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security; Nell Stewart, Senior Official for Afghanistan, Global Affairs Canada; Zahra Nader, Editor-in-Chief of Zan Times; and Madina Mashkoori, Student at Carleton University, at the 2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting in Ottawa.

Isabelle Hudon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Development Bank of Canada & Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting Chair speaking on stage.

Madina Mashkoori, Student at Carleton University speaking on stage.

Deputy Minister for the G7 Summit and Personal Representative of the Prime Minister (Sherpa) for the G7 and G20 Summits, Cindy Termorshuizen speaking at a podium for the 2025 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council Meeting in Ottawa.