The Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA), supported by FICCI FLO, hosted the symposium “Where Women Lead, Justice Follows” on 07 March 2026 at Federation House, New Delhi. The insightful session brought leading voices from law, arbitration, and public service together for a meaningful dialogue on boosting gender diversity in the legal profession.
Arun Chawla, Director General, ICA, opened the session by highlighting the impact of unpaid care work and “time poverty” on women’s workforce participation, emphasizing that enabling inclusion is key to institutional strength.
Delivering her welcome address, Poonam Sharma, National President, FICCI FLO, underscored that women’s leadership is essential to building inclusive and responsive institutions. Also, she highlighted FICCI FLO’s contribution towards empowering women in the legal profession by conducting capacity-building sessions across different FLO chapters in order to equip them with the required knowledge and skills.
In her keynote address, Chief Guest Hon’ble Justice B. V. Nagarathna called for structural inclusivity in arbitration, advocating greater representation of women and stronger retention policies. She is set to become India’s first female Chief Justice in 2027.
Hon’ble Justice Mini Pushkarna emphasized sustained institutional support for women’s advancement. A panel moderated by Pinky Anand explored barriers and opportunities for gender diversity in the legal profession. The symposium reinforced a clear message- empowering women’s leadership is critical to building equitable, inclusive, and future-ready institutions.