Our 2026 Spotlight Series officially kicked off with a topic that will shape the future of workplace equality across Europe: the EU Pay Transparency Directive. With expert insights from Samira Rafaela (PwC) and Marie‑Louise Daniëls (Van Lanschot Kempen), participants explored how organisations can move from legislative obligation to meaningful, measurable impact.

Understanding the Directive: From Negotiation Table to Boardroom

To introduce the topic, Samira Rafaela, who played a direct role in negotiating the directive as a former Member of the European Parliament, provided a clear walkthrough of the EU legislative process, the implementation timeline, the key elements of the final text and the opportunities the directive creates for companies. According to Samira, the directive is not merely a compliance exercise, but a strategic opportunity to strengthen trust, transparency, and organisational performance:

“Closing the gender gap isn’t just fair - it prevents losses in money, productivity, and the power of diverse perspectives.” - Samira Rafaela

Samira also shared practical starting points for organisations that want to prepare proactively rather than reactively.

A Practical Case: Van Lanschot Kempen’s Pay Transparency Journey

Next, Marie‑Louise Daniëls offered a deep-dive into Van Lanschot Kempen’s own pay transparency trajectory, in which she outlined the systematic approach they adopted, the internal processes needed to build a robust equal‑pay framework, and the lessons learned - including what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently. Her presentation provided valuable guidance for organisations at all maturity levels, from early‑stage explorers to those already refining their methodologies.

Peer Learning: From Shared Challenges to Shared Solutions

The session concluded with a peer‑learning exercise facilitated by Jamie Holton, where participants exchanged experiences on four core themes that will define successful implementation: (1) Defining work‑of‑equal‑value categories; (2) Complementary and variable pay; (3) Collecting and reporting equal‑pay data; and (4) Remediation strategies. The open exchange highlighted while every organisation’s journey is unique, the challenges are often remarkably similar - and so are the opportunities to learn from one another.

A Collective Effort Toward Impact

A heartfelt thank‑you to our hosting partner Social Impact Factory, and to all participants who contributed their insights, questions, and experiences.