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This study investigates the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and corporate financial distress, with board gender diversity examined as a moderating variable. Using 96 firm-year observations from manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (2022–2024), the analysis employs variance-based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings reveal that ESG performance does not exert a statistically significant effect on financial distress, and gender diversity does not moderate this relationship. These non-significant results constitute the central empirical contribution of the study, highlighting that ESG engagement and gender diversity have yet to translate into financial resilience in the Indonesian manufacturing context. The study underscores the importance of contextual factors—such as implementation costs, authenticity of ESG disclosures, and limited female representation on boards—in shaping the effectiveness of sustainability practices. The results provide theoretical implications for Stakeholder and Agency Theory and offer practical insights for managers, regulators, and investors in emerging markets.