Rachel’s move into Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) space started with a role as co-chair of her local disability employee network, NestAbility and she has now progressed to Global DE&I Manager at Nestlé – the world’s largest food and beverage company.

“I look back on my career to reflect on the change that I have supported – stem cell research approved into UK law, the New Deal for Lone Parents, health finance transparency and inclusion in Malawi. All now making material differences to people’s lives.”

Rachel is an advocate for the power of coaching and mentoring as part of Inclusion & Belonging.

“I’m proud of the lasting impact I’ve made across my career to colleagues with disabilities or those who are introverts in particular.”

EVENT MC

FEATURED SPEAKER

Solat has worked passionately in the field of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion for over 25 years.  All the while being especially driven by a need to support victims of discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.

Solat has helped to establish the Irish Centre for Diversity as a leading voice and advocate for FREDIE™ – Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Engagement – a field in which he is widely recognised as the foremost authority.

Solat pioneered Investors in Diversity – nationally-recognised as Ireland’s premier D&I accreditation and framework for progress. 

With a career marked by innovation, thought leadership, and unwavering dedication to equality, Solat is a pivotal figure driving systemic change and championing inclusive excellence across all sectors.

Aideen is passionate about creating inclusive, supportive workplaces where people can perform at their best and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

Aideen leads the development of strategies that bring together inclusion, wellbeing and employee experience, with a strong focus on practical, evidence-based approaches.

Aideen’s work has contributed to a number of award-winning programmes across the public sector.

Sharon is a member of BnM’s Senior Leadership Team and she leads the company’s people, culture and communications agenda, with a strong focus on Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and organisational performance.

Sharon has championed a data-informed strategy that has advanced employee engagement, inclusive workplace practices and wellbeing across BnM, including supporting Investors in Diversity Silver accreditation, progress in representation, and enhanced employee-focused supports.

Sharon plays a key role in shaping an inclusive, values-led culture that helps people thrive and supports BnM’s continued growth and transformation.

Siobhán leads inclusive workforce policies that strengthen Diversity, Equity & representation across the civil service. Previously, she was Head of ED&I at Publicjobs, embedding equitable recruitment practices and widening access to public service careers. She returned to Dublin in 2021 after two decades in London’s non-profit and public sectors, working across education and youth inclusion, social policy, violence reduction, and ED&I workplace reforms for the Mayor of London.

Siobhán sits on the Board of Black & Irish

John is Director of Human Resources at St Vincent’s University Hospital, where he leads a broad range of strategic HR and organisational development initiatives. With extensive experience across the Irish public health service and civil service, John is committed to fostering inclusive workplace cultures that support staff wellbeing, engagement and professional development.

John has played a key role in advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at St Vincent’s University Hospital, supporting the organisation’s achievement of Investors in Diversity Bronze Accreditation from the Irish Centre for Diversity. He has also supported the establishment of the hospital’s EDI Council and the development of its EDI Strategy, helping to embed inclusion, belonging and equity across the organisation. He is passionate about creating workplaces where diversity is valued, inclusion is embedded in everyday practice, and all staff have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to excellent patient care.

“I am delighted to take part in this panel and highlight the work being undertaken at St Vincent’s University Hospital as part of our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion & progress.”

Edima is an inclusion champion for workplace equity, and President of the African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI), one of Ireland’s leading networks for Black and Afro-Irish professionals & entrepreneurs.

With a career spanning technology, marketing, strategic partnerships, and social impact leadership, she advises organisations on leveraging diverse talent, advancing equity, and building inclusive environments. Under her leadership, APNI won the prestigious Diversity in Tech Award for Cultural Inclusion and was a finalist for the Business & Finance ESG Award.

Edima has led initiatives connecting thousands of professionals to career opportunities, mentorship, and leadership development programs across Ireland. Recognised for advancing workplace equity and social mobility, Edima is a sought-after speaker on leadership, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and the future of work. 

Jeanne has over 30 years award winning experience in inclusion, politics, campaigning, mental health and LGBTQ+ issues, and board membership. She has bipolar which informs her work through lived experience.

Kerrie is an Irish Paralympic archer who has represented Ireland at 5 European Championships, 4 World Championships, the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games where she finished 9th and 17th.

Kerrie is the only competitive archer in Ireland who is in a wheelchair and yet has been the Open National Champion on 5 different occasions, where she competed against archers of all abilities. Archery is a great leveller and she would love people to understand that with her results, the standard of para archery is so high in Ireland that it is one of the most inclusive sports on the island.

Growing up on a farm means she has had to have been very adaptive and loves to face challenges head on. Professionally has worked with global tech multinationals, working in analytics, sales, and marketing on top of which she works closely with government bodies and organisations to raise the awareness of farm safety and raise the profile of para sport in Ireland.

Michael is the ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer for Longford County Council and was selected as an EU Expert for the European Roma Rights Centre’s ‘EU Moving On’ project.

As a neurodiverse professional and a member of the Irish Travelling community, Michael combines vital lived experience with strategic expertise to drive authentic, community-led inclusion. He sits on Sport Ireland’s National Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board and serves as a Trustee and Advisory Board member to the UK Traveller Movement.

A prominent advocate and activist for Irish Travellers and Roma, Michael is a recognised leader in his field with extensive experience co-designing grassroots sporting initiatives that dismantle structural barriers and foster genuine progression for marginalised groups.

Senior HR leader with over 25 years’ experience across a diverse range of industries, including security, engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and the not-for-profit sector.

Currently expanding experience within the construction industry, with a strong interest in understanding its operational environment, workforce, and organisational structures.

Passionate about DEI and how it can grow and support the business and getting more and more involved in the DEI space both in HR and in Construction.

Madeleina leads the development of Cairn’s long‑term strategic direction, integrating sustainability, organisational capability, corporate affairs and governance to support the delivery of homes at scale across Ireland.

Madeleina is passionate about creating diverse and inclusive organisations, recognising that the best innovation, decision-making and business outcomes come from teams that bring different perspectives, experiences and approaches. Before joining Cairn, she spent a decade at Laing O’Rourke, serving on the Global Executive Committee as Group Director of Legal, Sustainability and Procurement and leading the company’s sustainability strategy.

A qualified lawyer, Madeleina began her career in private practice and became a Partner in a leading London firm before moving into the construction and infrastructure sector.

Andrew joined the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as Chief Executive Officer in October 2025, leading the Federation’s strategic direction and representation of Ireland’s construction sector.

Prior to joining CIF, Andrew was CEO at SOLAS, the State Agency responsible for further education, construction skills, and apprenticeships since September 2019, having previously served as Executive Director for Strategy and Knowledge. He joined SOLAS from the Higher Education Authority, where he was Head of System Funding from 2015 to 2019. Prior to that, Andrew had a long and distinguished career in management consulting, working for Fitzpatrick Associates, PA Consulting, and PwC.

Danny is a Chartered Transportation Engineer and Planner, Associate Director at DBFL Consulting Engineers, and Chair of Engineers Ireland’s Inclusion and Diversity Society.

With 14 years’ experience, Danny has delivered transport projects at national, regional, and local levels across Ireland. Alongside his technical career, he is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the engineering profession. Through leadership and industry engagement, he seeks to create an inclusive future for engineering and wider society. He was named joint winner of the ‘Emerging Leader Award’ at the National Diversity & Inclusion Awards 2026 in recognition of his inclusive leadership and advocacy.