There’s one group consistently ignored in most companies’ diversity strategies, but which could be your business’s secret weapon. Professional women over 50 are faced with a triple-whammy of discrimination: they are not male, young, or linear in their career paths. As a result, they are leaving corporate life and taking their career into their own hands.
2025 Agenda
7:30am
Registration, Networking and Exhibition Viewing
9:00am
WELCOME
CEO, Business Post
9:05am
OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR
TV Presenter, Designer, Founder & Social Entrepreneur
9:15am
GOVERNMENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Supercharging progress in education
Minister for Education and Youth (invited)
SUPERCHARGING THE DRIVE FOR A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORLD
9:30am
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Revolting Women: why midlife women are walking out
Author and Founding Director, Mindspring ConsultancyÂ
9:45am
KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION:
Leading a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) awareness in business
Despite broad policy efforts to increase female representation, and the acceptance that gender equality is instrumental in driving innovation and enhancing problem-solving skills across an organisation, the gender divide is stark. Tackling gender disparity needs to be a business imperative if we are to drive innovation and investment in Ireland’s tech sector. Organisations must create business frameworks that nurture female talent. Otherwise they will miss out on culture, growth and the ability to thrive. It is particularly concerning, that recent news about President Trump cancelling DEI initiatives in the public sector has sparked critical conversations, especially as some private organisations follow suit.
Senior Vice President Global Enterprise Technology, IDA Ireland
Head of Strategy, Research Ireland
Executive Director, People and Sustainability, ESB
10:15am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Never Too Young for STEM: the missing link in early childhood education
Ireland Regional Chair & Senior Vice President Technology, Fidelity InvestmentsÂ
10:30am
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Educating young girls and women for jobs that don’t even exist yet
The panel will outline the educational programmes and initiatives designed to inspire, engage and encourage female participation in STEM subjects, from early childhood through primary, secondary and third level educational system. It will also discuss how some companies are delivering on continuous learning and development opportunities for their employees and how these companies, whose education programmes align with their business goals see increased retention, engagement and overall productivity.
Topics will include:
- Role of educators in equipping girls and women to take on leadership rolesÂ
- Initiatives at pre-school, primary, second & third level institutions
- The need for organisations to look beyond immediate needs to anticipate skills for the next one to three years in order to foster a pipeline of female STEM talentÂ
- The importance of “human skills” including collaboration, teamwork, and adaptability in fostering a resilient workforce as technological transformation accelerates
Incoming, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
Teacher, Loreto College
11:00am
Networking Coffee Break & Exhibition Viewing
11:45am
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Stream 1
BREAKING BARRIERS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES
11:30am
OPENING REMARKS FROM THE STREAM CHAIR
Chair, Women in Technology & Science (WITS)Â
11:45am
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Cybersecurity leadership: mobilise, and not paralyse
The parallels between cybersecurity and inclusion are striking. Just as cybersecurity is often only noticed after a breach, inclusion is often only recognised when exclusion happens. This keynote will highlight the challenges leaders face in understanding the depth and impact of exclusion within their organisations. It will introduce actionable initiatives that mobilise, not paralyse, a community of advocates and allies to drive meaningful change.
Executive Director, Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS)
12:00pm
PANEL DISCUSSION:
How artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionise the financial services market
Financial institutions, from global conglomerates to local credit unions, are increasingly harnessing the power of automated data-driven processes and artificial intelligence (AI) to create groundbreaking products and services that redefine customer experiences and reshape their industry. Algorithms are allowing firms to extract meaningful insights from vast datasets, providing a deeper understanding of customer behaviour, market trends and risk management. This panel will discuss the seismic shift in the financial services sector, propelled by data-driven processes and the integration of AI and emerging technologies with focus on cybersecurity, hyper-personalization and other future-forward approaches like composable banking.
Topics will include
- fostering a more inclusive and equitable financial landscape
- regulating AI while boosting innovation, ethical standards and trust in technology
Ambassador, Women in AI Ireland
12:30pm
SPOTLIGHT ON… WOMEN LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS
In this session we turn the spotlight on women leaders and role models in their organisations and hear some quick-fire presentations on their experiences
 School leaver to pilot: my journey in the Irish Air Corps
2nd Lieutenant, Irish Defence Forces
Stream 2
SUPERCHARGING THE DRIVE FOR A HEALTHIER AND MORE EQUITABLE WORLD
11:30am
OPENING REMARKS FROM THE STREAM CHAIR
Sci-tech journalist, editor and broadcaster
11:35am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
The power of diversity in leading the drive to net zero
Chief Information Officer, ESB
12:00pm
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Women in STEM: Paving the way for innovation in women’s health
The women’s health field tackles any condition that solely or disproportionately affects women, or presents very differently in women including ovarian cancer, endometriosis, osteoporosis, atopic dermatitis, and even female cardiovascular disease or stroke. As medical and surgical workforces become more diverse and when women are actively involved in the design and development of medical devices and treatments, the result is a more comprehensive and inclusive approach that considers the unique experiences and requirements of female users.
Topics will include:
- transforming health care through cutting edge technologies and operational excellence
- actively involving women in the design and development of medical devices
- encouraging more women to pursue careers in STEM and work in women’s health
- capitalising on the growing market for inclusive tools and devices
- enhancing women’s lives with health tech innovations
CEO, Children’s Health Ireland
CEO, Coroflo
12:30pm
SPOTLIGHT ON…ONES TO WATCH
 Navigating a navy career as a woman in STEM
Inclusion at its bestÂ
Ruth will be talking about Diversity and Inclusion in a personal capacity, and the influence and changes that came about following the willingness of one local company in her community to be open to a diverse hir
Able/ Engine Room Articifer, Irish Defence Forces
Human Resources Director
Stream 3
PUTTING THE STEAM INTO STEM
11:30am
OPENING REMARKS FROM THE STREAM CHAIR
TV Presenter, Designer, Founder & Social Entrepreneur
11:35am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
The role of art is to make the revolution irresistible
Independent Senator, Seanad Eireann
12:00pm
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Putting the STEAM into STEM
STEAM education is about applying creative thinking to STEM projects, igniting students’ imagination and creativity through the arts. It is also about exploring where art naturally fits into the STEM subjects. Studying art subjects enhances a student’s flexibility, adaptability, productivity, responsibility, and innovation. Our expert panel will discuss what the arts have to offer science, technology, engineering and maths and how by changing STEM to STEAM, we can unlock a world of creativity to approach some of the world’s most pressing problems in unique ways.
Vice President UX Design, Fidelity Investments
Former Head of Education, Poetry Ireland
Assistant Lecturer, Department of Design and Visual Arts Thought Lab, IADT
12:30pm
Crossroads, the intersection between art and technology
Musician & Co-Founder, Always Press Record
12:45pm
JUNK KOUTURE SHOWCASE:
Celebrating creativity, sustainability and innovation
We meet some Junk Kouture post-primary students from across the country producing incredible fashion designs in the spirit of sustainability.
Events & Production Coordinator, Junk Kouture
1:00pm
Networking Lunch Break & Exhibition Viewing
MAIN STAGE
2:00pm
OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR
TV Presenter, Designer, Founder & Social Entrepreneur
2:05pm
EMPOWERMENT IN MOTION
Get ready to move, empower, and ignite your inner strength in this dynamic, high-energy movement experience
Somatic Therapist and Movement Facilitator
2:15pm
SPONSOR KEYNOTE
Supercharging progress
SUPERCHARGING THE DRIVE FOR A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORLD
2:30pm
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Omid: Leading with Hope and Resilience
On a journey to become the first Afghan woman to climb Mount Everest, Freshta’s expedition is about far more than reaching the summit of the world’s highest peak—it’s a deeply personal mission. Having left her home, family, and friends behind, this climb symbolizes the resilience and strength of those facing extraordinary challenges. For so many in Afghanistan navigating hardship, Freshta aims to demonstrate that even in the darkest moments, hope and determination can lead us to remarkable heights.
Mountaineer & Women’s Rights Advocate and Founder & Leader, The Unstoppable Project
2:45pm
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Pathways to parity – supercharging the drive for a more diverse and inclusive world
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not about giving anyone an unfair advantage—it’s about intentionally including those often overlooked. It’s not a checkbox or trend; it’s a principle that unlocks the power of diverse perspectives and builds environments where everyone can thrive.
This panel will explore how to supercharge female leadership in business and society to make it more attractive for women to join, and stay in the workforce. It will also discuss how to inspire women with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, ethnic and religious groups as well as those from less well-off socio-economic backgrounds to reach leadership roles in organisations. Expert speakers will focus on the pathways and tangible actions that businesses can deploy today, to have a measurable and positive impact on the number of women in senior leadership positions tomorrow.
Governance Standards, Criminal Justice, LGBT+ Staff Network Committee Member, Proud to Work for Ireland Network Co-Chairperson, Department of Justice
CEO, AkiDwA - Migrant Women's Network In Ireland
3:15pm
CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR – SUMMIT ENDS