Irish Executive’s Summit Galway, 15th September 2011

Over 300 Irish Business People coming together from home and abroad – Ireland as One will be Ireland Won.

Irish Executives is a 7,000 member virtual network on LinkedIn, the social media site for business people.  Since its inception in 2008 by Galway-man John Keogh, a range of online comments debating the business affairs of Ireland has stretched from Ballsbridge to Bangkok and back again. This conversation is now moving from the virtual to reality with IrelandONE to IrelandWON, a gathering of Irish Business People from home and abroad, in Galway at the Radisson Blu Hotel on 15th September 2011.

“What is different and important about this gathering is the momentum of ideas and the wealth of expertise that business people want to share and put to use” says John Keogh. “It is also a not-for-profit event, run by volunteers from the Irish Executives Network, which keeps it very real, very close to the pulse of what businesses in Ireland today really want”.

Irish Business People from home and abroad coming together to Seek Out, Understand and Put into Practice

The inaugural Irish Executive Summit, will bring together experts and Irish business people from home and abroad to learn about some of the most current and critical contributing factors to business growth. Areas such as cloud computing, social media, networking and innovation creation will be explored through guest speakers, case studies, business exhibits, discussion panels and practical workshops - all working together to help Irish businesses access and implement the best thinking and practice in the industry today.  “The seasoned corporate executive in Seattle and the local small business owner each have something to learn from the other. And, as Irish business people, we have a desire to help each other and our country forge ahead with the journey” said John Keogh.

The support and interest that the Irish Executive’s Summit is attracting has been overwhelming. Sarah Kieran from Limerick, former CEO of Atlantic Way and currently a PhD candidate at University of Limerick is on the organising committee and highlights how the event is being managed “We are all getting involved as volunteers, piecing together the line-up from the best of what is out there. The response and offers of support are very strong. Enterprise Ireland, Shannon Chamber, the Western Development Commission as well as local businesses are all helping. Its great to have something of this scale coming out of the West and Mid-West”.

Gerard Hartnett, founder and Chief Technology Officer for Goshido in Limerick commented by saying that for him “The Irish Executives conference gives individuals a great opportunity to share what they have learned to date while also helping others along the same road. It's also a great opportunity to learn about the challenges other business people experience and how they've approached them”

The event kicks-off with a “meet the speakers” networking dinner on Wednesday, 14th September, followed by a full day of activities on the 15th.  The line-up includes one of the foremost international thinkers on Leadership and Innovation, Peter Hinssen, as well as more local contributions such as that of Networking Matters founder Kingsley Aikens. Add to this the hands-on experiences of business people working to keep their businesses going, as well as live satellite link-ups with Irish Adventurers in the Gobi Desert, and you have a mix that is sure to add value.

Mark Scanlon, BigDogg Technologies Operations Director, a small business operating out of Galway said that “Linking the Irish business community is an inspired idea. We are always talking about what we have to offer companies coming in to Ireland, the IDA referring to this 'excellent Irish workforce'.  Pulling this talent together to share skills is an obvious way to help our own businesses and to get our country performing better”.

Open Invitation to Get Involved

Chris McDonagh, owner of CMD Group in Galway said that CMD were delighted to be able to sponsor the event. “In the field of training we often see the links between larger and smaller businesses, facing the same challenges or approaching challenges in different ways. Getting people networking, sharing expertise, as well as bringing in such inspirational thinkers as Irish explorer Tim Lavery, I am really delighted to be associated and urge everyone to get involved”.

So, the message from Irish Executives is - if you are an Irish business person, regardless of industry sector or business size, then you should be there on September 15th - to contribute, to participate and to get something from it.  

Places are limited so go to www.irishexecutives.com for more information and to register for the event.  

For more information contact Irish Executives

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone: Sarah Kieran on 087 232 2372