Editor of The Irish News Noel Doran is to speak at next month's Ireland's Future event in Belfast alongside one of the paper's new high-profile columnists.
Mr Doran will address the civic nationalist group's November 3 lunchtime event at the Europa Hotel along with former BBC Newsnight anchor Gavin Esler, who joined The Irish News as a regular contributor last month.
The business lunch is the latest in a series of Ireland's Future events on both sides of the border.
A year ago up to 5,000 attended the flagship Together We Can gathering at Dublin's 3Arena, with a sold out event at Belfast's Ulster Hall the following month.
Mr Doran, who in the past has spoken at a range of events, including the Progressive Unionist Party's 2013 annual conference, welcomed the opportunity to address next month's business lunch.
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"I'm honoured to be asked to join such a distinguished broadcaster as Gavin Esler at the Ireland's Future event and I'm very much looking forward to the discussion," he said.
Ireland's Future CEO Gerry Carlile said the group was delighted Mr Doran had accepted the invitation to address its event, describing him as a "distinguished journalist who is widely respected across broad society in the north".
"No matter an individual’s personal position on the constitutional question, a referendum is now inevitable in the coming years and we urge the business community to engage with Ireland’s Future and others on the broad subject of a potential united Ireland," Mr Carlile said.
"Change across the island is now happening and business must be prepared and ready to embrace that change. There are great opportunities for our businesses in the time ahead.
The north is filled with untapped potential and the prospect of a new and united Ireland is one that excites significant numbers of people in the business community."
A limited number of places are available for the business lunch and anybody interested should email contact@irelandsfuture.com
