WOMEN LEADING CHANGE
:: Women in Business Group's international voices of leadership conference ‘Women Leading Change’ takes place at the Mandela Hall at Belfast's Queen's University today (7.30am to noon).
Keynote speakers include Hillary Clinton, Mary McAleese and Dame Louise Richardson who will explore the importance of embracing inclusivity, making your voice heard and looking at the essential strategies to develop as an impactful leader.
Hosted by Sarah Travers, the conference is supported by Belfast City Council, The Ireland Funds and Allstate and will feature a wealth of inspirational speakers including Alyse Nelson, CEO of Vital Voices and Sarah Friar, CEO of Nextdoor.
The conference in partnership with the Chief Executives Club at Queen’s University is part of the three-day Agreement 25 schedule and will also feature local young voices – Tara Gráinne Ní Chonghaile, Cormac Savage and Farrah Oliver-McAuley – as they focus on the future and their visions for the next 25 years of social progress in Northern Ireland.
FOOD AND DRINK CONFERENCE
:: The inaugural Northern Ireland Food and Drink Conference - which is open to anyone from the sectors connected to food and drink, from farming and food manufacturing to cold storage, distribution, packaging and retail - takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday April 25 (8.30am-4pm).
Organised by the NI Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) and supported by the Department for Business and Trade, Food Standards Agency and Invest NI, the conference will feature keynote speakers, engaging panellists and topical case studies, and will examine latest market trends, the regulatory environment, and the opportunities for growth.
Sessions will include topics covering exporting, food standards, sustainability, consumer trends, automation and much more, with confirmed speakers including Department for Business and Trade director for agriculture, food and drink Rachel Gwyon; Groceries Code adjudicator Mark White; Food Standards Agency chief executive Emily Miles; Food & Drinks Export Council co-chair Ian Wright CBE; retail market expert Dr Clive Black and Louise Robinson, commercial excellence and client impact director at Kantar.
For more information or to book your place, visit https://nifda.co.uk/nifda-conference-2023/
YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE
Celebrating a decade of inspiring leadership, Northern Ireland’s Young Leaders Conference returns to Belfast on Friday June 9, with keynote addresses from leaders of UK industry and some of Northern Ireland’s most successful and notable names – including current business aide on BBC’s The Apprentice, Tim Campbell MBE.
The conference, organised by Young Leaders NI, is aimed at young professionals and entrepreneurs, across industry and professional services, looking to develop their leadership skills and network with like-minded individuals.
Over the past nine years the event has attracted more than 2,500 attendees, and this year's event promises to be the biggest and most inspiring yet.
Taking place at Riddel Hall in Belfast, the event is sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills, reception sponsors EY and associate sponsors Bank of Ireland, Carson McDowell, Power NI and Vanrath.
Tim Campbell will head up an impressive line-up of speakers who include: one of the UK’s leading health and wellbeing influencer’s, podcast host and bestselling author Alice Liveing; former GAA star Sean Cavanagh; founder of Digg for Success Caroline O’Neill; founder of Little Penny Thoughts Annette Kelly; and director of Taste and Tour NI Caroline Wilson. Mentalist David Meade will also be returning as compere.
Young Leaders NI is a group formed by the Northern Ireland Young Solicitors’ Association, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland and the Chartered Accountants Ireland Young Professionals Group.
Tickets for the conference can be purchased via www.youngleadersni.org
OPEN FARM WEEKEND
:: The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) will continue its support of the local agri-food industry by renewing its sponsorship for this year’s Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend in June (details at www.openfarmweekend.com).
Taking place on Friday June 16 for schools and Saturday and Sunday June 17/18 for the public, Open Farm Weekend has had a successful partnership with the LMC for many years through its popular cookery demonstrations, as well as the work it does in highlighting the NI Farm Quality Assured beef and lamb farms that participate in the weekend.
Ian Stevenson, chief executive of the LMC, said: “Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend brings the consumer one step closer to the food chain and gives them the chance to meet the farmer that produces their food.
“It also lets them see first-hand the very positive contribution that farming makes to improving the environment, society and economy of Northern Ireland. A large part of what LMC does is to educate consumers about the merits of purchasing and consuming local produce, so events such as Open Farm Weekend highlight this farm to fork story very well.”
William Irvine, deputy president of Ulster Farmers’ Union and Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend chairman added: “Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend was established to showcase our farming industry and the wonderful work our farmers do. Its focus is to help the public, particularly those from a non-farming background to better understand how our food is produced and to raise awareness of how supply chains work, through our local food industry. We are delighted to welcome a range of new farms this year and give consumers an even broader snap shot of what happens behind the scenes on working farms.”
