LEAD Network Ireland has announced that Ciara Mageean – Olympian and Ireland’s first-ever 1500m European Championship gold medallist – will headline its final event of the year.
As one of the nation’s best athletes, Mageean will join a panel of inspirational speakers exploring the theme ‘The Power of Connections’.
Volunteers from across the retail and consumer goods sector will run the event, as the organisation works to attract, retain and advance women in the industry, through education, leadership, and male allyship.
One Year Of LEAD Ireland
The celebration marks one year since the launch of the LEAD Network Ireland Chapter.
It will also celebrate the chapter’s Leadership Award win at LEAD Network’s European conference in Budapest in early October.
Originally established in 2011, LEAD has grown astronomically, to more than 22,000 members and ten country chapters, with over 200 manufacturers and more than 100 retailers working to bring gender equality to all levels of the industry.
LEAD’s Ireland Chapter committee involves representatives from across the industry working together, including representatives from Kellanova, Musgrave, Lidl, Unilever, P&G, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Kraft Heinz, Bank of Ireland, Haleon, Valeo Foods, Irish Distillers, IBM and Danone.
Speaking about the event, LEAD Ireland co-chair and marketing manager of Musgrave Jane McEvoy said, “Reaching our one-year anniversary as the fastest-growing LEAD Network chapter in Europe is a fantastic milestone for the LEAD Network Ireland Chapter.
“It’s been inspiring to work with such a wonderful Ireland Chapter committee.
“We are laser focused on the core priorities expressed by our members: tackling personal and structural barriers to gender equity, bringing the industry together to share practical solutions, and challenge each other to drive change at pace.
“I am excited about the plan already in motion for 2025, which will make a real impact on ensuring our industry continues to attract the best talent.”
‘Drive Gender Equity’
The LEAD Ireland co-chair and the head of high-growth markets at Kellanova, Sarah Ferguson, added, “I am so proud of what we have achieved in just one year – this group of volunteers, coming together across the industry, working on top of their day jobs, to drive gender equity forwards.
“We have held four events this year for our members, a mixture of in-person and virtual, we have hosted HR roundtables to understand where the challenges are and what we will tackle as a collective, and launched a cross-company mentoring pilot that is unique within the FMCG/retail industry.
“[The] LEAD Network Ireland Chapter is in its infancy, but already we have heard the impact that it has made on people, both within their roles and as individuals.”
The LEAD Ireland Chapter event will take place on 14 November from 12pm to 2pm in Lidl Ireland’s head office, and tickets are limited.
For more information about the LEAD Network and the event, visit www.theleadnetwork.net.
Read More: Mentorship Series #6: The Importance Of Personal Branding
