Yesterday (March 6), Thrive and the Institute’s Member Experience team welcomed guests to our Step into your Power Sparkling Lunch in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Check out photos from the event here.
In the wonderful surroundings of the Dean Townhouse, we were joined by members and students of the chartered community. In her opening address, Dee France, from the Institute’s Thrive Wellbeing Hub, outlined the importance of shining a spotlight on some of the key challenges women face in the workplace and in society, while celebrating the many advances made in recent times.
Guests enjoyed a keynote speech from Eimer Lyons, founder of Well Rise Coaching, entitled “The Importance Of Healthy Boundaries” where attendees were encouraged to establish boundaries as a non-negotiable for a balanced, fulfilling career and life.
Áine Crotty, Head of Compliance (UK & Europe) at nib Group, facilitated a panel discussion covering some key issues of the day namely barriers encountered and inclusive changes to the workplace, the importance of male allyship and leadership, challenges faced by working mothers and broached the topic of burnout and how it shows up for women.
The panellists - Nifemi Ogunbiyi, Financial Account at Fenergo, Gillian Bane, Founder of Well Work 360, Katharine Mulcahy, Sales Excellence and Strategy Lead at Microsoft and Barry Doyle, President of Chartered Accountants Ireland - shared many important insights on these topics and how they navigate their own personal challenges and successes both in their professional and personal lives.
The final segment of the afternoon was a fireside chat with Lorna Conn, Chief Executive Officer at CPL and Cróna Clohisey, Director of Advocacy & Voice at Chartered Accountants Ireland. Lorna reflected on the highs and lows of her career, how resilience helps build leaders and how she manages and balances her professional and personal life.
The event was also raising funds for CA Support (the Institute’s in-house charity). In his opening address, Barry Doyle spoke about the Institute’s commitment to supporting the success and wellbeing of our female members through career and wellbeing initiatives and highlighted the important work of CA Support, encouraging those in the room to donate to CA Support as the majority of the cases the charity support are families – mothers and fathers who have encountered adversity and are in dire need of assistance.
If you would like to donate to CA Support in celebration of International Women’s Day, please do so here.