LEOs Cork & Kerry present ... National Women's Enterprise Day 2024
Thursday, 17th October @ The Maryborough Hotel, Douglas, Cork
Conference Agenda
10:00 Registration, Refreshments, Informal Networking
10:45 Welcome Address
11:00 MC - Susan HayesCulleton, The Positive Economist
Introduction followed by "Finding your Pathway to Opportunities with EEN"
11:25 Networking - Session One
11:55 Digital Debrief
12:05 Panel Discussion "Making It Happen with your local LEO" - facilitated by Susan HayesCulleton
Panellists and 'Leading Lights' from LEOs Cork and Kerry
LEO Cork City - Bhagya Barrett (also Event Ambassador), Rebel City Distillery
LEO South Cork - Hanna Bäckmo, Hanna's Bees
LEO Cork North & West - Barbara Connelly, Atlantic School of English & Active Leisure Ltd.
LEO Kerry - Jo Arbon and Clair Kelly, The Holistic Hound
12:55 Lunch
13:45 Networking - Session Two
14:30 "Fireside Chat' with Special Guest Kathryn Thomas, well known TV & Radio Broadcaster, Author, Columnist and Entrepreneur and Susan HayesCulleton
15:10 Q & A
15:25 Closing Remarks
15:30 End... however there's no rush to leave! Fresh tea and coffee will be available and you are welcome to stay and continue networking.
Meet the Speakers ....
Special Guest
Kathryn Thomas - TV & Radio Broadcaster, Author, Columnist and Entrepreneur
As one of Ireland’s most well known and loved Broadcasters, Kathryn Thomas has hosted some of Ireland’s highest rating TV programmes on RTÉ One and is also a regular on RTÉ Radio 1. The face of the hugely successful health series Operation Transformation for more than a decade, Kathryn with her warmth and empathy brought us into the hearts and homes of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things to improve their health. Whether running in the rain, knee deep in mud or wiping away tears, the nation saw her with the leaders every step of the way and her commitment and passion for the show and its leader’s success was undeniable. Since Kathryn joined the series in 2010 it went from strength to strength and won best reality series in 2014 at the Irish Film and Television Awards. Kathryn also hosted Celebrity Operation Transformation. The series came to an end in 2024 which has made way for lots of new and exciting activities. She also recently presented “My BodyFix” on RTE one, following the stories of 6 patients undergoing surgeries with the help of virtual reality and is embarking on a new two part documentary series to air this January.
So where did it all begin? Well, Kathryn, who hails from Carlow, literally jumped off our TV screens in 1999 bungee jumping, sky diving and swimming with great white sharks, fronting the hugely popular young person’s sports show, Rapid, alongside GAA star Jason Sherlock. Having introduced herself to the nation as an adrenaline junkie, Ireland’s hit travel programme, No Frontiers came knocking looking for a presenter to backpack to the far corners of the globe - Kathryn didn’t have to be asked twice! She took off with her rucksack and within three years had become the lead presenter of the show. Over 10 years Kathryn became the face of travel in Ireland, bringing people from the comfort of their sitting rooms to the furthest outposts, the highest mountains, the remotest beaches and the deepest darkest jungles. From Papa New Guinea to Panama, from Outer Mongolia to Outback Australia, from the Antarctic to Arkansas, Kathryn’s love of travel and exploration helped No Frontiers become a staple for Irish audiences as she introduced viewers to another world. As well as lead presenter, she became associate producer of the series. Returning to her travelling roots in 2021, she took to the road again with her daughter Ellie in their trusty campervan to present 2 successful seasons of “No Place Like Home” on RTÉ One which focused on Staycations across Ireland. Kathryn hosted the 2018 season of Ireland’s Fittest Family on RTÉ One which sees families across Ireland compete in different adventure races and fitness competitions in an effort to win the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family. Previously she hosted the hit international series, The Voice, in Ireland for five seasons. In November 2017 Kathryn presented a three-day live television event called Weather Live on RTÉ which aired live from the National Botanic Gardens as part of Science Week. Kathryn returned to screens in May 2019 to present another three-day Weather Live from the National Botanic Gardens. From there, she began presenting the hugely popular National Lottery game show, Winning Streak for three seasons on RTÉ One. She has hosted numerous live big national events including St. Patricks Day Live, the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Live from the Red Carpet at the IFTAs, Telethon and many more. She was a regular on the comedy show, The Panel with Dara Ó Briain and became a man for a day wearing a prosthetic mask on hidden camera TV show, Anonymous. Not happy just settling for our TV screens, she is also a regular on the radio airwaves covering for Ray D’Arcy on RTÉ Radio 1. Her Music Passport radio documentaries looked at the importance of music in different cultures and have taken her all over Ireland and as far afield as Rwanda. She has hosted four seasons of radio quiz Before Your Time which pits the wits of old age pensioners against a panel of students. Kathryn previously wrote a weekly column for The Irish Daily Star as well as monthly travel features for their supplement Chic Magazine. Kathryn also does regular contributions for the Sunday Independent, Ireland’s largest newspaper.
Following her success on No Frontiers, she wrote her first, best-selling book, Off the Beaten Track, based on her adventures. Kathryn has amassed many awards throughout her career including TV Personality of the Year at the ‘Irish Film and Television Awards’ as well as Best TV Presenter two years running at the ‘TV Now Awards’. She won the ‘Travel Extra Travel Journalist of the Year’ and ‘VIP Most Stylish Woman of the Year’. We also know she’s hugely proud of clinching 3rd place as Ireland’s most desirable Valentine, though you’ll never get her to admit it!
In 2015, Kathryn combined her passion for travel and well-being she set up her own business, Pure Results Ltd. She runs fitness and wellness retreats in Ireland and abroad where herself and her team encourage their clients to experience the benefits of exercise and good food in a friendly fun environment focusing on a 360 degree approach to health. Kathryn believes confidence is key, particularly for women and that we all deserve to reach our fullest potential and believe in our own self worth…..visit www.pureresults.ie for more.
MC / Facilitator
Susan HayesCulleton, CFA, ‘The Positive Economist’
Susan HayesCulleton, CFA, “The Positive Economist” is Managing Director of the Hayes Culleton Group, with clients across Europe and the USA. The businesses include Active Peers AI - a tech platform that optimises mentor matching programmes including admin, algorithmic matching, tight feedback loops and effective interactions all in one space. Also, Savvy Teens which offers work experience facilitation in corporate organisations. Susan acts as MC at hybrid conferences all over the world.
Susan is a six-time author including “Money Matters”, a financial literacy textbook that is now in every secondary school in Ireland with the support of CFA Ireland. She has twice co-authored “Positive Economics”, the market-leading Leaving Cert. economics textbook in Ireland, and she is the author of two books published by Penguin, “TheSavvy Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom” and “The Savvy Guide to Making More Money”. Susan is co-founder of The Positive Economist and Associate Lecturer at Ulster University. Susan holds a Chartered Financial Analyst charter, MSc Executive Leadership, BSc Financial Maths and Economics and a Diploma in Taxation. https://www.linkedin.com/company/activepeersai/
Our 'Leading Lights' and Panellists
Representing LEO Cork City – Bhagya Barrett, Rebel City Distillery
Bhagya is also the Ambassador for this regional event.
Rebel City Distillery is an Award-Winning sustainable distillery and visitor experience centre based in Cork City. Proudly standing as Cork's first distillery in half a century, we opened our doors in June 2020, reviving iconic former Ford factory building that had remained abandoned since 1984. Our spirits are crafted with a global perspective, reflecting the maritime heritage of this dynamic port city. This approach infuses our products with a unique blend of cultural richness and creativity, resulting in a distinctive and appealing range that resonates globally. Additionally, we boast an Award-Winning Visitor Experience Centre in the heart of Cork City and opened a Spirit School this summer. www.rebelcitydistillery.com
Representing LEO South Cork – Hanna Bäckmo, Hanna’s Bees
Hanna Bäckmo is an award-winning beekeeper, entrepreneur, hobby gardener and internationally published writer. Originally from a small island in Sweden, she now lives in East Cork with her son, two dogs, a flock of rescue chickens and lots of bees. Hanna is the founder of Hanna’s Bees, producing a unique range of natural and sustainable honey, propolis, and beeswax products sold in Ireland’s leading Gift & Artisan food stores and select US outlets. With 70 colonies of Native Irish honeybees, she is a passionate bee-advocate and educator and is a newly appointed Ambassador for the Native Irish Honeybee. www.hannasbees.ie
Representing LEO Cork North & West - Barbara Connelly, Atlantic School of English & Active Leisure
Originally from Kildare, Barbara moved to West Cork and founded the Atlantic School of English and Active Leisure. Offering a unique combination of top-tier English language tuition with authentic Irish culture, lifestyle, environment and maritime heritage experiences in a scenic Atlantic-side location, the school combines English language tuition, a vibrant leisure programme, and cultural immersion in a small village setting. The school welcomes 25 nationalities annually, offering an extended 10-week summer camp, a year-round school for adult learners of English, and off-peak mini-stays for Erasmus+ and other group programmes. www.atlantic-english.com
Representing LEO Kerry – Jo Arbon and Clair Kelly, The Holistic Hound
Jo Arbon and Clair Kelly are the dynamic duo behind The Holistic Hound, a premier natural pet care company. Since its founding in 2005, The Holistic Hound has been dedicated to handcrafting 100% natural, herbal products that are not only safe and effective but also free from chemicals. The products are meticulously designed to nurture and enhance the wellbeing of your pets, setting a new standard in pet care. The business has an established network of over 50 retailers throughout Ireland and is now looking at the UK market, and kicked this off by winning the Pet Industry Federation Innovation Award 2024 for their tick and flea repellent product ‘Don’t Bug Me’. Jo and Clair have also established a herbal tea business, The Busy Botanist. www.theholistichound.com www.thebusybotanist.com
For information
National Women's Enterprise Day for the South West is organised by the four Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the region i.e.
