Network Ireland conference and businesswoman of the year awards comes west
NETWORK Ireland, the dynamic business organisation which advocates for female entrepreneurs and women in business across Ireland in 17 branches with 1,500 active members, will host its annual conference in the brand new Dexcom Stadium and Conference Venue in Galway City, followed by the Businesswoman of the Year awards in the Galmont Hotel and Spa, on Friday, September 18.
Network Ireland national president Karen Ronan, CEO of Galway Chamber, announced details of the powerful conference and awards at a reception in the Blackrock Cottage in Salthill, and tickets are on sale now.
The 2026 conference will feature a host of high-profile speakers including a keynote fireside discussion with Laura Dowling, the Fabulous Pharmacist - an award-winning business woman renowned for the recognition she’s brings to women’s health and wellbeing while building an award-winning brand and business and certain to inspire Network Ireland members.
Experts from partners AIB and Enterprise Ireland will be joined by a host of speakers, including Mary Rodger of PorterShed Galway, Geraldine Jones of Skin Formulas, author Michele Roys and Denise O’Brien, and more.
Julie Burke will MC the Network Ireland conference. General manager of DampMaster, a nationwide company with offices across Ireland and the UK, Julie is an award-winning speaker and mentor who empowers women in business, and proves that you don't have to be just one thing. In her spare time she is a comedian, better known online as Julesrulesirl, and she has taken the digital world by storm with her relatable Irish Mammy comedy.
Network Ireland is a voice and support for female start ups, entrepreneurs and women in business across Ireland. Elevating women in business and their careers, Network Ireland drives both professional and personal development in women and the annual conference brings together a wide range of subjects and topics delivered by high profile and experienced female entrepreneurs who share their values and knowledge and further elevate the growth of women led businesses and brands across rural and urban communities.
“Network Ireland is a wonderful collective of passionate, powerful and creative business women,” said Karen Ronan, Network Ireland president and CEO of Galway Chamber. “Collectively, Network Ireland across all 17 branches is a voice for women in business and their careers and we use our conference to support all women in our society.
“I look forward to welcoming over 500 Network Ireland members to Galway City for our annual conference when we will network, share business and life experiences while learning and further strategising the future of female led entrepreneurship and the continued growth of women in business across Ireland.”
This year, Network Ireland will also deliver its first pre-budget submission to government to support its members in their careers, women in start-ups and business scaling.
Immediately following the conference in the Dexcom Stadium, the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year awards will take place in the Galmont Hotel and Spa. After receiving just shy of 600 applications, 100 finalists will compete in eight categories to win the coveted awards.
Tickets for the conference and awards are available at networkireland.ie.