Gillian leads Ronan Daly Jermyn Corporate department.  She is a highly regarded deal lawyer known for her work in the healthcare and technology markets.   Gillian is an Adjunct Professor in the College of Business and Law at University College Cork (UCC) and in 2017 received an Alumni Achievement Award from UCC for her work with I Wish.  Gillian is a co-founder of the multi-award winning I WISH   Gillian is passionate about empowering the next generation of female leaders and innovators and ensuring our society enables these young women to participate fully in the economy of the future.  Gillian has held and continues to hold non-executive board and audit committee positions in the private and public sector.  

Caroline is the Corporate and international tax partner with Deloitte Ireland focused on the technology sector. Caroline is a member of Deloitte’s European Diversity and Inclusion Council for the Technology Sector and a member of Deloitte Irelands Diversity and Inclusion Council. Caroline is a member of the gender balance advisory group for the Department of Education to achieve better gender balance in STEM education at post-primary level. Caroline is a board director of ReThink Ireland, Irelands Social Innovation Fund. And Chair of the finance committee and is also the immediate past chairperson of it@cork(2017-2019) Caroline is Co-Founder of I Wish. Caroline says she looks to the girls who attend I Wish as they really inspire her to keep going on what has been a mad but amazing journey. She feels a huge sense of responsibility to enable every girl to live their brightest lives. Caroline embarked on the I Wish journey with fellow co-founders because she could see the opportunity in STEM, but with less than 25% of the STEM workforce in Ireland being women she realised that there was a risk that her own daughter would not participate in the jobs of tomorrow, all she wants for her is equal opportunity of choice. In conjunction with Cork City Council, I Wish won the 2015 Chambers Ireland Award for excellence in local government in the “promoting economic development” category, and a LAMA award in Best Education category. 2015 winner of the WMB Boots Empowering Women Award for work in promoting STEM. Awarded one of the Top 10 outstanding young people (TOYP) of Cork in 2016 by Junior Chamber International and progressed to be named as one of the Top 10 outstanding people of Ireland in the national finals in 2016. Along with fellow I Wish co-founders, awarded Cork Persons of the Month in March 2017, UCC Achievement Award 2017, one of the highest honours that the university can bestow on a graduate. American Chamber Cairdeas Award 2019 IT@Cork Chairperson Community Award 2019

The ‘Bandon Bullet’ has been one of the key figures in driving up the standard of Irish women’s sprinting over the past decade. She has made major finals, broken Irish records, and won 17 national titles. The West Cork woman has competed for Ireland in the Olympic, World, and European Championships. In 2024, she was part of the Irish women’s 4x400m team that smashed the Irish record and finished 4th in the Olympic Games. A moment that will go down in Irish sporting history and captured the hearts and minds of the nation. Phil was also on the team that claimed a sensational silver medal at the European Athletics Championships in June and was part of the mixed 4x400m team that made Olympic final in Tokyo. During her athletics career, she has made finals at major championships, from the European Junior Championships to the World Student Games and European Indoor Championships.  As a recipient of the prestigious Waterford Institute of Technology Scholarship, Phil pursued academic interests alongside her athletic career, earning a master’s degree in Enterprise Computer Software.

Mairead McGuinness spans a lifetime of experience as a Politician who served the European Parliament for over 16 years. Mairead served as the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union from October 2020 to November 2024. A member of Fine Gael, she previously served as First Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2017 to 2020. She served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for East from 2004 to 2014 and for Midlands–North-West from 2014 to 2020. In the European Parliament, she sat with the European People's Party (EPP). Mairead McGuinness was the first female graduate of University College Dublin's Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural economics in 1980. In 1984, she completed a diploma in accounting and finance and followed a career in the media before entering politics in 2004. She worked as a researcher on The Late Late Show, as a presenter on RTÉ's Ear to the Ground and Celebrity Farm, a journalist with the Irish Farmers Journal and editor of the Irish Independent's farming supplement. In 2014, Mairead was awarded UCD Alumnus of the Year for Agriculture and Food Science. Mairead is married to a sheep farmer and has four children.

Katie is a graduate of the J&J Global Operations Leadership Development (GOLD) Program, a 2.5-year supply chain initiative designed to develop future leaders. Katie joined the program in June 2022, beginning as an External Clinical Supply Quality Analyst in Cork. She then relocated to Belgium, serving as a Transportation Associate, and later as an Integrated Partnership Specialist, before completing the program in November 2024. Following the programs completion, Katie travelled to Singapore to participate in the Changemaker program, a J&J initiative focused on driving positive social impact. Through these diverse experiences, Katie has demonstrated her adaptability, global perspective, and dedication to professional development in STEM fields. Katie holds a BSc in Biomedical Science from University College Cork and Munster Technological University (2021) and a Higher Diploma in Clinical Laboratory Practice from Munster Technological University (2022). During her studies, she earned two J&J WiSTEM2D Scholarships in her third and fourth years and was awarded The Peel Memorial Prize, recognizing her distinguished contributions to university life. Katie currently resides in Belgium, where she works as an External Quality Specialist, applying her global experience to ensure excellence in supply chain operations.

Zoë Hyde is an Irish Olympian from Paris 2024 and Deloitte Brand Ambassador. While working for Deloitte as an audit associate she joined the Irish rowing team and went on to win a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships in 2022 and represent Ireland in the Olympics for rowing in Paris 2024.

Claire is a distinguished athlete who has uniquely qualified for both the Summer (London 2012) and Winter (Vancouver 2010) Olympic Games, making her the first female athlete from Ireland to achieve this feat. After briefly playing with the Irish 7’s rugby team, she went on to compete for Ireland in tag rugby for a decade, participating in three World Cups and winning two silver medals with the Irish Women’s Masters team, the most recent of which was earned just seven months after giving birth to her son. Passionate about giving back to the sport, Claire was a successful captain for her athletics club, Dundrum South Dublin, and now coaches at the club. She has also served as a co-opted Director on the Board of Athletics Ireland. Professionally, Claire has spent most of her career at Deloitte, where she has been supported in her sporting endeavours. She has held various roles at the firm, most notably building and leading the Social Impact agenda over a ten-year period. Currently, she serves as the Strategic Projects Lead, managing strategic university partnerships and playing a key role in the activation team for Deloitte’s sponsorship of Olympic Team Ireland.

Laura is a Solution Architect at the Dell Technologies Customer Solution Center in Limerick. In her role, she designs and builds technology solutions to help companies work more efficiently. Laura collaborates with customers to identify the best ways to solve problems using advanced technologies like computers and software, ensuring everything operates smoothly. She studied Electronic Engineering in Galway. Laura enjoys playing football, is learning Spanish, and is also learning how to sew. When she was younger, her dream job was to be a fashion designer.

I am Technology & Transformation Senior Consultant working in Deloitte Dublin.  I’ve been with Deloitte just over three years and have been predominantly working on large-scale transformation programmes. Before this I went to UCD where I studied Economics & Finance. I got involved with I Wish in its very first year in 2015, taking part in some of the initial focus groups brainstorming about the event and what would appeal to girls my age.

Heidi has worked for the past 19 years in Iarnród Éireann has an Environmental Officer and now acting in the role of Sustainability and Environmental Manager for Operations. She has a leading role in several Sustainability Working Groups that address social and economic as well as environmental elements within the company. She also manages a team of 4 people working on environmental management for the key departments within Iarnród Éireann. Prior to working in Ireland, Heidi worked for the Port of Seattle in the US as a consultant focusing on environmental impact assessments. Heidi has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Protection. Certifications in ISO Auditing for Environmental Management Systems, Water Management, Sustainability Leadership and Energy Management, IEMA Net Zero Certification. Heidi grew up in Northern Idaho and used to fight wildfires for the Forest Service in her hometown for summer break during college. Heidi also volunteered at Dublin Zoo for 6 years in their Education Department giving talks to schools and visitors.

Amy Jane Keating will join us as MC for this year’s I Wish Virgin Media Podcast Hub ! Amy a TV and Podcast Presenter and founder of the popular Podcast series Go Do You. Amy is no stranger to I Wish, and we know she will bring her usual incredible energy, fun and insight.  We can’t wait to see her shine again at this year’s I Wish Podcast hub in association with Virgin Media. 

Grainne has circa 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, gained from clinical research roles with major companies. Grainne studied Biology and Chemistry in secondary school which allowed her study nursing through Trinity College in Dublin.  Grainne started working in clinical research in 1995 with ICON clinical research and discovered she loved every aspect of clinical trials. Grainne used to work mainly in France while at ICON, having also studied French in secondary school. Grainne spent 10 years with GlaxoSmithKline as Head of Clinical Operations in Ireland, before taking a Global Director of Clinical Trial Management Role at Regeneron in January 2016. Grainne currently manages a large programme of global blood cancer trials as Senior Director Programme Operations Lead at Regeneron and manages a team of circa 30 staff. She also holds a degree in Marketing and a master’s degree in business administration.

Izzy is a Data Centre Solutions Engineer working with Public and Private sector customers in Northern Ireland. In her role, Izzy helps customers design and implement their data centre projects. She studied Global Business and Spanish in college, where she spent two years in Dublin and two years in Madrid. She then completed her Masters in Digital Innovation, which is where her love for tech really came about. Izzy loves going to gym classes with friends and is hugely passionate about giving back to local communities. She co-leads Dell Community team and is an active volunteer and football coach with Special Olympics Ireland.

Kirsten is a Digital Health Analyst in the Engineering, AI & Data department of Deloitte Ireland. She graduated from Dublin City University with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Electronic & Computer Engineering in 2024, coming 2^nd in her class overall. She was the only girl from the Engineering Faculty to make the Dean’s Honours List in her graduating year. Coming from a working-class family who never had the privilege of attending further education, Kirsten is a huge advocate for working-class women succeeding in academia and beyond. Before working in Deloitte, Kirsten worked with the DCU School of Electronic Engineering & Centre of Talented Youth, Ireland (CTYI) to develop courses for gifted children between the ages of 8 and 16 to explore engineering through interactive learning and hands-on laboratories. Her goal is to help inspire young women and girls to explore careers in STEM and to recognise their talents at an early age.

My current role is as Process Engineering Manager for membrane manufacture in Merck Cork.  However, leaving secondary school I never envisioned myself in Industry not to mind in a Process Engineering role.  I studied to be a Chemistry and Biology teacher after which I realised teaching wasn’t for me.  I then went on to complete a MSc in BioMed Engineering in NUIG after which I was lucky to get into Merck for a short work experience period.  What started as 8wks work experience ended with permanent contract as Research Scientist in R&D.  I spent 7 years in R&D after which I moved to the Process Engineering group where I have had numerous opportunities to develop, grow and take on roles of increasing responsibility.   I am currently part of the Merck International Management Programme where I continue to learn from others and develop my leadership skills.   

Laura Nagle is a Grid Engineer at Statkraft Ireland working with the Grid, Wind and Solar team She completed her BSc in Mechanical Engineering at University College Dublin in 2021, followed by a Masters of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering. During her academic journey Laura received academic scholarships, including the Intel Women in Technology, Ad Astra Academic Academy and the Intel-UCD Masters. Laura was also honoured with the Niamh Burke Renewable Energy Memorial Bursary, recognising her outstanding achievements and potential in the field. Before joining Statkraft Ireland, Laura gained valuable experience working on the project team at Terra Solar for two years.

Anne-Marie has 22 years’ experience in the global investment environment with IDA Ireland, working across a number of key roles in Ireland and abroad.   Anne-Marie took up her current position as Senior VP, Enterprise Technology in October 2021. Prior to this role, she held positions as Department Manager, Regional Development, Director of Europe, based in Paris and Project Manager in the Technology Division. Prior to IDA Ireland, Anne-Marie worked for the Consultancy business of PricewaterhouseCoopers in London in the retail and CPG global industry sectors.    Anne-Marie is a Law graduate and holds an MSc in International Marketing, as well as being an Associate Practitioner of the European Chartered Institute of Marketing. Anne-Marie is a Board member of CeADAR, Ireland’s National Centre for Applied AI and a Board Member of Cyber Ireland.

Jim Meade was appointed Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail in in May 2018.  He had previously been Director, Railway Undertaking since 2013 responsible for all passenger and freight services. Jim began his railway career as an apprentice fitter in 1979, joining the company as a fitter in Limerick Locomotive Shed upon completion of his apprenticeship in 1983. Since then Jim has worked in a range of roles including fleet maintenance management, strategic change programmes, District Manager in Limerick, and Regional Manager in the west of Ireland, before becoming Director of Train Operations. Jim leads the management team in ensuring that the railway is operated and maintained in a manner that prioritises safety for passengers, employees and third parties; provides a quality customer service to all who use the rail network; strengthens the productivity and performance gains that have been achieved in recent years to secure a sustainable financial position; and delivers rail’s contribution in support of the Government of Ireland’s policies on sustainable development.

"Kate works for world leading renewable energy developer Ørsted as a Commercial Analyst based in Cork. She collaborates with teams across the UK and Ireland to inform the business of financing and investing in renewable energy projects. Without Kate and her team Ørsted's solar and wind farms can't get built! Kate holds a Finance degree from University College Cork, class of 2020. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the gym with friends and travelling, with her most recent adventure being a trip to Indonesia.”

As COO, Director and co-owner at Crown, Emma has a wide breadth of responsibilities, leading the company and its teams on HR and recruitment; health, safety and employee wellbeing; marketing; quality management and operational excellence; sustainability; compliance; and corporate governance. With a background and education in Business and PR, Emma joined the family business in 2004, taking up a leadership role in 2010. For the past 15 years, Emma has been a key driver of the success of the company, including growing to 300+ direct and subcontracted employees, operating in 10 countries, and earning Crown's position as the leading external envelopes provider in Europe.