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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.