Southeast Skillnets Spring Conference 2026 – Leadership & Sustainability: The Business Case for Sustainability – 21st April 2026

Southeast Skillnets Spring Conference 2026 – Leadership & Sustainability: The Business Case for Sustainability – 21st April 2026

Southeast Skillnets Spring Conference 2026 – Leadership & Sustainability: The Business Case for Sustainability

 

Following the success of last year’s Scaling for Success event, the South East Skillnets are delighted to announce our 2026 Spring Conference:

📅 21 April
📍 Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny
⏰ 10am – 1pm
💶 €45 per person

 

Who should attend — and why

The Spring Conference is ideal for business owners, senior leaders, sustainability and ESG leads, operations managers, HR and L&D professionals, and policymakers who want to understand the real business value of sustainability.

Why attend:

  • Gain practical strategies to embed sustainability into core business decisions

  • Understand how responsible leadership drives profitability, resilience and competitive advantage

  • Hear real-world case studies from industry experts

  • Stay ahead of regulatory, customer and market expectations

  • Network with peers and thought leaders across the South East

This conference is particularly valuable for organisations looking to future-proof their business while building a skilled, sustainable workforce.

 

Meet the Speakers

Keynote Speaker — Sonya Lennon
Award-winning entrepreneur, social entrepreneur and equality advocate, Sonya Lennon is founder of Work Equal and LIFT Ireland and co-creator of Lennon Courtney. A recognised voice on equitable workplaces and women’s empowerment, Sonya brings powerful insight on leadership, inclusion and sustainable business.

Panel Discussion

  • Fergal Doyle, Co-owner & Chief Commercial Officer, Arboretum Garden Centre Group; Chair, Retail Excellence Ireland — championing sustainable growth and strong governance.

  • Anthony Dignam, Continuous Improvement Manager — expert in Lean, process optimisation and workforce capability development.

  • Amanda Stewart, CEO, High Performance Building Alliance — driving innovation, net-zero transition and sustainable construction practices.

  • Chris Boland, Deputy General Manager, Faithlegg Hotel — leading sustainability and responsible hospitality initiatives.

Subject Matter Experts

  • Pat Kane, Founder & CEO, reuzi.ie and Sustainability Chief Officer, Pragmatica — sustainability strategist and national advocate.

  • David Sinnott, CEO, Port of Waterford — experienced international business and supply chain leader.

Conference MC — Aoife O’Sullivan
Head of Network Development & Innovation at Skillnet Ireland, Aoife leads the strategic growth of 70 business networks and is a key voice in Ireland’s future skills and innovation agenda.