Two key conferences for women in business taking place this week

For Your Diary: The major events happening in business this week

Catherine Moroney, head of business banking at AIB; Network Ireland president Rebecca Harrison; CRC chief executive Stephanie Manahan; and Priscilla O’Regan, head of communications at BT, launching  Network Ireland’s Creating Opportunities conference. Photograph: 1IMAGE/Bryan Brophy
Catherine Moroney, head of business banking at AIB; Network Ireland president Rebecca Harrison; CRC chief executive Stephanie Manahan; and Priscilla O’Regan, head of communications at BT, launching Network Ireland’s Creating Opportunities conference. Photograph: 1IMAGE/Bryan Brophy

Monday

Indicators: Irish manufacturing PMI (Sep); euro zone manufacturing PMI (Sep), unemployment (Aug); UK manufacturing PMI (Sep); German manufacturing PMI (Sep); US manufacturing PMI (Sep).

Meetings: Women Mean Business Conference & Awards (Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin 2).

This week is a focal point for Irish women in the business community with two conferences taking place.

On Monday, Women Mean Business holds its 11th annual event and awards ceremony, handing out gongs for the best in entrepreneurialism, empowerment and technology among other categories.

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A year on since WMB launched its Gender Diversity Ambassador Initiative, it says some companies are well ahead of the game.

“They recognised at a very early stage that having a more diverse team adds value – in terms of perspective, in terms of inclusiveness and in terms of profit,” it said.

“For other businesses, however, their journey is only just beginning. It is important to recognise those who have led the way and it is equally important to encourage those to take the first steps toward a more balanced business and inclusive society.”

On Friday, Network Ireland, a non-profit with more than 700 members, will honour its own selection of the State's best female leaders at Druid's Glen Resort, Co Wicklow. It prides itself on offering support, mentoring and "confidence building" for women starting their own businesses and returning to the workplace.

This year's "Creating Opportunities" conference theme will hear from speakers including Chanelle McCoy of Dragons' Den; Catherine Moroney, head of business banking at AIB; and Hana Mottlová, ambassador of the Czech Republic to Ireland.

Tuesday

Results: Ferguson

Indicators: Irish unemployment (Sep); euro zone PPI (Aug); UK construction PMI (Sep); US vehicles sales (Sep).

Meetings: TBEX Europe travel industry gathering of bloggers, writers, content creators and social media professionals (Killarney Convention Centre); Predict 2017 data conference (RDS, Dublin); Blockchain for Finance 2017 Conference (Aviva Stadium, Dublin 4).

When 600 of the world’s most influential travel bloggers arrive in Ireland at the same time, some might say it’s a good time to sell the State to potential future visitors.

Fáilte Ireland is hosting the TBEX Europe meet-up beginning on Tuesday and keenly recognises the potential impact of these visitors and their 300 million readers. In the build-up to the event – billed as the "largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, content creators and social media-savvy travel industry professionals in Europe" – Fáilte Ireland has been working with 200 businesses to get themselves "blogger ready".

“It’s hundreds of millions of an audience. It’s a unique platform [and] it creates this massive digital footprint all at once,” a spokesman said.

“When they come they like to take pictures and share images. So it’s to make sure [Irish tourism businesses] have appropriate content on hand.”

The guest writers will be whisked around the country to take in the most appetising of sights – the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East and the capital among them.

TBEX hosts both European, Asian and American gatherings, the first of which was held in 2009. Since then, the event claims to have grown into “the world’s largest travel community”.

Wednesday

Results: Tesco, PepsiCo

Indicators: Irish services PMI (Sep); euro zone composite and services PMI (Sep), retail sales (Aug); UK services PMI (Sep); German composite and services PMI (Sep); US composite, services and non-manufacturing PMI (Sep).

Meetings: Comtrade Digital Services two day conference on software testing (Marker Hotel, Dublin); ECB non-monetary policy meeting; UXDX 2017 IT product management conference (RDS, Dublin 4).

Thursday

Indicators: Irish consumer confidence (Sep), industrial production (Aug), household travel survey (Q2); Euro zone retail PMI (Sep); UK new car sales (Sep); German construction PMI (Sep); US exports and imports (Aug).

Meetings: Central Bank conference on macroeconomic effects of policy announcements (Central Bank, Dublin 1); PM Summit 2017 on project management (Citywest Conference Centre, Saggart, Co Dublin); Dublin Chamber annual dinner (Convention Centre Dublin); Disrupt HR Dublin presentation-based event (NDRC, Crane St, Dublin 8).

Friday

Indicators: UK house price index (Sep), manufacturing and industrial production (Aug); German factory orders (Aug); US unemployment (Sep).

Meetings: Abbey AGM (The Conrad, Dublin 2); Conroy Gold and Natural Resources EGM (Davenport Hotel, Dublin 2); Network Ireland Annual Conference and Awards (Druids Glen Hotel, Newtown Mount Kennedy, Co Wicklow); Architecture Expo (RDS, Dublin 4).