Kilkenny
Simplifying School Admissions
As the Founder and CEO of The Menopause Hub, Ireland’s first dedicated menopause clinic, and a global first, Loretta is passionate about smashing the taboo that surrounds menopause and empowering women to optimize their health and vitality during this life stage. With over 5.5 years of experience in this field, Loretta has built a team of specialist menopause doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists and acupuncturists, who offer a variety of services and support to our clients. She is also the founder of The Menopause Academy, an online platform that provides education and resources on menopause. She launched the Menopause Workplace Excellence Awards in 2023 in partnership with Great Place to Work. Loretta’s mission is to help women live the life they love, without suffering in silence.
Her background as an award-winning marketer, experienced board member, and social entrepreneur has enabled Loretta to develop and execute a customer-centric marketing strategy, launch new products and services, and grow her business across multiple verticals.
Marianne has over 30 years’ experience as a Management Consultant, HR Executive, Business School Professor and Board Director. She holds a PHD in Leadership from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.
She currently runs Roux Consulting, a leadership and transformation consulting firm focusing on Strategy Facilitation, Senior Leader, Team and Board development and HR and Organisational Transformation.
She teaches at several business schools around the world and is an associate at the IMI and at Smurfit Business School. Her industry experience includes Retail, FMCG, Mining, Oil and Gas, Public Sector, Utilities, Infrastructure, Media, Financial services, Telecommunications, Sport, NFP, Health and Pharmaceutical and Tech start ups.
Her previous Board roles include The Edmund Rice Foundation Australia, YGAP and Hagar (International and Australia).
Marianne has published books on Leadership Fit for the Future of Work, Adaptive HR and Knowing Your Superpowers is the Key to Your Success in a changing World. She also hosts a podcast series called Breakthrough.
She was chosen as one of 52 Inspirational women at work in South Africa in 2004, one of 20 Female Entrepreneurs by Management today in 2011 in Australia and in 2015 she won the excellence in NFP consulting award from the Worldwide Who’s Who.
Louise Hyland is a global brand and marketing leader with over 20 years of experience driving impactful campaigns and championing gender equity and entrepreneurship. From launching sales strategies in the hotel industry to leading EY’s global gender equity programs, her career spans local, national, and international leadership.
A passionate advocate for change, Louise also serves as a board member for Ruhama and founded the Martin Whitehead Hospice Fund, raising over €180,000 for hospice care. Outside work, she enjoys running, sea swimming, and creating meaningful impact through connection and strategy.
Mairead is the Founder and CEO of Tarasis Enterprises, a group of businesses employing 1,200 people across Ireland. What began at her kitchen table in 1995 has grown into a nearly 30-year success story. A multi-award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist, Mairead is also a proud mother of seven.
Passionate about values-based leadership and female empowerment, Mairead established the Tarasis Foundation, which includes iCare, a charity promoting “kindness without limits,” and Evolve, a platform supporting women’s social and economic empowerment. She authored Evolve – Voices of Leadership in 2021 to further this mission.
Honored with an MBE in 2021 for her contributions to economic development, Mairead has also received accolades such as Irish Tatler Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 and NatWest Everywoman Awards’ Woman of the Year. She continues to champion business as a force for good locally and globally
Thammy Gough is an Irish entrepreneur, retired weightlifter, and founder of the Thammy Gough Experience. Her inspiring journey began at just six years old when she arrived in Ireland with big dreams and unshakable determination. By 21, she had built her first business, overcoming countless challenges through resilience and grit.
As a trailblazer in Irish weightlifting, a mother of two, and a passionate advocate for personal growth, Thammy has dedicated her life to empowering others. The Thammy Gough Experience embodies her belief that true strength is forged through perseverance and hard work. Through her platform, she helps individuals build resilience, overcome self-doubt, and create lives filled with purpose and success.
Thammy’s mission is to inspire and guide others to invest in themselves and embrace the transformative power of resilience, one step at a time.
Sarah Murphy is the CEO of the Business Post, where she leads the transformation of Ireland’s leading business media platform. Under her leadership, the Business Post has evolved into a 7-day digital-first operation, delivering premium content and insights across business, finance, and politics. Sarah has also expanded the company’s portfolio to include brands like Irish Tatler, Food&Wine Magazine, and Connected, alongside a thriving events business with over 50 annual conferences and exhibitions.
Her work extends to overseeing the Business Post Insights division, incorporating RedC Research and its UK counterpart, Relish, to provide data-driven solutions for businesses. Sarah is also proud to support cross-sector dialogue through the Business Post’s philanthropic Global Economic Summit CLG and serves on Barretstown Children’s Charity’s development committee.
With a background in media leadership, including her tenure as Director at The Irish Post Media Group in London, Sarah is passionate about innovation, women’s equality in business, and fostering inclusive work environments. An advocate for balancing life with adventure, she enjoys running, hiking, triathlons, and exploring Ireland’s countryside.
Áine Denn is an entrepreneurial leader, mentor, and advisor with a background in corporate and technology sectors. A co-founder of Altify, a B2B SaaS business acquired by Upland Software in 2019, Áine spent 14 years helping sales teams increase revenue through best practices, methodology, and technology.
Now focused on board roles and consulting, Áine helps businesses scale operations, revenue, and customer bases. She is a credentialed coach and holds a Dip IoD, named one of Ireland’s top 30 women in tech in 2021. Passionate about fostering entrepreneurship, she serves as a lead entrepreneur for Going for Growth and Back for Business. Áine also sits on the boards of Technology Ireland and the Irish Writers Centre, where she chairs the Governance Committee
Gail Muller is an adventurer, best-selling author, speaker, and life coach. Despite being told she’d be in a wheelchair by 40 due to chronic pain, she overcame these challenges and now inspires others through her journeys and personal growth strategies.
Gail’s experiences with chronic pain and her global adventures inspired her to help others. She believes in using her journey and the lessons learned to guide individuals towards resilience and achieving their true potential.
Gail has authored best-selling books that share her personal journey and insights on overcoming adversity, resilience, and adventure. Both Do Hope and Unlost aim to inspire and empower readers to navigate their own challenges.
Leaving school at 16 with six ‘O’ Levels, through hard work and determination Jo Fairley went on to become the UK’s youngest-ever magazine editor, setting out on her entrepreneurial journey in 1991 when she co-founded Green & Black’s Chocolate, now approaching a £100 million a year brand.
Green & Black’s was born in a recession. As a result, she is well-placed to help and inspire other companies during difficult times. The success of Green & Black’s has enabled Jo to become a serial entrepreneur, via an award-winning organic and natural food store/bakery (Judges Bakery), The Wellington Centre (a boutique nine-room wellbeing centre) – both in her home town of Hastings – and most recently The Perfume Society, which sets out to help individuals develop their sense of smell via exploration of fragrance and the scented world. Although Jo has exited this business, she remains editor of its multi-award-winning magazine, The Scented Letter.
In recognition of her work, Jo has received many awards for her own enterprise, including WorldAware Award and many Soil Association Awards (both for Green & Black’s and Judges Bakery). She has also received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Studies from Kingston University, and The Shackleton Medal for leadership and citizenship, from The Scottish Royal Geographical Society.
Jo now travels the world speaking to audiences on sustainable business, leadership, women in business, change management and entrepreneurialism.
Lucy Gernon is an Irish, award-winning Executive Coach for women in corporate leadership and Founder of 3SIXTY Leaders Club, a premium, high-impact membership focused on leadership development and work-life balance. She is on a mission to empower you with tools & strategies to lead with confidence, impact and balance, making leadership and life 100x easier.
As the host of the top-ranked 360 LeadHERship Podcast, frequently #1 Apple Podcast Careers, Lucy is an acclaimed International Speaker and Corporate Trainer, and has been featured in esteemed publications including Forbes, The Times, Business Post, VIP and Image Magazines.
Her extensive experience as a Mom of 3 leading in the corporate world, particularly in the pharma industry, coupled with her advanced qualifications, including an MSc and ICF Certified Professional Coach certification, enables her to relate easily women leaders, delivering practical and highly impactful coaching and training solutions.
An American entrepreneur based in Dublin, Gina is the CEO of Language of Leadership LLC, where she guides top companies and executives in the world to better connect and engage with their employees, their board and themselves. Her Fortune 500 clients include Salesforce, Oracle, Google and more. A published author and regular media analyst, Gina has appeared on the BBC, FOX, and CNN. She also writes a weekly business leadership column, “The Communicator” in Ireland’s largest circulated newspaper, The Sunday Independent.
Enjoy a continental breakfast with intentional seating arrangements to spark immediate conversations with fellow leaders. Dedicated “Connectors” will facilitate introductions, ensuring every attendee meets someone new and meaningful.
A dynamic keynote from a high-impact entrepreneur or executive who’s successfully navigated disruption. The speaker will share bold strategies for leading with authenticity, embracing reinvention, and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape.
How do you evolve as a leader in times of uncertainty or disruption? This panel of accomplished female CEOs who have transformed multiple businesses, will explore the tools and mindset needed to embrace change and thrive.
Led by an executive coach or mindfulness expert, this session will focus on how intentional leadership practices, including mindful decision-making and stress management, can foster powerful, effective leadership.
12:30 AM – 1:30 PM:
Purpose-Driven Networking Lunch
Attendees will be seated based on industry or leadership interests, with group challenges that encourage problem-solving, ideation, and collaboration during the meal. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying areas where participants can support each other in their leadership journeys.
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM:
Fireside Chat
A fireside chat with a female CEO or social entrepreneur who has led both for-profit and non-profit initiatives, blending purpose with financial success. The conversation will focus on how women can use their platforms to drive global impact while staying true to personal and organizational values.
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM:
Breakout Sessions
Option 1: Recharge & Reflect: Chair Yoga Session
A calming, guided chair yoga session designed to release tension, improve focus, and restore energy. Perfect for leaders looking to reset their mind and body, this session uses gentle stretches and mindful breathing to promote relaxation and mental clarity—no yoga experience required.
Option 2: KELLA Connections in Action
Powered by KELLA TruePeer™ attendees have 90 seconds to meet and greet fellow female leaders, before moving on to the next one. Within just 15 minutes, you’ll leave with 10 quality connections.
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM:
Coffee to Go
Attendees can avail of complimentary tea and coffee on their way back to the main conference area.
Room 1: “Innovating with Purpose: Strategies for Business Transformation”
Led by an innovation strategist, this hands-on session will help participants identify new ways to drive growth and innovation in their businesses by aligning with purpose-driven goals.
Room 2: “Building a Legacy of Leadership”
This session focuses on how to build lasting, meaningful leadership legacies—whether through mentorship, creating sustainable business cultures, or advancing the next generation of women leaders.driven goals.
An intimate conversation with a thought leader in women’s empowerment, discussing how collective efforts and collaboration are shaping the future. Attendees will be encouraged to think about how their individual strengths can amplify the power of their networks.
A curated evening of high-impact networking, featuring KELLA’s most influential members. The event will spotlight upcoming female-led ventures, peer mentoring, and opportunities to deepen the connections formed throughout the day.