Irish Olympic and Paralympic athletes are increasingly stepping out of their competitive arenas to use their global platforms as powerful engines for social change. No longer defined solely by their medal counts or athletic prowess, these competitors are proving that their most enduring legacy may not be the victories recorded in the history books, but … Continue reading Part 5: More Than a Game: How Irish Olympians and Paralympians’ Biggest Names Are Fighting for Social Change in Ireland

Irish international footballers, past and present, have used their platforms to champion a range of causes close to their hearts. These include infant mortality and stillbirth support, spina bifida and hydrocephalus, Down syndrome, gambling addiction, online racism and discrimination, cerebral palsy and equal gender pay in sport, head injuries and concussion-related dementia risk, congenital heart … Continue reading Part 4: More Than a Game: How Irish Football’s Biggest Names Are Fighting for Social Change in Ireland

For decades, the conversation around women’s Gaelic games mostly centred on what happened between the lines. But lately, there’s a whole new game being played off the pitch. A powerful wave of camogie and Ladies' Football stars are stepping up to the microphone, using their platforms to tackle big, uncomfortable topics that used to be … Continue reading Part 3: More Than a Game: Female Gaelic Footballers and Camogie Players Who Are Fighting for Social Change and Gender Equality in Ireland

Across Ireland, elite Gaelic Hulers are utilising their prominent sporting platforms to champion vital social causes, transforming their national status and unique lived experiences into powerful vehicles for public advocacy far beyond the field of play. This dedicated group features courageous voices breaking down long-standing stigmas around mental health struggles, eating disorders, and gambling or … Continue reading Part 2: More Than a Game: How Gaelic Hurlers’ Biggest Names Are Fighting for Social Change in Ireland

The All-Ireland Gaelic football championship is in full swing at the moment, and several high-profile players are taking advantage of this and gaining publicity for causes that they advocate for. Among those leading the way are Niall McNamee, Bernard Brogan, and Dean Rock, who have each spoken openly about mental health, drawing on their own … Continue reading Part 1: More Than a Game: How Gaelic Football’s Biggest Names Are Fighting for Social Change in Ireland

It’s nearly a year since the European Accessibility Act (EAA) was enacted. The act makes digital accessibility a strict legal mandate for any company trading within the EU. Aimed at breaking down fragmented regional barriers and creating an inclusive marketplace for people with disabilities and elderly citizens, the law targets core digital products and services, … Continue reading 5 Ways To Make Your Social Media More Accessible

The Health Research Board recorded 13,295 cases treated for problem drug use in 2024 alone, the highest annual number ever recorded, with cocaine remaining the most common drug treated, accounting for 40% of all drug treatment cases. Alcohol remains one of the most deeply embedded public health challenges that the health services in Ireland face. … Continue reading From Addiction to Recovery to Entrepreneurship

I've previously written articles on Rugby Players speaking openly about issues in DEI, the best people to follow for the Female 2023 World Cup and Irish GAA players to open their own business. However, I wanted to take a DEI angle to this year's World Cup. I wanted to avoid players speaking openly about issues … Continue reading From Conflict, War and Refugee Camps to the World Cup

A&L Goodbody (in this article) states that "Section 16 of the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 (the Act) forms the bedrock of the duty to provide reasonable accommodation in Ireland. Put simply, section 16 places a duty on employers to provide “appropriate measures” to enable an employee to carry out their employment duties, provided the employee will be … Continue reading 30 Inexpesive Reasonable Accomodations that I have seen work in Irish Workplaces

In the first two sections of my review of people I met or heard from at One Young World 2025 in Munich, I featured company founders, and in the second section, I featured people who spoke at the event from large organisations who are making a difference in the world. In this section, I will … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World, Munich 2025 – Politicians, Celebrities, and OYW Senior Staff, Part 2

In the first two sections of my review of people I met or heard from at OYW2025, I featured company founders, and in the second section, I featured people who spoke at the event from large organisations who are making a difference in the world. In this section, I will be reviewing the people who … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World, Munich 2025 – Not For Profit Leaders, Politicians, Celebrities, and OYW Senior Staff, Part 1

This is part four of my series looking at 100 speakers to follow from large organisations that spoke at OYW2025 in Munich, Germany. This article features speakers from companies such as the Sandoz, Reckitt, Royles-Royce, Allianz SE and organisations involved in politics and peace building, to name a few. Like parts one and two, their … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World – Speakers from large companies, Part 4

This is part three of my series looking at 100 speakers to follow from large organisations that spoke at OYW2025 in Munich, Germany. This article features speakers from companies such as the Sandoz,Reckitt, Royles-Royce, Allianz SE and organisation invovled in politics and peace building to name a few. Like part one and two, their expertise … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World – Speakers from large companies, Part 3

This is part two of my series looking at 100 speakers to follow from OYW2025 in Munich, Germany. This article features speakers from companies such as the BCC Siemens, CBS, Ikea, UNHCR, Reckitt and The Nobel Women's intiative to name a few. Like part one, their expertise is in a range of areas such as … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World – Speakers from large companies, Part 2

Following on from my four articles about the incredible founders, One Young World staff, and coordinating ambassadors from around the world, this next series of articles turns its focus to speakers from large organisations who are championing the work their companies are doing on the global stage. They represent a genuinely broad cross-section of industries … Continue reading People to follow from OYW2025 – Speakers from large companies – Part 1

This is the third article in my series of People to follow from One Young World 2025. You can view my first article here, my second article here and my third article here. This article will focus on delegates at One Young World 2025 who have founded their own company, are One Young World staff, or are … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World 2025 – Founders, OYW staff or coordinating ambassadors – Part 4

This is the third article in my series of People to follow from One Young World 2025. You can view my first article here and my second article here This article will focus on delegates at One Young World who have founded their own company, are One Young World staff, or are One Young World coordinating … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World 2025 – Founders, OYW staff or coordinating ambassadors – Part 3

This is the second article in my series of People to follow from One Young World 2025. You can view my first article here This article will focus on delegates at One Young World who have founded their own company, are One Young World staff, or are One Young World coordinating ambassadors. If you prefer, … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World 2025 – Founders, OYW staff or coordinating ambassadors – Part 2

I had the privilege to be one of the 2,000 people from 192 countries to be given a ticket to the One Young World 2025 Summit in Munich. This was my third One Young World after being nominated originally by Dell Technologies in 2019, then been given a ticket as a returning ambassador for Belfast … Continue reading People to follow from One Young World 2025 – Delegate founders, OYW staff or coordinating ambassadors – Part 1

Here is the second part of my series on the best people of colour or minority ethnic backgrounds that could be your next guest speaker. You can find the first part here. It's estimated that there are approximently 227,000 people in Ireland that identify as being a person of colour or being from minority ethinic … Continue reading 50 People of colour, or of minority ethnic backgrounds in Ireland that could be your next guest speaker – Part 2

It's estimated that there are approximently 227,000 people in Ireland that identify as being a person of colour or being from minority ethinic background. This represents around 5% of Ireland’s total population. However often people of colour or minrity ethinic backgrounds opinions are left out of events, workshops or corporate communications because of unconcious bias … Continue reading 50 People of colour, or of minority ethnic backgrounds in Ireland that could be your next guest speaker – Part 1

Maezza Romero gaming career began in childhood and has since evolved into a full-fledged career. From impoving her reading skills through video games, to creating inclusive online spaces, to championing representation in an industry that hasn’t always welcomed underrepresented voices, maezza proves that diverse voices are always needed. Through projects like Cyber Squad, managing communities at scale, … Continue reading Maezza Romero: Shaping Safe, Inclusive Spaces in Gaming—From Cyber Squad to Romero Games Community”

Starting her journey in a small town in Indiana with a passion for storytelling, Gina forged a successful career in journalism that spanned major news organisations like CNN and impactful international volunteer-led work. Her deep understanding of narrative and communication eventually led her to found Language of Leadership, where she combines her media expertise with … Continue reading From Small-Town Indiana to Global Leadership Communications: How Story Telling has Shaped Gina London’s Journey to Empower Authentic Storytelling in Business

Meg O’Connell’s journey from her early work with the deaf community in St. Augustine, Florida to founding and leading Global Disability Inclusion (GDI) as CEO is truly remarkable. Meg and her team has been instrumental in driving meaningful change for disabled people in the corporate world, addressing long-standing gaps in workplace integration. One of their … Continue reading Meg O’Connell and her US based Global Disability Inclusion team is Championing Disability Inclusion Amidst DEI Funding Challenges

Serial entrepreneur Bill Liao began his journey as a self-taught hardware engineer in Melbourne, fixing computers while he and his wife worked dead-end jobs. A transformative personal development course and his wife’s involvement with the Hunger Project inspired a leap of faith: Bill left his job, moved into sales, and ultimately built two highly successful … Continue reading Bill Liao’s Journey from Self-Taught Engineer to Successful Entrepreneur and Global Changemaker who Drives Diversity in EdTech and the Environment

Claire Twomey, Ireland’s first ADHD coach with four industry-recognised accreditations, shares how her personal journey with ADHD shapes her strengths-based, empathetic approach at ADHD Connections. Driven by lived experience and a passion for ethical standards, she has founded pioneering initiatives like Divergent Nexus and Ireland’s first ADHD Coaching Collective, aiming to empower neurodivergent individuals, promote … Continue reading Claire Twomey Award Winning Founder of Irelands First ADHD Coaching Platform

Caolan Kelly explores how authentic, lived experiences can drive meaningful social impact. Drawing from his own journey-leaving a successful engineering career to walk 1,500km across Europe for youth mental health-Caolan illustrates that personal stories, rather than credentials or strategic plans, are what truly connect, inspire, and mobilise others, especially within diversity, equity, and inclusion work. … Continue reading Caolan Kelly: How Sharing His Mental Health Journey Transformed His Path in DEI and Entrepreneurship

When I was 5, my mum attended a Dyspraxia Ireland conference where an expert named Amanda Kirby was speaking. As she listened, my mum began ticking off symptoms in her head, recognising behaviours I exhibited. This led to an assessment where I was diagnosed with dyspraxia. Fast forward 34 years, and Amanda Kirby has become … Continue reading Transforming Neurodiversity: How Amanda Kirby’s Work Has Diagnosed and Supported More Than 100,000 People

Ian McKinley's remarkable rugby journey epitomises extraordinary resilience and determination. Born in Dublin, McKinley's sporting passion emerged early, playing Gaelic football and taking up rugby in St. Columba's College, before going on to the Leinster Rugby Academy and making 6 appearences for Leinster's first team. However while playing for UCD Ian got a devastating eye injury threatened … Continue reading Visually Impaired Rugby Pioneer: Ian McKinley’s Extraordinary Journey from Career Ending Injury to Italian Rugby International

Today is International Persons With A Disability Day. To celebrate I created a list of 50 extraordinary Irish people who are breaking barriers, challenging stigma, and inspiring change through their lived experiences with disabilities or mental health challenges. These individuals offer unique perspectives, compelling stories, and powerful insights, making them exceptional choices for your next … Continue reading 50 Irish People With Disabilities or Mental Health issues that can be your next guest speaker

Mei Lin Yap, is a committed advocate and accomplished professional, brings an empowering message to people with Down Syndrome and to those who support a more inclusive workforce. Mei Lin has broken down barriers by building a fulfilling career spanning over 15 years, which sadly is not common place for people with Down Syndrome in … Continue reading Mei Lin Yap: Breaking Barriers to Show Employers the True Potential of People with Down Syndrome

Philip Black's journey journey leading up to leadership roles at the Crisis Student Response Network (CSRN) and Action for Refugee Life (AREL) was rooted in both academic and early career experiences. Initially, while studying Economics and Marketing at the University of Ulster, Philip secured a digital strategy internship with PwC . This introduced him to … Continue reading Philip Black, CEO of CSRN: A charity supporting non-profits around the globe responding to crisis supported by the One Young World network

Conor's career journey began with a marketing degree, followed by various roles in the field. In 1997, he transitioned into internet marketing at a technology firm, recognising the early potential of the online space. Over the next 25 years, Conor worked with notable brands like Vodafone and RaboDirect, contributing to award-winning campaigns. His entrepreneurial ventures … Continue reading Conor Lynch: Having Sold His Own Marketing Agency Conor is Now Focusing on Helping Others With His New Venture- Career Lab

As founder of Irvine Training was driven by necessity to start the company during the post-Celtic Tiger era, a time when many were seeking to retrain and upskill. Initially focused on training in marketing, governance, and funding, Irvine Training has evolved to offer bespoke courses tailored to various sectors, including social enterprises and traditional businesses. … Continue reading Irvine Training: Tailored Workshops for Not-For-Profit’s, Social Enterprises and Traditional Businesses

The Irish Paralympic team has been a source of inspiration and pride, featuring a diverse group of athletes who have excelled across various sports. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Ireland's team consisted of 29 competitors, and they achieved remarkable success, winning seven medals including four golds, two silver and one bronze medal. The athletes … Continue reading 15 Irish Paralympians to look out for in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games

Sile Walsh's leadership programmes, blog content and her upcoming book makes her one of the leading voices on how to create create empathy and be a voice within the DEI community particularly on the Mental Health and leadership areas. Her leadership programmes, which focuses on helping individuals overcome self-doubt and cultivate fulfilling lives. Grounded in … Continue reading Unlocking Empathy: Sile Walsh’s Journey to Inclusive Leadership and Mental Health Advocacy

Aisling was born in Co. Down before moving to Dublin for University, She joined Grant Thornton in 2013 is now a Director in Sustainability & Financial Services Advisory. Through this position Aisling works with clients on addressing sustainability challenges and champions a number of sustainability projects, such as The Team Green Network. The aim of the Green Team Network … Continue reading Aisling McCaffery – Award winning sustainability champion, women in tech and people of colour in tech advocate and One Young World Ambassador

Some of you may have noticed that two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend and was invited to host a session at the One Young World summit in Belfast. It was genuinely one of the most memorable weeks of my life. From the world-class speakers to the connections made with fellow delegates, who … Continue reading Northern Irish People to Follow from One Young World

The Diversity in Tech Awards took place on the 27th of September, and (although I'm a little late to the party on this), I wanted to highlight some of the people that one awards that night. On the night itself there were a number of company awards to the likes of EY, The Big Idea … Continue reading People to follow from the Diversity in Tech Awards