Night One – Investment
Topic: An evening of discussion on investment in sport and physical activity hosted by Rob Hartnett
Description: The investment themed evening opens the Irish Sport Industry Innovation Series with a focus on the various strands of financial investment in the sector including government, corporate and project specific funding. The evening will consist of two panel discussions and a keynote address and conversation with Government Chief Whip and Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers.
The line-up:
7pm – Mary O’Connor, CEO Federation of Irish Sport
7.10pm – ‘Sport and physical activity as a vehicle for corporate and philanthropic investment’ – panel discussion with:
- Denise Charlton, CEO Community Foundation of Ireland
- Richie Gernon, Regional Director at EBS
- Aoife Clarke, Head of Communications at LIDL Ireland
7.40pm – Keynote address and conversation with Minister of State with responsibility for sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers.
8.10pm – ‘Trends and opportunities in innovation investment in Ireland and Europe’ – panel discussion with:
- Benny Cullen, Director of Research and Innovation at Sport Ireland
- Cormac MacDonnell, Innovation and EU Funding manager at Sport Ireland
- Alberto Bichi, Executive Director of EPSI
8.40pm – Close
Night Two – International
Topic: An evening of discussion on tourism, sports events and major international tournament bidding hosted by Declan Conroy.
Description: The international themed evening is the second in the Irish Sport Industry Innovation Series and will focus on the benefits and challenges of international sporting event hosting. The evening will also highlight the tourism infrastructure that makes Ireland a strong bidding nation when it comes to international events. The evening will consist of a keynote conversation with Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Failte Ireland as well as an in-depth panel discussion on the mechanics of bidding, hosting and evaluating international events on Irish shores.
The line-up:
7pm – Mary O’Connor, CEO Federation of Irish Sport
7.10pm – keynote conversation with Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Failte Ireland
7.40pm – ‘Bringing international sporting events to Irish shores – the benefits and challenges’ – panel discussion with:
- Hamish Adams, CEO Athletics Ireland
- Garrett Tubridy, Consultant and project manager of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017
- Donal Hannigan, Principle Officer at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, the Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
8.30pm – Close
Night Three – Innovation
Topic: An evening of discussion on digital transformation and innovation in the sport and physical activity sector hosted by Trevor Keane.
Description: The investment themed evening closes the inaugural Irish Sport Industry Innovation Series with a focus on digital transformation and innovation trends and opportunities in the sport and physical activity sector. The evening will consist of a keynote conversation with Gráinne Barry, VP Digital and Business Operations at Stats Perform and co-founder of Sports Tech Ireland as well as a panel discussion on the trends and opportunities for innovation in the sector.
The line-up:
7pm – Mary O’Connor, CEO Federation of Irish Sport
7.10pm – keynote conversation with Gráinne Barry, VP Digital and Business Operations at Stats Perform and co-founder of Sports Tech Ireland
7.40pm – ‘Embracing digital transformation and innovation in the sport and physical activity sector’ – panel discussion with:
- Fiona Chambers, University College Cork
- Jill Downey, Managing Director at CORE Sponsorship
- Lewis Wiltshire, Seven League
8.10pm – Outstanding Achievement Presentations by Federation of Irish Sprot
8.40pm – Close