Scaling and sustainability: Join our two most popular panels at this year’s IMAGE Business Summit

Panel 1 – ‘Scaling Business: The experts’ insights’

Panel discussion with Eddie Shanahan, Sheelagh Daly and John Paul Scally

Join us for an insightful mentorship session, as we gather a super-powerful panel to share three important steps to scaling your business. Experts will give tips and insights on how to finance, develop and up-regulate your idea. These people have the ability to change business trajectories through their funds, competitions and contacts.

Meet the panel

Eddie Shanahan, Business & Product Development and Consultant to Fashion, Retail & Craft Sectors

Eddie Shanahan specialises in business and product development for the fashion, craft and retail industries. His clients include designers, retailers, state agencies, blue chip corporations and emerging talent in both the Irish and international marketplaces.

He is Chair of the Council of Irish Fashion Designers and is a regular commentator on business and lifestyle issues in print and broadcast media. Eddie founded the CREATE Project with Brown Thomas to identify and support Irish talent.

Sheelagh Daly, Entrepreneurship Manager at Enterprise Ireland

Sheelagh worked in hotel management in London and Ireland for over a decade after graduating from Shannon College of Hotel Management, including running her family business. Her career changed direction in 1998, entering the field of community development and from there moving into the public sector focused on economic development, entrepreneurship and enterprise through her role at both national and local level with the Local Enterprise Offices.

Sheelagh also holds a degree in Training & Education and a Masters in Project Management, and has been a Director on a number of boards including Microfinance Ireland. In her current role as Entrepreneurship Manager in Enterprise Ireland, Sheelagh is particularly focused on increasing participation by women in entrepreneurship and business leadership.

John Paul Scally, CEO of Lidl 

John Paul (J.P.) comes from a farming background in Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath, and his agricultural ties are what drew him to the food industry. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from NUI Galway and joined Lidl Ireland as Project Manager in the Construction, Facilities & Logistics Department in 2003.

Over the next nine years, he worked his way up the ladder, opening and managing his own warehouse, becoming a Regional Director, and in 2012, he was appointed Director of Operations for Lidl France. He has helped grow the company to the international brand it is and is eager to share his personal experience and learnings he gained along the way.

Register Now for the virtual IMAGE Business Summit

WHEN: Wednesday, October 20 and Thursday, October 21

WHERE: From the comfort and convenience of your own home or office

HOW TO ACCESS: General Admission Tickets are €75. Register below and receive an email with the virtual access link just before the event on October 20.

Did you know that IMAGE Business Club members receive COMPLIMENTARY access to the IMAGE Business Summit as part of their membership? Join the club for €246 now to claim your complimentary ticket!

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IMAGE Business Club members, claim your complimentary ticket HERE!

Panel 2 – ‘Evolve now! The Race Towards a Greener Footprint’

Panel discussion with Dr Tara Shine, Anne-Marie Tomchak, Diana Geraghty and Fiona Gaskin

Sustainability is no longer a positive business story, it’s an essential part to any strategy. With so much to do, and such little time to do it, our panel of three powerhouse female business leaders will bring accessible solutions to the fore to enable a greener future for all.

Meet the panel

Dr Tara Shine, Co-Founder & Director of Change by Degrees

Dr Shine is co-founder and Director of Change by Degree, an award-winning business that advises organisations on sustainability strategy and reporting, employee engagement and sustainability communications. She has 20 years of experience as an international climate change negotiator and adviser to governments and world leaders on environment and development policy.

Tara is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED) and a member of faculty and lead facilitator for the visibility stream of Homeward Bound, a global leadership programme for women in science. She is also an author, a science communicator and a TV presenter. Most recently, she won Network Ireland Cork Businesswoman of the Year Award 2021.

Diana Geraghty, Head of Sustainability at Brown Thomas & Arnotts

As Head of Sustainability for Brown Thomas Arnotts, Diana leads the sustainability agenda for the iconic Irish retailers, part of the Selfridges Group. In her role, Diana is responsible for the delivery of Brown Thomas Arnotts’ ambitious sustainability programme focused on everything from circular fashion, carbon reduction strategies, responsible sourcing to charity, volunteering projects and other initiatives to support customers to lead more sustainable lifestyles.

Diana holds a MSc in Business Sustainability from UCD’s Smurfit Graduate Business School and has spent the last decade in key sustainability roles in the FMCG, food service, packaging and retail sectors in Ireland as well as the UK and the US. She is a former Bord Bia Origin Green Ambassador and has worked with blue chip companies like The Coca-Cola Company and Mars Chocolate. She also led the sustainability agenda for the award-winning Google Food programme across the EMEA region for a number of years.

Anne-Marie Tomchak, Founder & CEO of DesignTracker

Anne-Marie Tomchak is the founder and CEO of the sustainability focused tech company DesignTracker which researches and ranks design-led solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis. She’s also a co-founder of ShareJoy, a fashion non-profit which sells pre-loved and ethical fashion to raise funds for mental health charities.

An experienced journalist and broadcaster, Anne-Marie has worked at the very top of news, tech and fashion media. She has led editorial teams at Mashable and Vogue, she launched the social media investigative unit BBC Trending and her RTE documentary ‘Cloud Control: Who Owns Your Data?’ has been added to the Irish curriculum as a learning resource for teachers and students in the Junior Cycle.

Fiona Gaskin, PwC Partner, Trust &  Transparency Solutions

Fiona leads the Trust and Transparency team for PwC Ireland, dealing with a range of assurance reports across a variety of industries. She is a certified auditor, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and holds a Master in Sustainable Finance.

Over the last few years, Fiona has specialised in sustainability assurance and has helped clients with their sustainability reporting. This has included TCFD, GRI, EU Taxonomy, UN SDGs and UN Principles of Responsible Banking. All of this work has been supported by Fiona’s extensive risk experience over an eighteen year period.

Register Now for the virtual IMAGE Busines Summit

Stay up to date

We can’t wait to share more information about the exciting things to come for this year’s IMAGE Business Summit, in partnership with PwC. 

For regular updates and new information regarding confirmed speakers and schedules, check out our Business Summit Hub.