Network Ireland members celebrate

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is an occasion that’s very close to the hearts of Network Ireland members right across the country. A more dynamic and passionate group of women you won’t find, and their expertise and enthusiasm was on full display at Tulfarris House in Blessington, when they gathered for their International Women’s Day event.

Network Ireland was established in 1983 and now has 1200 members across 15 branches around Ireland. Over 200 events - most of which are free - are organised every year where members gather together to collaborate, share knowledge, network for their careers and support each other through their shared experiences.

The membership is a very diverse group covering entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals and employees across indigenous and multinational organisations, non-profits, charities, the arts and public sectors. Network Ireland strives to promote diversity and equality, entrepreneurship and leadership development, and collaborates with like-minded people and organisations.

At the head of the organisation is the Network Ireland President, who serves a 12-month term in office. Wicklow-based businesswoman Louisa Meehan was elected as the 2020 President, in her fifth year as a member of Network Ireland.

Each President of Network Ireland selects a theme for their term in office and Louisa has chosen ‘Power Within’ for 2020. At the start of this new decade, Louisa believes women in Ireland have an opportunity to take stock of their achievements and acknowledge the inner strength that has brought them this far, and help drive their vision and ambition for the future.

The International Women’s Day event is one of the highlights of the Network Ireland calendar, and the 2020 edition was no different. Hundreds of enthusiastic delegates from around the country gathered in the luxurious surroundings of Tulfarris House for a fantastic day of catching up, making new contacts and learning from the top-class speaker line-up put together by the organisers. Germany’s Ambassador to Ireland, Her Excellency Deike Potzel and International Mental Health Wellness Consultant Rona McBrierty were among those sharing

their insight and expertise with delegates, while broadcaster and founder of SpeakEasy Communications Clodagh Walsh was MC on the day.

An important addition to this year’s International Women’s Day activity for Network Ireland was an online survey the group conducted to examine some of the many issues affecting the lives of women in Ireland today. Nearly 500 people took part in the survey, which threw up some very interesting results:

Employment:

- Among participants who are parents, half (49.3%) report that the cost of childcare has made them consider giving up work

- Over three-quarters (77.49%) of women say they deal with work-related emails and calls outside of working hours

- Almost half (47%) report feeling discriminated against in the workplace because they’re women

Healthcare:

- A large majority of women (87%) reported feeling overwhelmed at times by the pressures of modern life

- More than one in four (27%) of those said they feel this way every day, while 42% say it occurs weekly

- 6 in 10 (60.8%) respondents say they have put off addressing their own health concerns because of cost

Online experience:

- Just over 1 in 10 (11.81%) women say they have been the victim of online abuse or harassment

- Of those, 1 in 5 reported their experience to the relevant website/operator/Gardai, while almost half (46%) chose to ignore it.

Reacting to the results of the survey, President Louisa Meehan said: “The fact that so many women consider leaving work because of the cost of having their children cared for is distressing. This is not a choice women in Ireland should have to make. More must be done to support them to continue in their jobs, which 92% of respondents said they like, while ensuring they have access to good childcare. Having children is not a reason to hold women back from progressing their careers - it sends out the wrong message to women and to their families”.

Louisa said the survey results relating to the pressures of modern life should ring alarm bells: “Nearly 90 per cent say they feel overwhelmed at times - and over a quarter of those face it on a daily basis - where are the supports for these women? Additional government resources must now be put into helping women cope with the many demands on their talents and resilience”.

Two other major events on the national calendar for Network Ireland are their annual awards and the annual conference. Applications are now being accepted for the Businesswomen of the Year awards 2020. Entries are being collected for 8 categories: Small SME, Large SME, Solo Businesswoman, Emerging New Business, Employee - Rising Star, Employee - Shining Star, Arts and STEM. Individual branches will run the awards on a local level before the overall winners are announced at Network Ireland’s Annual Conference at Powerscourt Hotel in

October.

Louisa Meehan says the awards are highly prized by the membership: “What I have found over my time in Network Ireland is that members get value out of entering into the awards in the first place, this allows them the opportunity to step back and demonstrate just how much they have achieved already. In taking time for reflection, professional women can also identify opportunities for growth, both in their businesses and in their careers, so for me the process of entering is the most important element with the potential for winning at both branch and national level being the cherry on top.”

All of Network Ireland’s members and officers give their time to the organisation on a voluntary basis.

The success of the group’s events and activities demonstrate the spirit of determination that runs through the membership, as well as the commitment to supporting like-minded women at local and national level.

Network Ireland has built up valuable relationships in the corporate community, most notably with AIB, which has been official partner to Network Ireland for several years. In the Wicklow locality, InGoodCompany and Wendy Doyle Solicitors have provided wonderful support, most recently at the International Women’s Day Event.

The successful partnership built between AIB and Network Ireland has enabled Network to grow in membership throughout the country and enrich the offering to Network members and AIB customers.

Supporting charities is another important part of Network Ireland’s identity. At Tulfarris House in February, President Louisa Meehan used the occasion of International Women’s Day to announce her two chosen charities for 2020 - AsIAm and Cogs and Kiwi.