O2 WMB Conference & Awards 2008

On the 29th September 2008 WMB, in association with O2 Ireland, held the second O2 Women Mean Business Conference and Awards 2008, designed to recognise the achievements of Ireland’s businesswomen, in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel, St. Stephen’s Green.

Five awards were presented on the day, with Anne Dooley, Director, Winthrop Engineering taking the overall O2 WMBusinesswoman of the Year Award 2008. Winthrop Engineering is one of the countries’ leading mechancial and engineering contract companies employing 400 staff. The judges were impressed by Anne’s achievements in what remains a wholly male-dominated industry.

Anni Kilgallon of Chocolate Heaven won Accenture WMBig Idea Award 2008, while Mary Lawlor of Front Line won Irish Life WMB Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2008. Nicola Byrne of 11890 was chosen as the winner of the County & City Enterprise Boards

WMBreakthrough Award, and Rosie Sheehan of Broadway Bagels was selected as

winnerof the WMB Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008.

The day-long event included some unique speakers to motivate and inspire Ireland’s businesswomen including keynote speaker, Karren Brady, Managing Director of Birmingham City F.C; Pat Falvey, Adventurer and Motivational Speaker; Hilary O’Meara, Senior Executive, Accenture and Caroline Casey, Founding CEO of Kanchi (formally the Aisling Foundation.)

To coincide with International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Marie Keating Foundation launched an awareness campaign entitled  “Breast Cancer won’t wait……Everything else can” at the O2 Women Mean Business Conference and Awards. The Marie Keating Foundation played host at the Networking Session.

Speaking at the event, Rosemary Delaney, Managing Director of WMB Publishing, said:

“It’s fantastic to be working with great businesses that recognise the worth of Ireland’s businesswomen – both as employees and employers. Visionary companies like O2, who are run by equally visionary people like Danuta Gray, lead by example. Of course my own dreams could not be fulfilled without the commitment of women across Ireland to put themselves out there – to understand that their experiences can positively influence the next generation, and can proactively change the economic and social landscape of Ireland for the good of all”.

Brenda Jones, SME Business Revenue Manager, O2 Ireland, Title Sponsor of the event, said:

“O2 Ireland is delighted to support the Women Mean Business Conference and Awards for a second year and we would like to congratulate all of the entrants who have participated in this unique event. These awards highlight the significant achievements of women in a broad spectrum of businesses. It is our hope that in celebrating and recognising these businesswomen’s achievements that more Irish women will be empowered to realise their full potential in business.”

Read more of the O2 WMB Conference & Awards Results in the October|November 2008 issue of WMB, on newsstands now.