Speakers

Louise McDonnell is an award-winning social media strategist, international speaker, four-time best-selling author, and host of The Social Media Takeaway podcast. Her work has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide to leverage social media in a way that feels authentic and effective.

Recognised for her approachable, interactive style, Louise is more than a strategist—she’s the coach every business owner dreams to meet: deeply invested in your success and passionate about helping you build a business that thrives online.

Damien O’Driscoll is a retail technology leader with over 20 years of experience helping businesses grow through smarter, more connected systems. He founded Positive Retail in 2010 to provide retailers with a seamless platform to manage sales, inventory, and eCommerce.

He leads a talented team delivering practical, integrated solutions for retailers across Ireland and the UK. He also supports SME growth through AccountancySoftware.ie, offering tools that make business simpler and more efficient.

Louise Lally is founder of The Training Academy, having worked in Leadership roles within the Retail sector for many years and having qualifications in HR and Training and Development she encompasses these elements into her Retail Training. 

Louise was mentoring and coaching for many years with leadership teams and felt that there is more support that is needed to give a better experience and performance process to those new in management roles. 

Kevin Egan is the founder and owner of Kevin Egan Cars, one of Sligo’s most successful and trusted car dealerships. With over two decades in the motor trade, Kevin has built a reputation for quality, customer service and innovation, including a strong focus on digital sales and aftercare. 

He is known for championing local employment, supporting community initiatives and expanding the business into a regional automotive leader. Kevin will share insights on entrepreneurship, resilience and building a brand from the ground up in the west of Ireland.

Dr Oran Doherty is Head of Retail Ireland Skillnet, where he leads the country’s largest dedicated retail training and education network. With extensive experience working with employers and education providers across Ireland and Europe, Oran has delivered workshops and keynote presentations on skills development, the future of work, and talent optimisation.

Oran will share practical, employer-focused best practices for attracting, retaining, and maximising talent in today’s rapidly changing workplace. 

Miriam Simon is a seasoned business strategist and keynote speaker who specialises in turning consumer trends, AI insights, and complex strategy - into clear, actionable growth.

With 30 years of experience, Miriam has delivered powerful results for brands like TKMaxx, B&Q, Meta, Kerry Group, and Jameson. 

Her core expertise spans Business Strategy & Growth, Innovation, Leadership and High Performance, Retail & Consumer Behaviour, AI and Business Strategy, as well as Workshops & Speaking.

Miriam works closely with CEOs and leadership teams across multiple industries. Accredited, data-driven, and future-focused, Miriam is an award winning leader that helps CEO's and business owners sharpen their thinking, align their teams, and drive real progress.

Damien O’Driscoll is a retail technology leader with over 20 years of experience helping businesses grow through smarter, more connected systems. He founded Positive Retail in 2010 to provide retailers with a seamless platform to manage sales, inventory, and eCommerce.

He leads a talented team delivering practical, integrated solutions for retailers across Ireland and the UK. He also supports SME growth through AccountancySoftware.ie, offering tools that make business simpler and more efficient.

Stephen Hallahan is the Founder & CEO Tap Retail, an award-winning Irish technology company with a mission to digitally enable local independent retailers and level the playing field in a digital-first world. Backed by Enterprise Ireland and led by a team with deep expertise in retail, e-commerce, and logistics, Tap Retail provides an end-to-end digital commerce platform tailored for towns and villages.

Our flagship solution, the Digital Retail Village (DRV), empowers local retailers to build a collective online presence, streamline last-mile delivery, and attract new customers through shared digital marketing. Our work is recognised for fostering collaboration among retailers, supporting town centre vitality, and delivering measurable community and economic benefits.

Dr Janine van Someren is an accredited wellbeing consultant, speaker and founder of The Wellbeing Advantage. With over 25 years’ experience across sport and corporate wellbeing, she helps professionals optimize energy, resilience and performance with habits that stick, blending behavioural science, high-performance principles and data-informed insight. She has delivered programmes across multiple industries and has carried out international research on the impact of AI adoption in professional services. Janine is also the author of the forthcoming book The Wellbeing Advantage, a practical, science-backed guide to rebuilding energy and resilience at work and in life.