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Leadership and Sustainability Conference; The Business Case for Sustainability
April 21, 2026
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Leadership and Sustainability Conference; The Business Case for Sustainability
Date: April 21st
Time: 10am – 1pm
Venue: Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny
Cost: €45pp
EVENT Overview
The purpose of this conference is to bring together business leaders, executives, policymakers, and sustainability practitioners to explore the critical role of leadership in driving sustainable business practices. The conference aims to demonstrate the business case for sustainability by highlighting how responsible leadership, environmental stewardship, and social impact can enhance long-term profitability, resilience, innovation, and competitive advantage. Through thought leadership, practical case studies, and collaborative dialogue, the conference seeks to equip participants with the insights, strategies, and tools needed to embed sustainability into core business decision-making and lead organisations toward sustainable growth.
KEY NOTE SPEAKER – SONYA LENNON
Sonya Lennon is a multi-award-winning business owner, social entrepreneur, equality advocate and non-executive director. Sonya is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and social entrepreneur who founded Work Equal and LIFT Ireland. Her lifestyle brand, Lennon Courtney, is in a retail partnership with Kilkenny Design. Sonya is also a high-profile advocate for equitable workplaces and women’s empowerment. She lobbies at the European level for policy change and was recently called on as an expert witness to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on gender equity. Sonya recently completed a Master’s in Business Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at IADT and is currently studying a PgD in non-executive directorship with The Financial Times in London. Sonya is a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce board and chairs the Labour Taskforce.
✨✨Our panel of speakers for this conference are:
Fergal Doyle
Fergal Doyle is Co-owner and Chief Commercial Officer of Arboretum Garden Centre Group. A Chartered Director and experienced business leader, he is Chair of Retail Excellence Ireland and Incoming President of the International Garden Centre Association. Fergal is passionate about sustainable business growth, strong governance, and supporting Irish enterprises to innovate, scale, and succeed both nationally and internationally.
Anthony Dignam
Anthony Dignam is an experienced Continuous Improvement Manager based in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, with a strong focus on driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of innovation. He specialises in process optimisation, Lean methodologies, and stakeholder engagement to deliver sustainable improvements across teams and projects. In his role, Anthony champions the use of targeted training and upskilling initiatives to build capability, strengthen employee engagement, and sustain a high-performing workforce. By aligning learning opportunities with business needs, his department ensures that employees are equipped with the skills and confidence to adapt to change and contribute to continuous improvement. Anthony is committed to lifelong learning and collaboration, believing that continuous development is key to future success for individuals and organisations alike.
Amanda Stewart
Amanda Stewart is Chief Executive Officer of the High Performance Building Alliance (HPBA) in Ireland, an organization dedicated to transforming the built environment through innovation, collaboration, and sustainability. In this role, she leads efforts to advance energy-efficient building practices, accelerate the transition to net zero, and champion high performance design as a cornerstone of climate action and economic development. Under her leadership, HPBA has become a hub for collaboration across sectors, connecting government, academia, industry, and community stakeholders to align strategies for a more sustainable future. Amanda has been instrumental in shaping partnerships that link Ireland’s construction sector to international best practices, research networks, and emerging technologies. Her work emphasizes the integration of advanced building methods, sustainable materials, and circular design principles into both policy and practice. Amanda also prioritizes education and workforce development, supporting programs that prepare professionals with the skills needed for a low-carbon economy. She has played a key role in convening dialogues between Irish and international partners, ensuring that Ireland remains at the forefront of high performance building innovation on the global stage.
Chris Boland
Chris Boland is the Deputy General Manager at Faithlegg Hotel with over 22 years’ experience in hospitality. A member of the Faithlegg team for the past 10 years, he has held senior roles including Food & Beverage Manager and Operations Manager. Chris is the driving force and leads the hotel’s sustainability initiatives and responsible hospitality practices.
Pat Kane
Pat Kane is a passionate sustainability advocate and business strategist working alongside conscious leaders to drive positive change. As founder and CEO of reuzi.ie, Ireland’s one-stop shop for sustainably made, low-waste goods, she is proud to lead a dedicated team building not just a marketplace but an educational hub on sustainable living. Alongside this, Pat serves as Partner and Sustainability Chief Officer at Pragmatica, where, together with her colleagues, she collaborates with businesses and organisations – from small family enterprises to large corporations – to strengthen their sustainability credentials. Pat’s mission is to inspire and empower individuals and businesses to create meaningful impact through collective effort. As part of this work, Pat also contributes to the national conversation on sustainability, with regular features across Irish media, including IrelandAM on Virgin Media and radio shows on various networks.
David Sinnott
David Sinnott is the CEO of the Port of Waterford which is arguably Ireland’s oldest continuous running business. Before joining Port of Waterford in 2022, David had spent the previous 10 years living and working in Germany for Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH, where he held the role of Vice President of Product Management. Before David’s time in Product Management at Carl Zeiss Vision, he served in several positions for the company in Supply Chain Management, starting out in materials management at their former manufacturing facility in Wexford. David then spent time as Director of European Supply Chain before taking a role as Director of Business Integration. David Sinnott is from Wexford town and served as the president of Wexford Chamber of Commerce in 2002 and
2003. He is currently the Vice President of Waterford Chamber and sits on the board of Wexford Opera Festival.
Conference MC – AOIFE O’SULLIVAN
Aoife O’Sullivan is Head of Network Development & Innovation at Skillnet Ireland, where she oversees the strategic growth of 70 Business Networks across diverse industries and regions. In this role, she shapes how the agency partners with industry, designs future-facing skills programmes, and communicates impact on a national scale. With over 16 years of management experience in both the public and private sectors, Aoife brings deep expertise in relationship management, strategic communications, and innovation-led workforce development. A regular contributor to the national skills agenda, her work is underpinned by a commitment to ensuring Irish businesses are prepared not only for today’s challenges but also for tomorrow’s opportunities. Aoife has supported Skillnet Networks in their development of innovative initiatives in neurodiversity to advances in digital health and artificial intelligence. Aoife holds a BSc and a Master’s Degree in Communications & Cultural Studies.
Who is eligible to apply for this training programme?
- Private sector or commercial semi-state enterprises only.
Unfortunately the following organisations are not eligible:
- Public sector organisations,
- Charity or Not-for-Profit Organisations, and
- Companies based outside the Republic of Ireland
If you require further information please contact kelly.cummins@waterfordchamber.ie