- NIE Networks returns as title sponsor of November’s flagship event which is set to welcome 300+ delegates to Hilton, Belfast
Northern Ireland’s standout female leadership event has set a date of 12th November when more than 300 industry leaders and changemakers will mark 10 years of leadership lessons and insight under the theme of ‘Shaping What Matters.’
Over the past decade, the Women in Business Voices of Leadership conference has become a key fixture on NI’s business calendar, platforming leaders from across the fields of industry, academia, government and the third sector to share opportunities and ultimately inspire positive change at a local level.
Taking place at Belfast’s Hilton Hotel, the 2026 event will feature a number of keynote speakers including Margot Slattery. A globally recognised business leader, board advisor and advocate for social sustainability, Margot is at the forefront of helping international organisations embed social impact, diversity, inclusion and belonging into their business strategies on a worldwide scale.
An instrumental voice in leadership, Slattery joins an impressive line-up of speakers including:
- Sarah Murphy, Founder and CEO of Conexus
- Fiacre O'Donnell, Sustainability Director at Vidrala
- Dr Ines Wichert, occupational psychologist, author and leadership expert
- Agnes Luney, Co-Founder of Positive Futures
- Erin McFeely, Director NI at Alchemy
- Melanie McMordie, Client Managing Director at event partner Fujitsu
Commenting at the launch, Caroline Coyle, Women in Business Managing Director said, “Leadership today requires a voice that is truly vocal on all things inclusion, sustainability and investing in the people who will ultimately shape our future workforce. For 10 years, our conference has challenged leaders to not only empower those around them, but to navigate with confidence the complexities and ever-present change that defines the modern business landscape.”
Rooted in the heart of Northern Ireland’s business ecosystem, the one-day conference will be hosted again by Donna Traynor and provide a platform for voices of leadership that resonate far beyond the room.
“This year’s exceptional line-up of speakers is reflective of that, as we bring together voices of leadership both local and international to focus on the issues that truly matter today, and how we can collectively shape the next decade and more through leadership that is fair and future-focused”, added Caroline.
The 2026 event welcomes the return of NIE Networks as title sponsor, with Belfast City Council and Fujitsu also supporting the event.
Helen Sullivan, Chief People and Culture Officer at NIE added: "We are delighted to once again sponsor Voices of leadership - the conversation about female leadership needs to keep moving forward - from representation to progression and from ambition to action. This matters particularly in STEM, engineering and energy where women remain under-represented and where we need to build stronger pipelines of female talent into future leadership roles. Events like Voices of leadership provide a fantastic opportunity to bring us together to challenge thinking, share experiences and create connections that can translate into real change."
