Network Louth Meath Host Louise Phelan for 'Geek Girl Dinner'

Network Louth Meath in association with Girl Geek Dinners and CoderDojo Drogheda invite you to a 'Girl Tech & Female Entrepreneurs' dinner with special guest Louise Phelan of PayPal.

Network Louth Meath and CoderDojo Drogheda are hosting a Girl Geek Dinners event the week before DojoCon to highlight our support for a key theme of the conference to encourage more girls into CoderDojo and Science generally.

Louise Phelan of PayPal discusses Girl Tech, Business & CoderDojo

An informal and fun evening to discuss female leadership in technology, media and business. Louise Phelan, Vice President Global Operations EMEA at PayPal, is an outstanding speaker and role model for Irish women in technology and business.

We will also be exploring how initiatives like CoderDojo can encourage more girls into STEM in schools & colleges plus what more needs to be done.

CoderDojo is holding its annual mentor conference in Drogheda and Slane Castle on April 12th/13th and has a fantastic line up of Girl Tech speakers from USA, Belgium, UK and Ireland.  Uniquely among tech events it consciously set out to get a 50/50 split in female/male speakers.

Event Details

When: Thursday 4th April at 7:30pm
Where: Tower Restaurant, Millmount, Drogheda. (35 mins via the M1 Dublin Airport - see map)
Cost: 20 euro which covers your dinner Feel free to bring a friend.
I hope you can join us!
RSVP or queries to drogheda@coderdojo.com

---

Background

Louise Phelan, Paypal, Vice President of Global Operations EMEA.

PayPal employs over 2,300 people in Dublin and Dundalk. Louise joined PayPal in 2006 as CS and Risk Director for the EU and was recently promoted to her current position. Prior to joining PayPal in June 2006, Louise was a member of the Senior Management Team for GE Money, a division of General Electric (GE), which specialises in small ticket lending for a client base comprising both consumers and commercial customers.
Louise is on the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, CCMA Ireland and the Women’s Executive Network (WXN).

DojoCon the Global CoderDojo Mentor Conference

The global CoderDojo conference 'DojoCon' will be held in Drogheda & Slane Castle in 2 weeks time and it has a focus on encouraging girls into technology and science. It uniquely among tech conferences has a very balanced speaker line up with an almost 50/50 female/male lineup. See http://conference.coderdojo.com

Network Louth Meath

Network Louth Meath is the network for women in business in region. President, Nicola Watkins is a PR professional who has worked for some of the leading technology companies in the world including Microsoft and NetFlix. Past President Louisa Maher was also the National Network Ireland President 2012. See http://www.networklouth.com for further details.

Girl Geek Dinners

Girl Geek Dinners are a chance for ladies in technology to get together, enjoy some nice food and drinks, and have fun meeting other women in their field. In Ireland, we plan to rotate the dinners around the country to give more women a chance to attend and see what it’s all about. See http://ireland.girlgeekdinners.com.

Drogheda Enterprise Centre

Drogheda Enterprise Centre is a new incubation and support hub for start ups in Drogheda. We run a range of programmes supporting start-ups, schools, female entrepreneurs, skill building, the unemployed and helping to rebuild and support a culture of entrepreneurship in Drogheda.

Inauguration of 2013 Network Ireland President - Julia Lynes

Cork businesswoman Julia Lynes has taken up the role of 2013 Network Ireland President. 'I am honoured to take on such a role and to be part of an organisation such as Network Ireland'. Julia's theme for the year is 'Connecting Opportunities: 30 Years of Network Ireland'. 'Network Ireland was set up in 1983 and it has been run voluntarily for the past 30 years by women with a passion for success', continued Julia. 

Julia's goals this year include creating networking and business opportunities for all members of the organisation across the country. 'There are so many opportunities for us all to do business together and to broaden our base of contacts nationwide and beyond'. Her aim is to connect members from the various Network branches around the country and to promote member businesses. 

Network Ireland local branches hold monthly events across the country and there are two national events taking place this year, an International Women's Day Celebration Conference on Friday 8th March and the Network Ireland National Conference & Business Awards in October 2013.

'I'm very motivated to build on the fantastic work of past president's and to lead this organisation and its members to further success'.

Julia can be contacted directly at president@networkireland.ie or on 087-9948462.

NETWORK IRELAND LOUTH/MEATH - BUSINESS WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Venue: Bellewstown Races, Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Friday, 10 August 2012:   Network Ireland Louth/Meath is delighted to announce that it is hosting its Business Women Of The Year Awards at a lunch at Bellewstown Races on Wednesday, 22nd August. The awards, which are supported by Louth County Enterprise Board, will be presented by guest of honour Mairead McGuinness MEP who will also speak about opportunities for women in business through the EU.

Network Louth/Meath’s Awards & Lunch at Bellewstown Races offers business women an ideal way to combine business with pleasure.   Guests will be able to network, exchange business ideas and increase business contacts while enjoying the excitement and buzz of great evening’s racing.   Tickets are just €35 and include a champagne reception, superb buffet, reserved seating in a corporate marquee, celebrity tipster, complimentary race card, tote betting and post racing entertainment.  

Business women from Meath & Louth are invited to enter the awards in the following categories.

NETWORK BUSINESSWOMAN (Self Employed) OF THE YEAR:

An empowered woman with business spirit and business acumen, who has developed a business idea from concept to commercial success.  This woman has been self-employed for more than three years.  This category includes professional women who have their own Practices e.g. Accountants, Solicitors, Dentist, Doctors, artists, partnerships or any other industry trade or profession.

NETWORK BUSINESSWOMAN (Employee) OF THE YEAR:

An incredible woman who is a natural leader and achiever in her chosen profession.  This woman is employed by a corporation, financial institution, semi-state body, Accountancy Practices, Solicitors, and Dentist, and has been in this position for three years or more. She does not have to be with the same company but must be in the same sector.

NETWORK BUSINESSWOMAN (New Business) OF THE YEAR:

An inspired woman embarking on an exciting new path in life whose fledgling business demonstrates huge potential.  This woman has established her business in last three years.

Entry Process

Network Ireland members may enter the Business Woman of the Year Awards.  Entry is free. The award winners will be announced at an awards ceremony which will take place at our Network Louth Meath Business Awards Lunch at Bellewstown Races on Wednesday, 22nd August 2012; in each business categories the judges will select the top three in each business award category and if required interviews will be held with the judging panel.   Please email nicola@nicolawatkinspr.com  to request an entry form.

Prizes

Certificates will be awarded at a local level.   Network Louth/Meath will arrange for press releases locally.  Award winners will be put on the Network Louth/Meath website.  Winners will be put forward as the nominees for the Network Ireland National Awards which will take place on Friday, 28 September 2012 in The d hotel, Drogheda. There will also be a pre selection process where judges for the National Awards will nominate a selected number of entrants for interview. Please note that additional information may be requested such as financial data at National Award level.

Tickets: €35 / Network Members €30.  Tables of 6, 8 & 10 are available.

Book your Ticket Online Here: http://networklouthmeathbusinesswomanoftheyearlunch-efbevent.eventbrite.com/

Trade stands are available for business women who would like to exhibit or sell goods.

For further information about the Awards, please contact Nicola Watkins on 087-2646858 Nicola@nicolawatkinspr.com

To book a table, place at the lunch or trade stand, please contact: Sharon Keogan on 087-6773800  sharonkeogan@eircom.net

About Network Ireland Louth / Meath

Network Louth/Meath provides a forum where women in business, the professions and the arts can exchange business ideas and increase their business contacts. We offer members support, friendship and the opportunity to attend regular seminars and workshops on business topics, a forum for networking, learning and exchanging contacts and regular communications on issues and opportunities that may be of interest to them.

Bellewstown Racecourse

Bellewstown Racecourse, on the Hill of Crockafotha in Co. Meath, is beautifully situated with magnificent views of the Mountains of Mourne to the north and the Irish Sea to the east. The tradition of summer racing at Bellewstown dates back centuries and the first record of racing here appears in the August edition of the Dublin Gazette and the Weekly Courier in 1726.  The superb one mile and one furlong left handed course, in a truly unique location, features both flat and hurdle racing. Bellewstown Races are synonymous with top class racing, wonderful summer evenings, family entertainment and ladies day races which add to the fun.

Meaty Discussion at the Self Employment Panel Q&A

Discussions centered around Employment Law, Debt Collection, Part Time Staffing, Dole for Self Employed and support for Self Employed Women in Business at the Self Employment Panel Q&A held in the intimate venue of Scholars Townhouse Hotel in Drogheda last Thursday (23rd Feb).

All 4 panellists were put to the test and their combined expertise provided valuable information to those in attendance.

A huge thank you to the 4 panellists from Network Ireland Louth/Meath Branch:

• Bernadette Treanor (BEO Solutions, Employment Law/HR)
• Dorothy Walsh (Solicitor, General Practice)
• Sinead McEvoy (Accountant, ACCA)
• Ged Nash T.D. (previously self employed and now a sitting T.D.)

Photos from the evening:

(from left) Sinead McEvoy, Ged Nash T.D., Louisa Maher, Bernadette Treanor, Dorothy Walsh

Nicola Watkins and Brenda Gogan

Jacinta Walsh and Dorothy Walsh

The Expert Panel: (from left) Sinead McEvoy, Ged Nash T.D., Bernadette Treanor, Dorothy Walsh