Female entrepreneurs and budding businesswomen from across the Local Enterprise Office in Kerry and Cork are being encouraged to look to the future and register for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day.

The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) initiative, now in its 16th year, National Women's Enterprise Day celebrates female entrepreneurs’ success and inspires female start-ups to help build 'Our Future, Our Way', the theme for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day 2022.

16 major entrepreneurial events are planned across the country on October 13, including a lead event at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney hosted by Kerry County Council Local Enterprise Office.

This initiative is led by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, and funded by the Government of Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Local Authorities.

The event will kick off with a welcome address by Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council followed by a network event facilitated by Marie Wiseman, Wiser Marketing allowing attendees to meet with other female entrepreneurs present. The keynote speaker will be Sonya Lennon, designer, broadcaster, social entrepreneur, and successful businesswoman. It will also include an interactive panel discussion of Kerry and Cork leading lights hosted by MC Elaine Kinsella, Radio Kerry presenter and RTÉ broadcaster. This event will also include an Afternoon Tea style networking lunch.

Kerry County Council Local Enterprise Office’s leading light for the event is Emily Brick who founded Athena Analytics after returning to Ireland from Australia where she worked as a Senior Data Scientist for the Department of Education. Although Emily has a strong passion for the role of machine learning in solving data problems, simplifying reporting, informing decision making; she also understands how machine learning and web-based software combined can be powerful in solving practical and logistical problems for end users in a timely and simple fashion. In late 2017, she saw an opportunity in the education market in Ireland for such a tool and so began Athena Analytics, an edtech company based in Tralee. The Athena Tracker is currently used in over half of Ireland’s secondary schools and in a growing number of schools in both the UK and South Africa.

OPENING ADDRESS

“The ‘Our future, Our Way’ message for National Women’s Enterprise Day has never been more important," Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, who will be delivering the opening address on National Women’s Enterprise Day, said.

"I look forward to addressing this year’s event and hearing from inspiring female business leaders on how they have managed the past two years, which have been extremely difficult for all business owners and their staff. The Government is determined to help more women pursue entrepreneurship as a career and I’m encouraged to see such a significant increase – 58%, taking up the training programmes that are available. Training and mentorship can make a huge difference to any entrepreneur starting out, on what can often be a lonely journey, and I encourage all women considering setting up their own business to contact their Local Enterprise Office to see how they can help you.”

Fiona Leahy, Kerry Local Enterprise Office said “National Women’s Enterprise Day has always been a day of celebration of the very best in female entrepreneurship and highlighting the strength of that community".

"This year is no different, but we are very much looking forward. How can we help female entrepreneurs in Kerry and the southwest sustain and develop their businesses and ideas going into the future. Don’t miss out on this inclusive, creative, inspirational, unique event with plenty of networking, celebrating women in business. All sectors are welcome from entrepreneurs with a business idea, to start-ups and well-established businesses.”

To book a place for the Kerry event, which costs €30 please visit www.localenterprise.ie.

All enquiries to Fiona Leahy, Kerry Local Enterprise Office fiona.leahy@kerrycoco.ie or 066 7183502.