15 May 2014

Women @ SIMI - today's unique event

Today was a very special day for The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) with the first ever event dedicated to women in the Motor Industry in Ireland which took place at The Gibson Hotel in Dublin, writes Trish Whelan.

This was a unique opportunity to join other female professionals in the Industry and hear some very inspirational speakers.

Of the 37,500 people who work in the Motor Industry here, 15 percent are women. Many are leaders, managers, influencers, organisers and innovators in the Industry.

Speakers included Katie Taylor, our 2012 lightweight Olympic Gold Medallist and the world's greatest female boxer; Nicola Byrne, CEO and Founder of Cloud 90, 11890 and Stenics Media; Lynne Cantwell, Ireland's most capped women's rugby player; Aifric Campbell, novelist and former MD of the trading floor at Morgan Stanley; and the legendary rally ace and SIMI Irish Motor Industry Award Winner, Rosemary Smith, who now also runs a driving school for students. Master of Ceremonies was Mary Kennedy of RTE.

It's hoped to make this an annual event, such was the huge response from ladies in the Motor Industry.

Rosemary Smith, Lynne Cantwell, Nicola Byrne, Mary Kennedy, and Rowena Dooley (Director, Anthony Dooley Motors Ltd and Honorary Treasurer of SIMI) are pictured above prior to the event.