Over 160 professional women from a variety of different sectors within the Motor Industry in Ireland attended the Society of the Irish Motor Industry’s 6th annual Women@SIMI event held on Friday, 13 September in the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin, writes Trish Whelan.
This was the largest attendance to date and featured an impressive panel of guest speakers -Breege O’Donoghue, former Primark Board Member & Group Director; Alison Comyn, award-winning TV and broadcast journalist and expert in effective communications. Master of Ceremonies was RTE’s Mary Kennedy.
In his address to the attendees, Gabriel Keane, President of SIMI said: “While there are many challenges currently facing our Industry, we must not lose sight of the contribution made by the 47,300 people that work in the Irish Motor Industry that continue to keep Ireland moving. I am proud to be a part of our dynamic Industry and to be here today to support women in business.
In her talk to the ladies, Breege O’Donoghue advised: “In whatever role one plays in leadership, be true to oneself, show courage, independence, initiative, appreciate the need to recognise, respect and value differences, blend passion, persistence and tenacity. Know right from wrong, be ethically aware, be satisfied with only the very best.” She added: “Do not be clouded in power and status but generous in heart and spirit and yes, it is encouragement and love that inspired people to success and be happy the world over.”
Alison Comyn shared her passionate insight into the world of media with over 25 years of experience in the business. Speaking on the difficulties of journalism today, she felt that it is still a worthwhile and necessary job. “As a journalist you have a responsibility to tell a story and write the truth. The two tenets I like to live by are integrity and principle. Fake news is possibly the worst phrase that we will ever hear in our life time because where is the integrity and what do you leave? Hopefully, there are people trying to pass on to a new generation these principles of truth and morality as they really do matter."
Her advice to all the ladies present was that there is no such word as can’t. “Always be as true to yourself as you possibly can, don’t be afraid to take changes; if the opportunities are there, grab them with both hands and take them. If the opportunities aren’t there, make them for yourself.”
Pictured above are SIMI President Gabriel Keane; Guest Speaker Alison Comyn, IFTA-Winning Journalist and broadcaster; Breege O’Donoghue, former Primark Board Member & Group Director Chair-Business & Human Rights Implementation Group, Real World Analytics, Design & Craft Council Ireland; and Mary Kennedy, Master of Ceremonies.
