This MLN business breakfast will help businesses of all shapes, sizes and sectors gain and sustain a competitive advantage.

Running Order

8.00am Registration,Breakfast & Networking

8.30am Welcome from Mid Ulster District Council & Karen Patterson

8.40am Conor Lambe: The Economic Context

9.00am Feargal McCormack: Culture & Performance

9.20am Aine Brolly: The Future of Work

9.40am Patrick Leggett: Technology as an Enabler

10.00am Panel Q&A and Discussion

10.25am Closing Remarks

10.30am Close

Speaker Agenda:

Event Host: Karen Patterson

Karen Patterson is a well known face on the BBC. She regularly presents BBC Newsline bulletins and anchors Good Morning Ulster on BBC Radio Ulster. A winner of an Institute of Public Relations award for journalism, Karen excels in the live news environment – breaking stories from all over the world. Her career began in Bangor at the county Down Spectator before she moved to Downtown Radio and onto the BBC in 2000. Karen will host the event and chair the Q&A session.

Conor Lambe: The Economic Context

Conor Lambe is the Chief Economist at Danske Bank, acting as the Bank’s spokesperson and a trusted subject matter expert on all UK and Northern Ireland economic and related matters. Conor is responsible for Danske Bank’s Quarterly Sectoral Forecasts and Consumer Confidence Index and is a regular contributor across the local media. He often speaks at business functions and with Danske Bank customers on his views around the global, UK and Northern Ireland economies. Conor will discuss the recent performance of the Northern Ireland economy, Danske Bank’s latest forecasts for economic and employment growth and the latest developments in the Brexit process.

Feargal McCormack: Culture & Performance

Feargal McCormack is Founder and MD of PKF-FPM Accountants. The practice started as a one-man business in 1991 and has grown to be one of the leading accountancy and business consultancy practices operating on the island of Ireland and globally, as part of PKF International network family. The company employs over 120 people across 5 offices, having achieved average business growth of 16.5% to 17% each year over the past 27 years. Feargal is the immediate Past President of Chartered Accountants Ireland, a Visiting Professor at Ulster University Business School and a recent recipient of an honorary Doctorate from the same institution. Feargal will share the culture & performance secrets of a local business that has enjoyed sustained growth and continues to win awards across the UK and Ireland.

Aine Brolly: The Future of Work

Áine Brolly is CEO of Cpl NI and is Founder & Director of Ardlinn, Cpl’s executive search brand. She is an expert in supporting organisations with their recruitment, talent and outsourcing needs, as well as helping them to set up in new jurisdictions. Previously, Áine spent 3 years as Senior Vice President Business Development with Invest NI in San Francisco. Prior to Invest NI, Áine was a Director in Ireland for London based Penna plc, a global HR services company. Áine will explore the ‘future of work’ and set out how organisations can futureproof their businesses by embracing the rapid changes to the workplace, the impact of technology and most importantly through their people.

Patrick Leggett: Technology as an Enabler

Patrick has worked in the ICT industry for over 30 years. He began as a software developer and quickly moved into ICT business sales. In 1987 he joined Medical & Scientific Computer Services which has evolved from a Queens University start up, employing 12 staff when Patrick joined to become Xperience Group, across three UK locations (headquartered in Lisburn), employing over 100 staff with a turnover of £10M. Patrick is a business partner within the company and as Group Director is responsible for both customer retention and new business strategies for the organisation. Patrick will outline how technology is increasingly becoming an enabler allowing organisations to unleash the full potential of their people.