Event host / MC
Head of Skills and Social Policy acts as strategic advisor and support on diversity and inclusion, skills and labour market policy and practices to Ibec member organisations across multiple sectors. Role includes lobbying and developing policy positions at a national and European level, developing tools and guidelines, and representing business at stakeholder forums across the breadth of skills and social policy issues from gender pay gap reporting and human rights to labour market activation and immigration. With Ibec since 2008, specialist in strategy development and implementation, public and regulatory policy, business representation and stakeholder engagement.
She is the Chair of the Employment Working Group of Business Europe, a member of the External Group of Experts of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), a member of the Labour Market Advisory Council and Board member of the Open Doors Initiative. An organisational psychologist, formerly HR manager in industry with lecturing experience at undergraduate, postgraduate and executive level.
Keynote speaker /
Jackson Katz, Ph.D., is an educator, author, and scholar-activist who has long been a major figure in the growing global movement of men working to promote gender equity and prevent gender-based violence. He co-founded the first large-scale prevention initiative in university and professional athletics, and the first system-wide program in the U.S. military. He is one of the early architects of the “bystander” approach to prevention.
His educational videos include the classic Tough Guise series, as well as The Bystander Moment: Transforming Rape Culture at Its Roots. His first book was The Macho Paradox. His forthcoming book, entitled Every Man: Why Violence Against Women Is a Men's Issue, will be published by Penguin Random House UK on February 20. His TEDx talk on that topic has been translated into 27 languages and has over 5.5 million views. Katz has lectured in all fifty U.S. states, eight Canadian provinces, and every continent except Antarctica.
First panel / Community - a force for good
With over 25 years of Community Development & Integration in Dublin, Ireland targeting communities of all abilities.
Continuing community enhancement and development to up skill those with a medium to long term view that the same communities rely less on Local Government and improve life for themselves. Dave champions design thinking with a logical human centred approach to any community development he is involved in, sure who knows the community better than the residents themselves?
Former Project Manager for European Funded projects in areas of Dublin deemed Anti Social and at the extreme end of urban decay.
Since 2016 has embedded himself in Cherry Orchard, Dublin tasked with improving the lives of everyone in the area through social innovation thinking and working from a community level up approach, those who live here are the experts. Now involved in the Community Wealth Building approach for Cherry Orchard, a new pilot that Dublin City Council is leading on.
Second panel / Creating an economy of belonging
James is an experienced Talent Acquisition leader with experience across tech and financial services industries, currently working as TA Manager within Central Bank of Ireland. with a passion for candidate experience and quality service delivery. Passionate about Diversity, Inclusion and building a workplace reflective of society.
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Cassandra Corbet is the Global Wellbeing Director at Novartis, where she partners with global and local leaders to address the challenges associated with safeguarding employee wellbeing in a complex and dynamic environment. She is dedicated to embedding wellbeing into a broader platform of Belonging across the organization; supporting both 'Business as Usual' and periods of transformation.
Cassandra holds a MSc in Management Consultancy from University College Dublin, Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and a BA in Marketing and Event Management from Dublin Business School. She has also earned additional qualifications in DEIB, Creativity Innovation and Leadership, and Design Thinking.
Her skills include Change Management, Program and Project Management, Design Thinking, Systems Thinking, Stakeholder Engagement, Communications, and Training and Development.
Workshop / facilitated by Dr Jackson Katz
Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in a Masterclass with global thought-leader, Jackson Katz and develop skills to navigate the challenges facing business and society today. The current environment is thwarted by the lack of communication and engagement with opposing viewpoints. We lack the ability to have mature discussions on difficult topics such as migration, gender expression, gender-based violence, values, rights and respect.
As a result, genuine misunderstandings, fears or concerns are disregarded and dismissed or consolidated with discriminatory or hateful behaviours, and individuals are branded as racist, misogynist or anti-immigrant. There are also those in this challenging and unsettled geopolitical environment, that have become emboldened to spread hate and division. However, failure to listen, hear and respond to genuine differences of perspective pushes people towards extremes or entrenches their views, rather than offering the opportunity for change or growth. Delegates will also get the opportunity to participate in a Masterclass with global thought-leader, Jackson Katz.
This masterclass will equip members with the leadership skills and tools necessary to have difficult conversations in a meaningful way while also responding to and confronting negative behaviour and language that is damaging our society and workplaces.
In his recent book, Jackson argues that Trumpism and right-wing populism is not a revolt against the 'elites'; it is a reaction to men being de-centred and a backlash against feminism. He provides detailed insights on how Trump's marketing of himself with the men's movement has fuelled the manosphere from being an abusive men's rights subculture to becoming mainstream. During his keynote, Jackson will emphasise the need for leaders within organisations to learn how to engage in healthy debate around difficult topics, and challenge behaviours safely in order to educate, if we hope to create healthy societies and communities people can thrive in.
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