Great Place to Work Insights Forum 2026

Event Details

Where?

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

When?

Wednesday, 27th May 2026 | 8:30 AM to 1 PM

Discover how leading organisations use Great Place to Work data and employee insights to strengthen culture and validate their employer brand.
Explore strategies for attracting and retaining talent in competitive and high-pressure environments.
Learn how organisations build high-performing cultures that drive engagement, accountability, and organisational performance.
Gain insights into leadership and organisational development, including how companies identify and nurture future leaders.
Hear real stories from Great Place to Work organisations on turning employee feedback into meaningful action.
Connect and network with HR leaders, culture champions, and professionals shaping the future of work across Ireland.
Complementary breakfast & lunch.

08:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast

Register at the entrance desk.
Network with Great Place to Work community & other attendees.
Get some fuel and pour yourself hot cup of coffee or tea.
Add our brilliant speakers on LinkedIn

09:00 AM | Talent Attraction Panel | Insights on Standing Out in a Competitive Talent Market

In today’s competitive talent market, organisations can no longer rely on simply claiming they have a great culture. In this panel, Graham Quinn from Guidewire Software and Catherine Fitzgibbons from Core will share how they use Great Place to Work data and employee insights to validate their culture and strengthen their employer brand. The discussion will explore how independent recognition and employee-backed data help organisations stand out in competitive markets, particularly as talent increasingly looks for credible evidence when choosing where to work. Graham & Catherine will also discuss why employees are trusted significantly more than leadership when it comes to workplace culture.

Graham Quinn

VP, Guidewire

Graham Quinn is VP, Product Management at Guidewire, based in Dublin, where he leads global teams delivering customer-centric product solutions for the insurance industry. With strong experience in product leadership and collaboration, he works closely with customers and stakeholders to drive scalable, impactful solutions. Graham is also an active champion of Great Place to Work initiatives at Guidewire Ireland, promoting a people-first culture built on integrity, collaboration, and employee voice.

Catherine Fitzgibbons

Chief People Officer, Core

Catherine Fitzgibbon is Chief People Officer at Core, bringing over 20 years of experience in HR leadership, organisational development, and culture transformation. She leads the people strategy across Core’s diverse practices, aligning talent development and culture initiatives with business goals. Known for her empathetic and commercially grounded approach, Catherine has helped shape Core’s high-trust, high-performance culture and maintain its Great Place to Work accreditation for over 16 years, alongside multiple industry recognitions in areas such as wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion.

Marina Rivas

Brand & Marketing Manager, Great Place to Work

Marina is Marketing & Brand Manager at Great Place to Work Ireland, leading the visibility and impact of the GPTW brand across multiple channels. A recognised expert in employer branding, she supports organisations in developing and leveraging their employer brand, and recently completed the Employer Brand Leaders Course with the Employer Branding College.

Marina Rivas - Great Place to Work Ireland

09:45 AM | Employee Retention Panel | How to keep the best talent in a performance-driven environment

Employee retention is a growing priority for organisations navigating changing workforce expectations and increasing pressure on talent. In this panel, Sarah Downing from EirGrid and Leslie Brett from Lennox will share insights from both public and private sector perspectives, exploring how employee engagement drives stronger organisational performance and ultimately leads to better outcomes. The discussion will examine how organisations operating in highly regulated and performance-driven environments maintain strong engagement, accountability, and trust while supporting long-term employee commitment. This panel will also explore how Great Place to Work data and employee feedback help organisations better understand employee needs, strengthen culture, and build workplaces where people choose to stay and perform at their best.

Gráinne Earley

Director of Events, Fuel

Gráinne Earley is the Director of Events at Fuel, and earlier used to be a Director of Employee Experience Solutions, one of Ireland’s leading experience and entertainment groups. FUEL is a global leader in employee experience, partnering with organisations with over 250,000 employees across 55 cities worldwide, including clients such as PayPal, Meta and Coca-Cola. As the only agency in Ireland specialising across shaping reputation, crafting culture and creating experiences, Gráinne and her team focus on building standout employer brands through meaningful employee experiences that inspire pride, satisfaction and commitment.

Sarah Downing

Chief People & Capability Officer, EirGrid

Sarah Downing is Chief People & Capability Officer at EirGrid since July 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience as a strategic people leader in the financial services sector. With a background in social and organisational psychology, she holds a Master’s in Organisational Psychology and a degree in Psychology and Business Studies from UCD.

Leslie Brett

CEO, Lennox

Leslie Brett is CEO of Lennox, an independent Irish laboratory and scientific solutions company, where she has led the transformation of the business since 2016. With over 30 years of leadership experience, she is a strong advocate for the role of people and culture in driving performance. Under her leadership, Lennox has built a high-performing, values-led team and earned multiple Great Place to Work recognitions, including Best Workplaces in Ireland.

10:30 AM | Break

A few minutes to:

Pour a cup of coffee or a mug of hot tea.
Add our brilliant speakers on LinkedIn.
Make sure you are participating in our contest to win a prize.
Visit our Great Place to Work stall to meet Cathal Divilly & Brían Sutton.

11:00 AM | High Performing Culture Panel | Listening to Employee Feedback Helps Build High Performing Workplace Culture

Building a high-performing culture requires more than strong processes. It depends on engaged employees, clear accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement. In this panel, Michelle Bonner from B. Braun Medical and Karl Milne from Seetec will share how they use Great Place to Work insights and employee feedback to strengthen performance in demanding and highly regulated environments. From maintaining quality and trust in the healthcare sector to supporting employees in high-impact public service roles, the discussion will explore how organisations identify opportunities to improve engagement, manage pressure in critical roles, and create cultures that enable employees to deliver consistently strong outcomes.

Karl Milne

Executive Director, Seetec Ireland

Karl Milne is Executive Director at Seetec Ireland, where he has worked since 2015. He leads the delivery of public employment services as an Intreo Partner for the Department of Social Protection, supporting tens of thousands of jobseekers across Ireland back into work. With prior senior operations experience across multiple sectors, Karl is passionate about the positive community impact Seetec delivers. Seetec has been a Great Place to Work for five years and was recently recognised for its High Performance Culture. Karl holds a BComm from UCD and an MBA from DCU.

Michelle Bonner

Head of HR, B. Braun Medical Ltd

Michelle Bonner is a senior HR leader with over 20 years of experience across life sciences, technology, and healthcare. She currently serves as Country Head of HR for B. Braun Ireland and Interim Head of People Development globally, leading strategy across 64 countries. Michelle has played a key role in shaping talent strategy, HR transformation, and leadership development, including driving B. Braun Ireland’s Great Place to Work programme, elevating the organisation into the top 20 companies to work for. Known for her strategic and people-centric approach, she has consistently delivered strong cultures, enhanced talent pipelines, and measurable business impact.

Jim Flynn

CEO, Great Place to Work

Jim is CEO of Great Place to Work Ireland and a business psychologist with over 12 years of experience in strategic organisational transformation. He specialises in talent attraction, retention, and employer branding, helping organisations build strong, high-trust cultures. A trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, Jim has led large-scale culture change initiatives focused on leadership development, succession planning, and employee engagement.

11:45 AM | Organisational & Leadership Development Panel | Insights on Leadership Development that Drives Organisational Success

Strong organisations are built on strong leadership. In this panel, Alan Smullen from The Doyle Collection will share how they have developed leadership capability across the organisation, from identifying emerging talent to embedding structured leadership programmes that support long-term growth. The discussion will explore the role culture plays in effective leadership, how organisations nurture future leaders, and how leadership development can positively influence employee engagement, organisational performance, and overall guest experience. Drawing on their recognised work in this space, the session will offer practical insights into building leadership capability that supports both people and business success.

Alan Smullen

Head of People, The Doyle Collection

Alan is an experienced business leader and HR professional who has been with The Doyle Collection for over 18 years. Currently Head of People, he leads the People Strategy across eight hotels in Ireland, the UK, and the USA, working closely with General Managers and People & Culture teams. A former General Manager of The Croke Park Hotel for 11 years, Alan is passionate about developing people and fostering high-trust workplace cultures. He is also a Fellow and Board Member of the Irish Hospitality Institute.

Mary Ryan

CEO, Crédit Agricole Creditor Insurance (CACI)

Mary Ryan is Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Creditor Insurance (CACI), a cross-border insurance group operating across six countries and serving 5.6 million customers. Based in Ireland, she leads international teams across Dublin, Paris, Milan, and Stuttgart, driving strategic growth and transformation. A Chartered Director with expertise in governance and risk, Mary also holds several Non-Executive Director roles and contributes to Ireland’s financial services strategy. She was named Most Trusted Leader in Ireland (2023) by Great Place to Work and is a strong advocate for innovation, talent development, and diversity in the industry.

Fania Stoney

Business Development Strategist, Great Place to Work

Fania Stoney is a Business Development Strategist at Great Place to Work Ireland and an experienced B2B leader. She partners with organisations across industries to help build high-performing workplaces and strong employee experiences. Fania is also a passionate advocate for female leadership and has led Ireland’s Best Workplaces for Women recognition for the past six years.

Fania Stoney - Great Place to Work Ireland

This event is sponsored by

What to expect

We hosted the Great Place to Work Masterclasses on Wednesday 7th of May 2025 at The Johnstown Estate, sponsored by FUEL.