New international role for Limerick businesswoman
Helen Downes is on the up with appointment to Canadian group
HOSPITAL woman Helen Downes, who leads Shannon Chamber, has secured a prestigious new role.
Ms Downes joins the board of directors of Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce Toronto, a not-for-profit business organisation promoting trade, investment and professional links between Ireland and Canada through networking, business events and commercial partnerships.
She has been chief executive of Shannon Chamber since 2008 with the business group now representing more than 340 firms across a wide range of industries.
Before joining Shannon Chamber, Ms Downes was a human resources business partner at Thomson Financial (Ireland) Ltd which had a significant workforce in Limerick providing financial data, information and technology services to global markets.
She is already a member of the board of the Canada Ireland Foundation, charity dedicated to celebrating the history, culture and heritage of the Irish in Canada, and homelessness charity, the Mid-West Simon Community.
ICCCTO president Paul Hutchinson said: “Helen’s outstanding track record of driving regional growth, combined with her deep, established connections on both sides of the Atlantic through her work with the Shannon Chamber and the Canada-Ireland Foundation, makes her an invaluable addition to our leadership. Her unique ability to foster cross-border collaboration will undoubtedly strengthen the economic and cultural ties between Ireland and Canada, creating exciting new opportunities for our members.
Shannon Chamber president Mark Nolan added: “This appointment is a fitting recognition of Helen’s exceptional leadership and proven ability to build meaningful connections that deliver tangible results for businesses and communities alike. I congratulate Helen on her appointment.”