Creating the right climate for local businesses to grow

Tell us a bit about the Shannon Chamber

The Shannon Chamber is the voice of the business community in the broader Shannon Region. We have a strong board who together with the Chamber team led by our chief executive Helen Downes work to ensure we continue to improve the operating environment for businesses in this region. Our mandate, as an organisation is to deliver a range of services that benefit members, individually and collectively, that helps them to grow their business, and that gives them a platform to voice their opinions on a wide range of business issues. It is also about building a network of people who can support each other in business and being the voice of our members on issues that are important to them.

When did you join the board?​

I joined the board of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce in 2011 and over that period we have seen significant growth in our membership, today we represent over 300 companies employing some 10,000 people across the broader Shannon – Mid West Region.

What does your role as president entail?

The Chamber is focused on creating the right environment for businesses to grow, and I am excited to champion the needs of a thriving Shannon that will be at the heart of a strong, stable economic future for our region and Ireland. I believe that strong region’s make for a strong national economy and that a ‘business as usual’ approach cannot deliver the growth that we would like to see in the future. Close collaboration will be key to ensuring that Shannon and the wider region and part of the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan area reaches its full economic potential in the years ahead. We are stronger together. In that regard, one of my key priorities is to strengthen the working relationship with the other Chambers and stakeholders in the Mid-West. It is important that regions like ours can support and accelerate their own economic development and ensure that our voices are heard at national level. In that context Project Ireland 2040 provides us with a unique opportunity, one which we must capitalise on. Working together, Shannon and the wider region can ensure that the aspirations of Project Ireland 2040, to secure sustained, long-term and regionally balanced progress on social, economic and environmental fronts, are realised.

What types of companies or sectors are members of the Shannon Chamber?

We have a diverse range of member companies from large multi-nationals to sole traders. We work with our diverse membership in many ways; through round-table discussions and forums, education and Training. We also run a series of networking events providing opportunities for members to showcase their businesses, share information and importantly build strong relationships for the future.

What is driving the success of the Shannon Chamber?

The strength of the Chamber is its ability to respond to the needs of its members. An example of this is the Mid-West Lean network based in the Shannon Free Zone. It was established seven years ago and is administered through Shannon Chamber, with the purpose of creating a forum where organisations in the region can share best practice on continuous improvement with the purpose of improving the effectiveness of their business 

Where were you born and raised?

I am Clare born and raised – and proud to be living and working in this region!

What is your educational background?

I’m an accountant by background and I have completed a series of work on leadership development over the past number of years.

How did you get to where you are today?

I am currently the deputy chief executive of Shannon Group plc, the parent company of Shannon Airport,Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon Heritage and previously. I have worked in a number of senior roles in aviation and commercial activities. As well as president of Shannon Chamber, I am also a member of the governing authority of Mary Immaculate College here in Limerick and a member of the VHI advisory council. I believe each opportunity you get in life helps you to grow – we are constantly learning!

What are your goals for the next 12 months?

My goal as Chamber president is to strengthen collaboration amongst the Chambers and key stakeholders in this Region to ensure we provide a strong unified voice for business in this region. Shannon at the heart of the Mid-West, ideally positioned between the second tier city. Regions of Galway and Limerick, has a key role to play in delivering growth for this region. The government has set an ambitious target under The Ireland 2040 Plan, to have 75% of population growth in Ireland outside of Dublin. This region needs to work together to ensure we have the infrastructure and skills in place to facilitate this growth.

Who do you admire in business?

We have so many fantastic business leaders that have come from this region or are working here today, and it’s very hard to name one. But for me, the late Dr Brendan O’Regan comes to mind. He was the driver behind the creation of many world firsts that were pioneered at Shannon. The wellspring for many of his unrivalled flow of industrial and tourism initiatives are today multi-billion-euro global phenomena, among them the creation of duty-free shopping at Shannon Airport. He set up the world’s first Customs Free Zone in Shannon and the Chinese special economic zones are now modelled on the original Shannon concept. The innovative environment created by Brendan went on to spawn a second generation of innovators in the business community, in aviation, retail and tourism, who have spread their wings and are making their mark internationally.

In business and life, are you guided by any particular motto?

In a week where a life-size bronze statue of the former US president John F Kennedy has been unveiled in the home of his ancestors in Bruff, I am reminded of the quote he used for the first time when he addressed the Dáil back in 1963. ‘Some men see things as they are and say 'why?' I dream things that never were and say, 'why not?' We have so much to be proud of in this region and working together the sky is the limit!’

Away from work, what are your pastimes and hobbies?

Spending time with family and I love to get out for a long walk!