LEO Meath and LEO Louth invite you to celebrate National Women's Enterprise Day 2023

Meet our NWED 2023 Line Up

MC Miriam Simons

An experienced Business Strategist, Miriam works with business owners to drive successful growth strategy and high performance leadership.

Her client portfolio includes several household name brands and fast growing companies.

Miriam strength is that she translates complex business strategy -into easy to digest and easy to implement actions that deliver powerful results for the businesses she works with.

Her background includes a 30 year career of senior and board level roles within several household retail names such as TK Maxx, Monsoon Accessorize, LifeStyle Sports, and B&Q.

Alongside this, Miriam has also spent the last decade mentoring start-ups in the disruptive technology and med-tech space, and she still works with the European Innovation Council in this field.

Cathy O'Connor, Broadcaster and Fashion Stylist

Cathy O Connor is one of Ireland's most respected fashion stylists and through her regular television appearances, is renowned for her expertise and practical advice.

She hosts style workshops for the corporate and retail sectors, offers a personal shopping service and is a business mentor for the retail industry. Her passion for all things stylish has garnered her a devoted following.

Cathy recently launched a social awareness campaign Women Unbranded, that aims to create social change towards ageing in the fashion and beauty worlds. Women Un-branded gives a voice to women over 40 and beyond who have experienced a lack of representation and inclusion in many fashion and beauty brands’ marketing and advertising campaigns.

‘This campaign is the first crucial step with three goals that will challenge societal norms. We aim to; ignite a fresh perspective on ageing, highlight the innate vibrancy and worth of the 'older woman,' and start a transformation that will affect the generations to come.’

Caroline Duffy, Artist and Designer

Meet our NWED 2023 Ambassador!

Artist and designer Caroline Duffy has gone from 20 years of designing fashion prints for big brands worldwide to launching her own label in 2021.

Along with her original paintings and prints that are in high demand, she has collections of luxury silk kimonos, kaftan dresses, silk scarves and woven blankets. Her collections are limited edition pieces and trans-seasonal made to be worn day after day, year after year.  All pieces begin as an original artwork painted in her Co Louth studio!

Since January 2022 she plants a tree for every order she receives through her partner Trees for the Future.

Caroline wants to foster a sense of community in creating. She finds in today’s busy world, it can be difficult for her customer to find time to slow down and make time for the simple joy of being and making, so every month Caroline brings her community of followers together and holds a free art class on Instagram #floralsonfriday.  

Caroline imagines a world where every woman, especially Irish women, feel at ease, connected, beautiful and true to who they really are.  Her passion is to bring relief to women who are craving help with mental well-being and daily stresses, by surrounding them with nature and flowers. 

Studies have shown that flowers can induce creative energy and positive vibes, ultimately making us feel better!

Carina Conyngham, Managing Director of Rock Farm and Operations Manager of Slane Castle

Carina Conyngham is founder of the ecotourism destination Rock Farm Slane established on the family farm in Slane, Co Meath, which she took on with her husband Alex in 2010.

They farm around 90 acres with organic status since 2011 and have a growing herd of Dexter cattle, Tamworth X pigs, bronze turkeys and hens for egg production as well as a thriving market garden and agroforestry project with apple, pear and plum trees.

Carina is passionate about food and how it is produced and is a great believer in grass roots action for climate change mitigation and environmental protection.

Rock Farm Slane has been designed and is intentionally managed as a show case for organic farming and ecotourism in Ireland. 

Carina joined the Slane Castle team in September 2020 as part of a management change to support her husband Alex in his role as Managing Director at Slane Castle. Carina has implemented a new business model to the focus of the business including a move away from historical castle tours, restaurant and bar to exclusive venue and castle hire for small Ultra Lux groups, destination weddings and corporate events.

Carina has a strong preference for digital solutions to run the businesses and for sustainability and biodiversity management to be at the core of everything the teams do across the estate.