Our Awards and Festive Networking night is always a fantastic opportunity to gather together to celebrate all our hard work and wins over the course of the year.  This year's event on 3rd December in the historic Oak Room of the Mansion House will include the announcement of the winners of our Annual Awards, a talk on the art of networking, as well as plenty of time to network with other members.  

The night will start with a mulled wine and mince pie reception and a welcome to the Mansion House by Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam.

The night will continue with the presentation by Grainne Denning, Acting Head of Enterprise with Dublin City Council, of the Annual Awards (Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Rising Star and Solopreneur of the Year) where we recognise the achievements of three outstanding members in 2025.

Given that networking is the core activity of our network, whether through in-person events, online sessions, use of our member directory, our member newsletter, Accountability Groups, etc, it is fitting that our talk on this special night will feature award winning networker Denise O’Brien on Practical Networking for Small Business:

Talk Overview:Networking can feel awkward, exhausting, or like “one more thing” on an already overflowing to‑do list – especially when you’re a sole trader or founder wearing all the hats. But when you approach it with clarity, confidence and intention, your network becomes one of the most powerful assets in your business.

In this energising keynote, Denise O’Brien – 2025 Networker of the Year with Network Ireland Limerick and Managing Director of O’Brien Learning Solutions – shares a fresh, practical approach to networking that works in the real world of small business.

Drawing on 25+ years in financial services, almost 10 years in business and the lived experience of building her consultancy entirely through networking relationships , Denise will explore:

• How to introduce yourself with confidence (without feeling salesy)
• Simple ways to start and sustain meaningful conversations in a room like this
• A follow‑up system that turns one night of networking into real opportunities

Attendees will leave with a 30‑day “Connection Challenge” they can start the very next day – designed to help them build a network that supports their business, their confidence and their long‑term success.

The event will finish with networking over wine and finger food.

Only members can  currently book places at this event.  Places will be open to Guests closer to the event.

Speaker Profiles

Denise O'Brien, Managing Director, O'Brien Learning Solutions

Denise O'Brien is an award-winning organisational change expert with 30 years' experience and Managing Director of O'Brien Learning Solutions. Network Ireland Limerick 2025 Networker of the Year, she is an accredited MBTI and Insights Discovery practitioner, ICF ACC coach, and Lean Six Sigma qualified. Denise is currently a master’s student of Work and Organisational Behaviour in the University of Limerick and with her team of experts and the flagship Evolve programme, specialises in helping leaders trust their inner wisdom and lead authentically using her proprietary 3-S Model (Signposted, Supported, Safe).

Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam

Councillor Ray McAdam was elected the 358th Lord Mayor of Dublin on 30th June 2025.  A member of Fine Gael, he was first elected to Dublin City Council in 2009 to represent the North Inner City and has been re-elected at every subsequent Local Election in 2014, 2019, and 2024.  As Lord Mayor, Ray McAdam has set out a bold and forward-looking programme under the theme ‘Celebrating Dublin’ — a year-long initiative to champion the city’s people, neighbourhoods, heritage, and future potential. His mayoralty is focused on delivering tangible improvements to civic life and long-term planning for the city’s future.

His five key priorities as Lord Mayor include:

• Reimagining the city centre by launching a Lord Mayor’s Commission on Dublin 2050 — to shape a long-term vision and development strategy for the capital core.
• Tackling vacancy and dereliction through a public Dublin Vacancy Map and economic measures to drive the reuse of empty buildings and above-shop spaces.
• Getting Dublin Moving by promoting physical activity and local sports in every neighbourhood across the city.
• Driving disability inclusion by embedding accessibility into city services and launching a new ‘Dublin Disability Inclusion Drive’.
• Empowering young voices through the launch of Young Dubliners Speak — a new citywide platform to involve young people in civic dialogue and policy shaping. 

Lord Mayor McAdam is committed to a collaborative and delivery-focused approach throughout his term — working closely with fellow councillors, Council officials, and national Government to ensure progress on these priorities.  He was born in Cavan and raised in Northern Ireland. He moved to Dublin in 2002 to study Philosophy and Political Science at Trinity College. Before entering elected office, he worked in sales and later served as a Political Aide to Minister Paschal Donohoe in the Oireachtas.  He is married to Niamh, and they have one son, Iarlaith (6).