National Women’s Enterprise Day – Western Region Event – Her Business Journey
Regional event with LEO Mayo, LEO Galway, led by LEO Roscommon
Thursday 15th October 2026
The Abbey Hotel, Roscommon
Making it Happen “Her Business Journey”
Regional event with LEO Mayo, LEO Galway, led by LEO Roscommon
MC: Loretta Ní Ghabháin
Loretta is the founder and Director of the Multi award winning Digital marketing agency, Lorg Media. Loretta is a Communications Consultant and was the first person to bring social media to the national broadcaster TG4, having already worked in numerous roles, both on and off camera, from film reviewer to producer on the ground for the Oprah Winfrey Show, along with being a broadcast news Director and Presenter with RTE and TG4.
Working as MC and Presenting are still in the mix and she has a keen interest in storytelling and promoting Irish language and culture internationally.
Half day event with networking opportunities and a diverse range of inspiring female speakers.
Keynote Speaker - Miriam Hussey –Integrative health expert, pharmacist, author and co-founder of Soul Space
Miriam Hussey is a qualified pharmacist who, after 10+ years in traditional pharmacy, transitioned into the world of integrative health, wellness coaching, yoga & meditation facilitation She is co-founder of the movement and platform Soul Space (alongside her husband Gerry Hussey) which brings together mind, body, soul approaches to health and performance.
Her approach emphasises that true wellness isn’t simply about treating symptoms, but about the integration of the physical, cognitive, emotional, nutritional and spiritual dimensions of health. In her debut book, Light Up - Energise Your Body, Awaken Your Mind, Supercharge Your Soul (published 2025), she shares her personal story of battling people-pleasing, disordered eating, stress and burnout - and how she found her own path back to vitality and authenticity.
Her mission is to empower women (and men) to reconnect with their inner pharmacy, understand the nervous system’s role in health, and prioritise boundaries, self-care and sustainable lifestyle change rather than quick fixes.
Guest Speakers:
Jane Brady – President of the Insurance Institute of Ireland
Jane Brady is an Irish insurance executive, business leader, and the Managing Director of Brady Insurance, one of Ireland's longest-established independent insurance brokerages. In 2026, she was appointed President of the Insurance Institute of Ireland, becoming only the fourth woman to hold the role and the first president from the west of Ireland.
Jane is widely recognised as an advocate for professionalism, education, and innovation within the insurance sector. She holds several professional qualifications, including the Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP), Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA), and Certified Insurance Director (CID) designations. Throughout her career she has promoted mentoring, continuing professional development, and apprenticeship programmes to help attract and develop new talent in the industry.
As President of the Insurance Institute of Ireland, Jane has emphasised preparing the profession for rapid technological change, including artificial intelligence, while ensuring that consumer interests remain central to insurance services. She has also spoken about the importance of regional leadership and encouraging more women to pursue senior leadership roles within the profession.
In addition to her industry leadership, Jane has been recognised for her business achievements, including being named among Ireland's leading women in business by the All-Ireland Business Foundation and leading Brady Insurance to Business All-Star Accreditation and national brokerage awards.
Guest Speaker Leah Fletcher – CEO & Co-Founder Dunbar Pharmaceuticals
Leah Fletcher is founder and CEO of Mercury Rising Ltd, trading as Dunbar Pharma, an EU GMP-certified pharmaceutical manufacturer producing plant-derived dronabinol active pharmaceutical ingredient from its facility in Athlone.
Leah’s route into pharma was not a conventional one. A former teacher, she taught herself pharmaceutical regulation and manufacturing during the pandemic and, in late 2022, set about building a business in one of the most heavily regulated industries in Europe. Under four years on, Dunbar Pharma is an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Up holding EU GMP certification, an Active Substance Registration and controlled drug licences. The company employs around 30 people, has raised significant financial backing, and in the past twelve months has taken its API to market in both Germany and the UK.
Leah is now a leading global specialist in regulatory and compliance for cannabinoid technologies and medical cannabis markets, working across EU and Irish pharmaceutical regulation, German pharmacy law and the UK Specials framework. She is also founder of deDANÚ, a cannabinoid skincare brand built with Local Enterprise Office backing, and co-founder of Arbutus Health, a regulatory consultancy.
She has a particular interest in what it takes to build technically credible, export-focused businesses from a regional base in Ireland — and in the practical distance between a first LEO grant and a licensed manufacturing operation trading across Europe.
Panel discussions will feature female LEO clients from Roscommon, Mayo and Galway.
LEO Galway - Tara Canning from Dr Clare Apothecary & Clinic
Tara Canning has worked in Dr Clare Apothecary & Clinic for over 20 years, starting as a part time retail assistant and Clinic Nutritionist. Now Tara is managing the company with a strong online presence, Dr Clare Apothecary products are stocked in over 150 stores across the island. A strong ethos of quality, sustainability and lean management have led Tara and the company to a strong position in the health and wellness sector with a view to entry into the EU markets over the coming years.
LEO Roscommon – Rebecca Lyons
With 25 years’ experience working inside SMEs – finance, systems, and commercial roles – Rebecca has walked the walk. Supporting other SMEs from pre-startup to scale-up with hands-on strategy, financial clarity, and deep knowledge of government and industry supports to help you move forward with confidence. Because Rebecca has worked directly with SME owners and through LEO and Enterprise Ireland programmes, she understands the full picture: the business, the funding landscape, and how to connect the two.”
LEO Mayo – Imelda Tierney - CEO of The James Arthur Limited and its sister company in the US, The James Trading Group. They are based in Ballina Co Mayo and have offices and warehouse facilities in New York. They are licensed manufacturers of apparel and giftware items for Global Brands, such as Guinness Official merchandise and Bushmills Distillery. They manage the Official D2C website for Guinness in the US & Canadian Market. Since relocating back to Ireland in 2010, they have successfully grown the business and developed a strong, highly skilled team that has helped deliver this success.
Refreshments on arrival and the event will conclude with lunch.
Agenda
10.00am Registration & Networking
10.30am Welcoming Address from Head of Enterprise LEO Roscommon
10.40am MC Loretta Ni Ghabain, Lorg Media opens the event
10.45am Guest Speaker - Jane Brady - President of Insurance Institute of Ireland for 2026
11.00am Guest Speaker Leah Fletcher – CEO & Co-Founder Dunbar Pharmaceuticals
11.15am Raffle and Spot Prizes
11.30am Panel Discussion with LEO client representatives Roscommon/Mayo/Galway
12.30pm Keynote Main Speaker: Miriam Hussey Integrative health expert, pharmacist, author and co-founder of Soul Space
1.15pm Closing remarks from MC and Aileen Clifford – LEO Roscommon
1.30pm Networking Lunch
2.45pm Event concludes
