September Educational Event 2025
Embracing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Business Events Sector
Programme
09:00 - 09:55
Registration & Networking
09:55 - 10:00
Welcome from AIPCO
Greg Carew, AIPCO
10:00 - 10:25
Creating Meaningful Impact in Business Events
Christine Roche, Officer, Business Events – Sustainability and Social Impact, Fáilte Ireland
10:25 - 10:55
Keynote Session: Today’s EDI reality – Facing challenges head on in a changing world
Rory Archibald, New Intent
10:55 - 11:35
Lived Experience Panel Discussion
Mariam Asiyanbi, Levy Constillation – Horse Racing Ireland Division
Johnny McCarthy, Facilities Manager, CluneTech & Project Lead, WeCan, Fintua
Laura O’Donovan-Calvert, Head of Business Development, Irish Centre for Diversity
11:35 - 12:00
Inclusivity in Action: A Sporting Case Study
Deborah Madden, EDI Manager, Golf Ireland
12:00 - 13:00
Networking Lunch
13:00 - 13:30
Embedding EDI Best Practice into your Organisation
Laura O’Donovan-Calvert, Head of Business Development, Irish Centre for Diversity
13:30 - 14:10
Case Study on the Autism Europe International Congress
Kasia Mahony, Director of Business Development, Keynote PCO
Christine Roche, Officer, Business Events – Sustainability and Social Impact, Fáilte Ireland
Emer McGuirk, Commercial Director, The RDS
14:10 - 14:55
Group Workshop – Facilitated by Rory Archibald
How can Business Events be a pillar for advocating for EDI?
14:55 - 15:00
Closing Remarks from AIPCO
Conor Meany, Chair AIPCO
15:00 - 16:00
Drinks Reception
Speakers
Christine Roche
Officer, Business Events - Sustainability and Social Impact, Fáilte Ireland
Christine Roche works as part of Fáilte Ireland’s Business Events Sustainability and Social Impact team, which is dedicated to advocating and advancing the sustainability and social impact agenda within Ireland’s Business Events sector. The team promotes and supports the sustainable development of tourism ensuring that both the environment and community benefit from events hosted in Ireland. With seven years’ experience at Fáilte Ireland, Christine has a proven track record of delivering successful, high-impact projects. She holds a BSc in Management from Trinity College Dublin and is passionate about spending time with family and friends, as well as enjoying outdoor activities.
Rory Archibald
Founder, New Intent
Rory Archibald is the founder of New Intent, an organisation working to embed human rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the global business events sector. He also serves as a Board Member of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association (LGBT MPA) and is a committee member of the ICCA UK & Ireland Chapter.
Rory has spent two decades in the business events industry, leading international partnerships and projects focused on sustainability, inclusivity, and legacy. His work has been recognised with several honours, including the ICCA Best Marketing Award in 2018, the Smart Meetings Catalyst Amplitude Award in 2022, and being named a PCMA Visionary Award finalist in 2023.
Mariam Asiyanbi
Levy Constillation - Horse Racing Ireland Division
Mariam Asiyanbi has been part of Levy Constellation since 2022, gaining diverse experience across multiple roles and sectors within the business. She began her journey as a Box Suite Attendant at the Aviva Stadium before progressing into leadership positions such as Hospitality Team Leader and Supervisor. Today, Mariam serves as a Regional People Consultant for Horse Racing Ireland, where she focuses on supporting workforce growth, development, and engagement. Having witnessed and contributed to the company’s evolution, Mariam is passionate about fostering inclusive opportunities and shaping the future of the industry she first entered at an operational level.
Johnny McCarthy
Facilities Manager, CluneTech & Project Lead, WeCan
Johnny McCarthy is a seasoned professional with over 32 years of distinguished service in the Irish Defence Forces, bringing a wealth of experience in operational leadership, training, personnel support, and facility management. His career has been defined by a deep commitment to service, innovation, and inclusive development – values he now carries into his civilian roles.
Johnny’s military career began in the Army, where he spent 8 years in operational roles before transitioning to the Irish Air Corps for the next 24 years. His service in the Air Corps was marked by a diverse range of responsibilities: 8 years as an instructor at the Military Training College, specialising in induction and career progression programs; another 8 years delivering IT training across operational, logistical, and administrative systems; and his final 8 years as a Personal Support Officer, where he was instrumental in delivering stress management, critical incident response, and wellness programs across both domestic and international deployments.
Throughout his military career, Johnny served in numerous barracks across Ireland and completed over 2.5 years of overseas missions. His overseas roles included 2 years in frontline operational duties and 3 years leading battalion support, overseeing critical functions such as camp maintenance, security, and facilities management – laying a strong foundation for his post-military career.
In 2021, Johnny joined CluneTech as Facilities Manager, where he led the successful refurbishment of the company’s headquarters and continues to drive ongoing improvements across CluneTech’s offices. His ability to manage complex projects with precision and care has made a lasting impact on the organisation’s work environment.
In April 2024, Johnny took on the additional role of Project Lead for WeCan, a not-for-profit initiative supported by CluneTech. WeCan is dedicated to providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Under Johnny’s leadership, the project is fostering a more inclusive workplace while empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
Johnny’s unique blend of military discipline, instructional expertise, and empathetic leadership makes him a transformative force in every organisation he serves.
Deborah Madden
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager in Golf Ireland
Deborah is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager in Golf Ireland. She was an artist for 15 years, and moved into sport 5 years ago in the area of inclusion and equity. She takes an intersectional approach to inclusion, with a keen interest in democratising spaces, horizontal hierarchies, reciprocal systems and opening up sport to everyone. Everyone should have the chance to take up sport to whatever level they want to. She has too many bikes, and believes there’s little that can’t be solved with the power of a cup of tea!
Laura O’Donovan-Calvert
Head of Business Development, Irish Centre for Diversity
Over the past 20 years, Laura’s career has spanned across Diversity & Inclusion, sales and marketing, Event Management, Consultancy & mentoring roles. Starting her working life in Hospitality in the States with Hyatt Regency Hotel’s and coming home to work in groups such as Dalata, Radisson blu, and Choice hotels. She went on to become Business Development Director for ‘With taste’ managing large scale events in the RDS and eventually on to her Diversity & Inclusion work for the Toronto based Company Phasenyne and Womens Executive Network. Her work here saw her plan & deliver Irelands Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business Awards 2 years running and work with some of Irelands Largest Professional Services to drive Female Leadership in the workforce.
She is a proud Gay Woman and has worked with LGBTQ plus groups as a volunteer for over 10 years along with sitting on the board of Directors for Gaze Film Festival for 5 years. Her Passion for Diversity & Inclusion comes from an experience of growing up with a brother with a severe mental & physical disability who sadly passed away in 2017 and seeing the lack of resources but more importantly inclusion in workplaces in Ireland overall for minority groups, this has driven her passion for positive change forward.
Laura has worked with the Irish Centre for Diversity for 5 years and is Head of Business Development.
Kasia Mahony
Director of Business Development, Keynote PCO
Kasia Mahony is Director of Business Development at Keynote PCO, where she works closely with international clients and committees to shape congress strategies, advise on best practices, and build meaningful partnerships with stakeholders.
With over 15 years of experience in the business events industry, Kasia has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of large international congresses. In her current role, she combines operational expertise with strategic insight, ensuring each event delivers impact and value for all stakeholders.
Most recently, Kasia and the Keynote PCO team have been working in partnership with AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity, to support the planning of the Autism Europe Congress in Dublin. This collaboration reflects Keynote PCO’s strong commitment to embedding inclusive and neurodivergent-friendly practices across their events. Championing equity, diversity, and inclusion, the team is dedicated to setting new standards for accessibility in the international meetings industry and ensuring every delegate has the opportunity to fully participate and thrive.
Emer McGuirk
Commercial Director, RDS
Emer is Commercial Director of the RDS with over 20 years of experience in the business tourism industry. Emer has a wealth of experience in particular in attracting international business to Dublin and is passionate about putting Ireland on the map for large scale events.
Emer leads the RDS commercial team driving revenue through venue sales and partnerships to the 43-acre campus. Emer is particularly excited about building new revenue streams for the organisation and improving customer experiences whilst making an impact to Irish society by funding the RDS foundation programmes in Arts, Agriculture, Enterprise, Equestrian, Science & Technology sectors.