Ireland Gateway to Europe – A Tale of 3 Cities!

Ireland Gateway To Europe is a not-for-profit collective of Irish service providers who showcase Ireland as a premier European investment location. Each year they travel to America to meet with companies from both sides of the Atlantic looking to set up base in Ireland. This year participants travelled to Atlanta, Austin, and Boston.

Paul McArdle (Joint Managing Partner) and Alan Bluett (Partner) represented The Panel.

Here is how they got on.

Monday 15^th of May – Atlanta

In the evening delegates were invited to the Consulate General of Ireland, Atlanta, a small but fully booked evening event with the local Atlanta business community. Consul General, Caoimhe Ní Chonchúir hosted the event. Adie Mcgennis spoke on behalf of IGTE.

Tuesday 16^th of May – Atlanta

The first stop was the Metro Chamber, Atlanta, and the annual CEO Breakfast. Opening the event was Caoimhe Ní Chonchúir, Consul General for Ireland, South East US.

Participants listened to John Woodward (VP of Global Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber) and Robert MacGiolla Phádraig (IGTE), who moderated all the panel discussions throughout the event.

First up an interesting talk between Sinead Fitzmaurice (CEO at Transfer Mate) and Andrea Reynolds (CEO at Swoop) as they discussed their journeys in business. A talk followed by an equally fascinating fireside chat between Irial Finan (Chairman of Smurfit Kappa, and formerly Coca-Cola) and Robert MacGiolla Phádraig. Mr Finan, speaking in the context of democracy, suggested that civics should be taught already in school, as it is an important fundamental for businesses of the future. Attendees also listened to further discussions between Daniel Gagnon (VP of Strategy at UPS Healthcare) and John Woodward.

In the afternoon, delegates travelled to Georgia Tech where they listened to a panel discussion about “Tech Turbulence: The Impact of AI on the Economy and World of Work”. Speakers included Dean Anuj Mehrotra, Coogan Perrin, Dr. Sudheer Chava, Dr. Eric Overby (Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business), Connor Heaney (CXC), Claire Kelly (Sigmar Recruitment), Clare Kelly (Glandore), Rahul Saxena (CREATE-X Program), Sinead Fitzmaurice (TransferMate Global Payments), Adie McGennis (Sigmar Recruitment).

The visit allowed a tour of the athletics facilities. The event was in association between IGTE, Aer Lingus College Football Classic Ireland, and the Scheller College of Business. Brendan Meehan (Commercial Director at Aer Lingus College Football Classic Five Game Series) spoke about the college football game coming to Dublin on August 24^th 2024, when Georgia Tech Football play Florida State in the Aer Lingus American Football Classic.

Wednesday 17^th of May – Austin

The day started with a visit to Indeed Tower in central Austin, and the Indeed CEO breakfast. Participants were greeted by Robert Hull (Consul General of Ireland, Austin), who opened the event.

The delegates were then treated to a panel discussion with Robert Hull (Consul General of Ireland, Austin), Donal McMahon (VP Engineering, Group Manager of Data Platforms and Head of Data Science, Indeed), Mindy Cancila (VP Strategy & Growth Activation, Dell), and Ed O’Malley (Head of Insurance Brokerage and Consulting, NFP).

Thursday 18th of May – Line Dancing!

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! So to let the collective hair down nearly everyone at the IGTE party participated in some line dancing at one of Austin’s oldest hostelries – The Broken Spoke – the home of live music & boot-scootin’, beer & chicken-fried steak since 1964. Armed with cowboy boots, Stetsons, and no small amount of courage, we engaged in line dance training before embarking on the real thing on the dance floor. Suffice to say that ambition was the winner and we decided not to have any photos of the ensuing carnage!

Friday 19^th of May – Boston

The final day of the trade mission brought delegates to Boston and the CEO Breakfast hosted by Bank of America, in association with Boston College.

Event opening remarks and introduction were made by Paul Donofrio (Vice Chair, Bank of America), Warren Zola (Executive Director at Boston College Chief Executives Club), and Síghle FitzGerald (Consul General of Ireland – Boston, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland).

Participants were then treated to fireside chats with Jason Trevisan (CEO at CarGurus), and Dr. Anita Finnegan (Founder & CEO of Nova Leah). The event was closed by Micheal Chamberlain (Northeast Regional Executive for Global Commercial Banking at Bank of America).

Following the morning event, delegates made their way to Boston Harbour Hotel, for the Boston College CEO Club Lunch, where Warren Zola welcomed everyone and introduced the event speakers David Cordani (CEO at Cigna Heald) and John Fish (Chair of the Board of Trustees of Boston College, CEO of Suffolk Construction).

Summary:

This year’s Ireland Gateway to Europe saw a great lineup of speakers across three locations in the US. Topics highlighted were AI, trade, tech, market turbulence, and lots of positive movements in bilateral trade.

Until next year!

Many thanks to Robert MacGiolla Phádraig, Adie Mcgennis, Claire Kelly, and Jamie Harnett, for all their work in making this event come true and in a seamless fashion. Thanks to all the companies that hosted the delegates, the speakers, and our fellow participants for a great trip.

Newstalk coverage

Alan Bluett mentioned in the following Newstalk episode (c.5 minutes in)

If you wish to find out more about Ireland Gateway to Europe please feel free to contact Paul McArdle at paul@thepanel.com or visit: https://www.gatewaytoeurope.org/

Photo Gallery (Courtesy of IGTE and The Panel) 

*Click on the first image to view the carousel of all photos.

Atlanta

Austin

Boston