An Inspiring Morning at the CWIT Annual CEO Meeting
Yesterday, Wednesday 26th November, CWIT hosted its Annual CEO Meeting at Meta, bringing together an incredible group of leaders committed to strengthening inclusion, influencing policy, and driving meaningful change across Ireland’s tech community. The energy, collaboration, and shared purpose in the room made this one of our most impactful gatherings to date.
Building Connections Over Breakfast
The morning began with Breakfast & Networking, giving CEOs and senior leaders the opportunity to reconnect and forge new relationships across the CWIT network—connections that continue to fuel progress nationwide.
Keynote from Anne O’Leary
We were honoured to hear from Anne O’Leary, Head at Meta Ireland, who delivered an inspiring keynote on leadership, innovation, and the responsibility we all share in creating a more inclusive and equitable tech ecosystem—within our organisations and across society.
Strategic Update and Future Priorities
Following the keynote, our integration lead, Sabrina Staunton shared a strategic update highlighting the significant strides made across the CWIT network in 2025. Member companies have doubled down on efforts to attract, retain, and promote women in technology, driving measurable progress across the sector. Sabrina also outlined ambitious priorities for 2026, including:
Deepening strategic partnerships
Playing a stronger role in shaping policy discussions
Accelerating system-wide change
Her message reinforced Ireland’s position as a powerhouse of talent and opportunity.
Panel Discussion: The Power of Strategic Partnerships
A dynamic panel explored The Power of Strategic Partnerships, featuring insights from Brendan Farley (AMD), Paula Neary (Accenture), Lavina Morris (Microsoft) and Olivia Leonard (Mastercard). These leaders shared candid experiences on building collaborations that strengthen inclusion, support community impact, and fuel sustainable growth across the tech ecosystem.
Round Table Collaboration
Guided by our Lead of Company Leads, Niamh O’Hare, participants engaged in a round table session focused on how external partnerships help attract, retain, and elevate women in tech. Practical examples, policy-aligned initiatives, and new opportunities for joint action were shared—highlighting how collaboration can accelerate change at both organisational and national levels.
Closing Reflections
Sabrina and Niamh closed the morning with key takeaways, reaffirming the momentum ahead as CWIT, member organisations, and partners continue working together to shape a more equitable and innovative future.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined and continues to drive progress. Together, we’re strengthening Ireland’s position as a global hub of talent, innovation, and opportunity—powered by inclusion and partnerships that make a real difference.
