Friday, October 20th, 2023 – City Hall Cork
Full day event
Due to the phenomenal success of the inaugural National Menopause Summit supported by M&S which took place 23 March 2023 in the Round Room Mansion House Dublin we are delighted to announce the launch of the National Menopause Summit Cork supported again by our wonderful partners at M&S.
The National Menopause Summit Cork supported by M&S will take place in the historical venue of Cork City Hall on Friday October 20th 2023. This full day Masterclass in Menopause will be held during the same week as World Menopause Day which is marked annually on October 18th.
Once again moderated by renowned journalist and broadcaster Gráinne Seoige and featuring the phenomenal Mariella Frostrup – in addition to a speaker panel of leading clinicians, health care practitioners, legal & HR professionals, business & union leaders, facilitators and professionals in the area – The National Menopause Summit Cork supported by M&S full day event will continue to shift the narrative by debunking myths & taboos, providing inclusive fact based information, advocating for support across both the personal and professional arenas and providing a platform of understanding and respect to ensure no one suffers needlessly at this oftentimes highly challenging and transitional stage of life.
This Masterclass in Menopause will deliver the ‘no filter reality’ of the serious challenges perimenopause and menopause presents and how best to negotiate these challenges.
Also championing for a ‘new norm’ across the Irish workplace, The National Menopause Summit Cork supported by M&S will advocate, educate and empower organisations on the introduction of inclusive, compassionate and sympathetic workplace policies to ensure all feel supported to forge forward in their careers, thus stemming the flow of women choosing to exit the workplace or disregard opportunities for advancement, due to the lack of these crucial supports.
Join us at this landmark full day event, in the beautiful surroundings of Cork City Hall for a packed agenda of knowledge, advice, support and content delivered by our powerful, expertly curated panel of speakers, moderated panel discussions, audience q & a and much more.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Journalist, Broadcaster, Campaigner, Author of Cracking The Menopause & Trustee of the Great Initiative
Mariella Frostrup is a talented journalist and broadcaster, who has forged a reputation as a campaigner for a range of different causes. Working with a number of media outlets, Mariella has continually defied attempts to pigeonhole her skills. Smashing through glass ceilings throughout her career, more recently Mariella has become well known for her outspoken advocacy on Menopause. She is also booked as a speaker, awards host or facilitator for a range of corporate events, focussing on topics such as gender equality, empowerment and Menopause.
Beginning her career as a Public Relations Executive for Phonogram Records, Mariella has since forged a successful career as a journalist and broadcaster. She has avidly written as a travel writer for publications including The Observer, The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday and Harper & Queen. She has also presented a number of radio shows, including Bringing Up Britain for BBC Radio 4, The Green Room for BBC Radio 2 and The Book Show on Sky Arts 1. In 2020, Mariella joined Times Radio to present their show on social issues, culture and arts, and in 2022 she became the presenter of Britain’s Novel Landscapes with Mariella Frostrup.
Throughout her career, Mariella has used her prominence and platform as a space for advocacy. A passionate philanthropist, she has helped various charities across the last two decades, including Oxfam, Save the Children, Comic Relief and The Children’s Society. One of the main focuses of her advocacy has been campaigning for the rights of women, fighting for gender equality and taking regular trips to disadvantaged countries to help women and children. She is the Co-Founder of the Gender Right and Equality Action Trust, the Somerset President of CPRE, a Trustee of The Great Initiative and Patron of Save the Children. Channelling her passion for women’s rights and empowerment, Mariella authored the book Cracking the Menopause: While Keeping Yourself Together. Recently, Mariella was witness to the signing of The Menopause Pledge - a pledge made by the House of Commons to support those experiencing the menopause.
Mariella uses her prominence to spread her advocacy for gender equality. Also the editor of Wild Women & Their Amazing Adventures Over Land, Sea and Air, Mariella knows what it takes to smash glass ceilings. Writing a weekly column for The Sunday Times Magazine and a monthly travel column for The Telegraph, Mariella is widely regarded as a prolific journalist. Having also sat as a judge on the panels of the Booker Prize, the Evening Standard Film Awards and the Orange Prize for Fiction, Mariella is also a seasoned awards host. When looking for an inspirational woman to speak at your next event, book Mariella Frostrup for an empowering speech on gender equality and women’s rights.
Journalist, Broadcaster & Presenter
Gráinne Seoige is an award winning broadcaster, journalist and highly experienced television presenter. The only Irish TV personality to have worked across all four of Ireland's television stations - TG4, TV3, RTÉ 1 and RTÉ 2 as well as launch anchor for Sky News Ireland - Gráinne produced and presented the highly acclaimed documentary programme Meanapás: Meon Nua which aired on TG4 November 2, 2022.
As part of her documentary Gráinne explored the topic of menopause and how it has been handled, both historically and currently, in Ireland.
Exploring the various challenges associated with perimenopause and menopause Gráinne met with women across the country to discuss their personal experiences and struggles around the issue. Armed with what she had learned Gráinne met with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to discuss the lack of information and support, advocating for a National Menopause Policy to be launched.
Meanapás: Meon Nua was received to critical acclaim and proved to be a ground breaking vehicle to debunk menopause for Irish women and bring the issue out of the shadows into the public arena.
Joint Lead Complex Menopause Clinic CUMH, Accredited Menopause Specialist, Portfolio GP with a Special Interest in Women's Health & Sexual Health
Brenda is an accredited Menopause Specialist and a Portfolio GP with a Special Interest in Women's Health & Sexual Health. She graduated from UCC in 2006 and qualified as a GP in 2013. She subsequently developed a passion for all aspects of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare and went on to complete the Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare (UK). She has since accrued experience in diverse areas of sexual & reproductive health including community gynaecology, menopause care, premenstrual disorders, GUM, sexual assault & forensic medicine.
Brenda is a recognised British Menopause Society Accredited Menopause Specialist and Trainer. She obtained her menopause training in Kings College Hospital. London, which is a recognised Tertiary Referral Centre for Complex Menopause Care. Upon her return to Ireland, she established the Danu Clinic in 2020 which caters for all aspects of peri/menopause care.
Her other roles include working as a GP within the Gynaecology Department in Cork University Maternity Hospital, training peers to BMS standard as a Menopause Trainer, and providing menopause education and training to GPs via the Irish College of General Practitioners.
Her aspiration is for all to flourish throughout their reproductive and life transitions.
Joint Lead Complex Menopause Clinic CUMH, GP Lead with Special Interest in Women's mid-life Health, Accredited Menopause Specialist
Dr Karen Soffe has been working in general practice in The Ashe Street Clinic in Tralee Co Kerry for over 20 years. She is a British Menopause Society accredited Menopause Expert and Trainer.
She has been appointed as Medical Officer along with Dr Brenda Moran for the new Complex Menopause Service soon to be launched at Cork University Maternity Hospital providing expert menopause care for those with complex needs.
As part of this new role she will collaborate with the other menopause Specialists around the country. Karen is passionate about educating existing and trainee GPs and empowering them to provide high quality mid-life care to their patients. To this end she has provided in person and online talks and webinars for medical colleagues and trainees.
As part of her role as the GP lead in the community network, she is collaborating with the HSE in Cork and Kerry to develop health promotion programs regarding women’s mid-life health particularly in vulnerable populations.
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Director Health Innovation Hub Ireland, Founder Femtech Ireland
Tanya is Director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and founder of Ireland’s first FemTech Ecosystem. She graduated from University College Cork with an honours degree in Biochemistry before completing a PhD in Cancer Genetics followed by postdoctoral research in Trinity College Dublin, in the field of Neuropsychiatric Genetics.
She has over 30 years experience in the start-up, pharma, product development and research industry in Ireland and the US. In 2021 she was appointed by the Minister for Health to the HPRA Medical Device Advisory Committee, is an Advisory Committee member of the National Clinical Trials Office (NCTO) and an independent advisor to a number of HealthTech startups. She is particularly interested in supporting female founders and those innovating in women’s health.
Health Innovation Hub Ireland is a national initiative supported by Enterprise Ireland and the HSE and led by University College Cork. HIHI supports the development of innovative healthcare solutions and supports the implementation of these within the Irish healthcare system.
Through her role as HIHI Director, Tanya noted that there were quite a number of innovations being developed in Ireland in the area of women’s health. With the support of Ireland South Women and Infants Directorate, University College Cork, Enterprise Ireland and her own team, Tanya founded FemTech @Health Innovation Hub Ireland in 2022.
Femtech Ireland is the first FemTech ecosystem aimed at innovation in the area of women’s health in Ireland. In particular. FemTech Ireland’s goal is to enable the conversation around unmet needs in women’s health, to support the development of new products and services to address those needs and to ensure that Ireland’s innovators in women’s health are part of the rapidly growing global FemTech movement.
Chartered Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health & Continence
Shalini Wiseman is a Chartered Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health with over 19 years experience in treating urogynaecology issues such as bladder and colorectal dysfunctions, pelvic organ prolapses and sexual dysfunctions.
Currently the clinical lead at Pelvic Health Programmes with extensive experience working at Cork University Maternity Hospital Shalini is a member of the Pelvic Obstetrics & Gynecology Physiotherapy Association in the UK.
Completing an MSc by Research from University College Cork on the topic of chronic pelvic pain Shalini has had the honour of presenting her research at national and international conferences.
Shalini is passionate about educating women and healthcare professionals on pelvic health - giving talks in India and Ireland - in addition to education programmes to the Irish College of General Practitioners.
GP & Clinical Lecturer in General Practice Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI)
Dr Sumi Dunne BSc (Hons), BM, MICGP, FFSEM graduated from the University of Southampton UK. She undertook Neonatal Intensive Care and Emergency Department Paediatrics training before undertaking Specialist General Practice (GP) at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Since then she has maintained both an academic and clinical career in General Practice, working as a Clinical Lecturer in the Department of General Practice RCSI and as a GP in Portarlington, Co Laois.
Within rural General Practice Sumi has developed a particular interest in Women's Health. She believes strongly in the need for clinician leadership, and completed a Masters in Leadership at RCSI together with being a member of the RCSI Human Research and Ethics Committee.
Sumi regularly contributes to GP articles in various media outlets, and is the GP expert on RTE’s Operation Transformation since 2019.
Clinical Lead Rotunda Hospital Menopause Clinic, Founder & CEO Menopause Health
Since qualifying in medicine from UCD in 2007, Dr Hartley has developed her skills and expertise in the area of Women's Health and Menopause care.
Accredited by both the North American and British Menopause Society Dr Hartley was recently honoured to become a British Menopause Society trainer.
A member of the Advisory Board of both the European Menopause and Andropause Society and The Newson Health Menopause Socieity, she was awarded membership of the Irish College of General Practice in 2013 obtaining diplomate status with the Royal College of Obstretics & Gynecologists in 2012 and achieving a certificate in Women’s Health from the Irish College of General Practice.
Head of Employer Relations Adare HRM
Katie Ridge, BA, LLM, Chartered MCIPD, Barrister at Law, has practical HR experience combined with substantial employment law knowledge and workplace investigation know how.
Katie has a broad range of employment law experience specialising in workplace investigations, grievance and disciplinary matters, and as well as representing Organisations in the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court. She has a keen interest in and is an advocate for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Irish society.
Prior to joining Adare Human Resource Management, Katie has supported a diverse range of private, not-for-profit and public sector Organisations in her capacity as a barrister and HR professional.
Head of Group Employee Relations, Bank of Ireland
Joanne Healy is a qualified barrister, accredited mediator and co author of HR and Employment: Policies and Procedures (CAI 2019).
Joanne is currently the Head of Group Employee Relations at Bank of Ireland where she has recently introduced a policy and training programme providing supports and awareness for menopause at work. Joanne is passionate about reducing stigmas and promoting inclusivity and respect in the workplace as seen in the initiatives she has launched at Bank of Ireland including domestic abuse supports as well as fertility, surrogacy, and early pregnancy loss supports.
Founder & CEO The Menopause Hub
Loretta Dignam is an award-winning Marketer of the Year, who opened the doors to The Menopause Hub, Ireland's first and only dedicated multidisciplinary menopause clinic, in December 2018. Loretta is founder and CEO.
The Menopause Hub is Ireland’s first dedicated, multidisciplinary clinic, which includes a team of doctors - GPs and Gynaecologists - a psychologist, dietitian and nutritionist, women’s health physiotherapist and an acupuncturist.
Loretta is an advocate for menopausal women and has developed a programme to support organisations with Menopause in the Workplace Awareness & Education training including policy development. She has had a lengthy and highly successful career as a senior marketing and communications leader working for many multinational, global businesses including; Mars Inc, Diageo plc, Kerry Group plc Ardagh Group and Jacob Fruitfield.
Awarded Marketer of the Year in 2011, Loretta is a graduate of UCD and DCU and has lectured in the UCD Smurfit Business School on their executive MBA and MSc Programmes.
Loretta was on the Board of the Abbey Theatre for 6 years, where she was a ministerial appointment. She also chaired their Gender Equality Committee, driving change in gender equality policy across Irish theatre, chaired the Development Committee, & was a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Founder and Dietitian at the Dublin Nutrition Centre
Born in Dublin, Aveen graduated from Trinity College with a BSc. (Hons) (Human Nutrition and Dietetics) and completed a business diploma in Smurfit Business School. Since qualifying Aveen has gained a wide range of experience in various different medical fields. Having trained in St. James’s hospital, her professional experience began with the NHS in the UK. On returning to Ireland, Aveen rejoined her training ground hospital, St. James, as a Senior Clinical Nutritionist and then set up Dublin Nutrition Centre in 2003. Aveen is also a current member of the I.N.D.I (Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute).
Aveen is currently considered one of the top dietitian's in the country and specialises in Eating Disorders, Gut Health and female health. Aveen has completed FODMAP training, Behavioural Change Level 2 and is a SOS feeding therapist.
Aveen regularly delivers corporate and team talks and presentations. Aveen also provides regular nutrition consultancy for media communications such as print, TV and radio. She also featured on RTEs What Are You Eating, RTEs How long will you live and was a judge on RTEs Healthy Appetite.
GP, Educator and Broadcaster
Dr Máire Finn graduated from NUIG in 1993 and achieved her MICGP in 1998.
She has worked as a principal General Practitioner in Ennis since that time. She has an active role in all levels of medical education and mentorship, taking students and interns from UL and RCSI.
In 2006 she became one of the only female trainers on the Midwest GP training scheme.
She is a proud START doctor since it’s inception.
She recently formalised the menopause care she has always provided by starting a specialty clinic in her surgery. This has allowed her to train and mentor other GPs in menopause care.
When settled into her practice in Ennis she was afforded the opportunity to develop her passions for women’s and family health. She found that a patient’s needs could only be truly met with time, listening and compassion.
Since 2002 she has become the voice of medicine and health advocacy in the mid-west.
RTE offered an opportunity to expand her reach in 2018, a hugely successful move for Máire who is now a regular medical contributor on radio and TV principally Today with Claire Byrne and the Today Show on RTE 1
Máire has published several articles both scholarly and opinion pieces.
She has always been an advocate for better access to healthcare and inclusivity in all aspects of life.
Lecturer, Researcher and CORU Registered Dietitian at University College Cork
Dr. Samantha Cushen, PhD, is a CORU registered dietitian and a lecturer at University College Cork (UCC), where she plays a pivotal role in the MSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics programme.
Her primary research area revolves around cancer survivorship, with a special emphasis on the impact of body composition on health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups such as cancer survivors.
Samantha has published numerous peer reviewed articles, has presented her research at international scientific meetings and her research has attracted a number of both national and international awards.
Samantha's recent research has delved into understanding menopausal symptoms in female cancer survivors. Notably, she is leading an innovative project to create the first-ever Irish nutrition guide tailored specifically for female cancer survivors dealing with treatment-induced menopause.
Samantha’s aim is to provide practical and evidence-based advice that assists these women in managing their nutritional needs during this challenging period, her goal being to bridge the information gap and create a valuable resource that supports the everyday lives of female cancer survivors facing menopause.
Director of Health Promotion, Information & Training, Irish Heart Foundation
Janis Morrissey is a member of the Irish Heart Foundation’s senior management team and has worked in different roles in the organisation for over 20 years. In her current role she is privileged to lead teams that strive to understand and meet the needs of the people we serve, developing and delivering national health promotion programmes and CPR training. Janis is also a national media spokesperson and has presented to several Oireachtas Committees.
Janis pioneered the #HerHeartMatters national awareness campaign, shining a much-needed spotlight on how one in four women in Ireland die from heart disease and stroke and that, incredibly, women are six times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than breast cancer.
She believes that we need to talk more about women’s heart health, especially as this risk increases as a woman moves into menopause, and was invited to present to the Department of Health’s Women’s Health Taskforce on this topic.
Janis originally qualified as a dietitian with an Honours B.Sc. from DIT /TCD and a M.Sc. from the University of Ulster. She is past president of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute.
Janis is a board member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Faculty of Public Health Medicine and was appointed by the Minister for Health to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s Consultative Council. She was recently appointed as an External Examiner at TU Dublin.
Chartered Physiotherapist, Creator and founder PostureFitting Physiotherapy Service
If you had asked Siobhán 10 years ago what she would be doing in 2023, she wouldn’t have predicted being surrounded by all things breasts and bras! But here she indeed is, on a mission to raise awareness of, and demonstrate her solution for, the very underestimated impact of breast weight on women and girls.
A chartered physio with a Master’s degree in the Prevention and Management of Sport Injury, Siobhán has always been a solution-seeker. With over 30 years of clinical experience working with patients to prevent, treat, rehab and deter problems, she developed PostureFitting, a physiotherapy service which connects breast weight and support with posture. The resultant effects on her patients in feeling, moving, looking better were too good to keep a secret, and she now also trains other therapists to offer the PostureFitting service. Their mutual goal is to educate, empower & enlighten, in all ways, so that more gals win their daily battle against gravity, while busting breast & bra booby traps!
GP & Founder HRT prescribers in GP telegram group
Dr Brian Kennedy graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2002 achieving his MICGP in 2007. Brian is the proud founder of HRT prescribers in the GP Telegram Group, ably aided and abetted by Dr Deirdre Lundy, Dr Caoimhe Hartley and Dr Rachel Mackey.
Passionate about medical education and mentoring Brian regularly works with medical students, his peer GPs and GP trainees in this regard. He also relishes his teaching roles as CME tutor ICGP Limerick and Clinical and Communication Skills tutor GEMS, UL EMA trainer with ICGP and is a proud START doctor.
Previously Brian tutored in Practical Dermatology at Cardiff University. Achieving post grad diplomas in children's health, psychiatry, therapeutics and dermatology, Brian also worked as a palliative medicine registrar in Ireland and Australia before circling back to general practice.
Brian is the principal GP in Tipperary since 2008 with a GP Practice in Nenagh that remains the centre and focus of his work. Special interests include women’s health, particularly sexual and reproductive healthcare justice education, menopause care, LGBTQI healthcare, dermatology, palliative medicine, end of life care ethics, minor surgery, medical aesthetics, reflective practice, creative writing, mentoring, leadership, GP self-care and burn-out prevention and challenging gendered approaches to health care provision.
Superintendent, An Garda Síochána
Goretti is a native of Co. Donegal. She joined An Garda Síochána in August 1993. She worked as a Garda in various roles in Dublin for 10 years. She subsequently spent 9 years as a Sergeant in Tallaght working in Community Policing and on a Drug Unit. She spent 6 years as an Inspector in Letterkenny. She was promoted to Superintendent in 2019 and has spent time as District Officer in Castlerea, Sligo, Buncrana, and is now in charge of the Letterkenny District.
She has a BSc in Computing, Professional Certificate in Corporate Governance, Postgraduate Diplomas in Serious Crime Investigation and Leadership in Policing. She also has a MA in Criminology.
Goretti has always had an avid interest in promoting inclusivity and diversity in An Garda Síochána and is the Chairperson of the North-Western Region Women’s Network. Goretti is also a Council Member to the 30% Club representing An Garda Síochána. She is a member of the Menopause Steering Committee and was involved in developing An Garda Síochána’s Menopause Guidance Document which was launched in February 2023. Goretti has presented on “Supporting Women in the Workplace during Menopause” within the organisation.
Capacity Officer, Independent Living Movement Ireland
Fiona Weldon is currently the Capacity Officer in ILMI and has 30 years of experience working in the Disability Sector. Fiona holds an MA in Disability Studies, Diplomas in Community Development, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Counselling Skills. She also holds Certificates in other subjects including Advanced Facilitation, Equality Studies, Social Care, Reality Therapy, Assistive Technology and Supported Self-Directed Living.
Fiona has worked for the National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID) in Trinity College, NUI Maynooth and the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre in Dublin City University. Her work here involved evaluating/researching and/or delivering evidence based Bespoke Training Programmes that purposely intended to enable disabled people to believe in themselves to want better lives. This work has both travelled nationally and internationally.
Founder and creator of Prime Fit by Sarah
It was Sarah’s own journey through perimenopause that inspired her to become a qualified specialist in the field of movement, strength, nutrition, and health for the midlife woman.
Sarah as a personal trainer, and a woman experiencing perimenopause, knew professionally and personally that women in our demographic were underserved and underrepresented and there was so much more that could be done to better her health and the health of all women on this same journey.
Through comprehensive training and education, Sarah is one of a very few personal trainers in Ireland certified in coaching women through the Peri to Post Menopause transition from an evidence-based standpoint. By keeping her finger on the pulse of all the latest evidence based research Prime Fit by Sarah has empowered hundreds of women of all ages to further enhance their health through prescribed movement, strength training, nutrition, pelvic health, mobility, injury prevention and much more – all of which is specifically designed around the midlife changes in our bodies and the impact of hormones on our physical health and mental wellbeing at this stage of our life. A wonderful side effect of this work for many is better mental health, confidence, clarity, and a restored belief that there is not only life but vitality in the 3rd age of our lives.
Sarah’s knowledge and expertise in this specialist field has resulted in numerous appearances on radio, contribution to editorial features and speaking at female centric health events alongside other experts in and advocates for women’s health. Sarah is a champion for women in their midlife, their health, their wellbeing, and their empowerment to navigate their own journey in the healthiest way possible.
Founder & CEO MCCP The Independent Strategy Agency
Kay is the founder and CEO of MCCP The Independent Strategy Agency.
She is a recognised leader in brand and innovation strategy, having worked with many of Ireland’s best known local and international brands to enable them to grow through being relevant for their consumers; including The Wild Atlantic Way for the Tourism bodies, Heineken Ireland, An Post, AIB, Smurfit Kappa, Aer Lingus, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and the Department of Health.
Kay and her team have led the research and strategy for number of female health initiatives including Breastcheck, the Women’s Health Task Force report in 2021 and the research to inform the Menopause campaign in 2022 developed by the Department of Health.
Kay is an international speaker and thought leader having spoken at Cannes International Advertising Festival in Cannes and Eurobest in Helsinki.
Business Development Strategist, Great Place to Work
Fania Stoney is the Business Development Strategist with Great Place to Work. She is an experienced B2B strategist, leader and founder.
She works closely with organisations from a range of industries, maintaining collaborative relationships across multiple stakeholders to create Great Workplaces and high performing environments for employees. This involves analysis of data and the lived employee experience, benchmarking, and identifying current strengths and opportunities. Her passion is creating high performing work cultures where people thrive, and organisations sustainably deliver.
She is talent obsessed, a culture branding strategist, and an advocate for female leadership. She has a specific expertise in organisational culture, practices and change. She has spearheaded Ireland’s Best Workplace for Women for the past five years. This premium recognition awards organisations who, while creating a Great Place to Work For All, are focused on delivering for their female employees so they can build long lasting, fulfilling careers.
Midwife Cork University Maternity Hospital & member of the INMO Executive Council
Lynda Moore is a midwife who works as part of the Domino Service at Cork University Maternity Hospital. She is also a member of the INMO Executive Council.
Lynda trained as a nurse and midwife in the North of Ireland and completed a BSc Nursing in UCD in 1996.
Head of Health & Welfare Division at Fórsa
Ashley Connolly is the Head of the Health & Welfare division at Fórsa.
Fórsa is Ireland’s largest public service union with over 80,000 members in health, education, local government, the civil service and other State agencies.
With 20 years’ experience working in a hospital environment prior to working with Fórsa, Ashley is uniquely placed to tackle the challenges facing the country's health staff. Ashley is also the union's Equality officer and has been a driving force behind a newly launched cross-union campaign on menstrual and menopausal welfare at work entitled 'Stop the Stigma'.
Menopause Mentor, Yoga teacher and advocate for women’s wellness
Shantie Tedjal Carroll is a qualified Hatha, Yin and Yoga for Menopause teacher, Menopause Mentor and co-founder of both the Cork Menopause Support Group on facebook and Women’s Shed Cork South Lee. Originally from The Netherlands Shantie has made Cork her home since 2004.
Shantie has 20+ years Yoga experience and also trained as a life coach to help mentor other ladies with midlife challenges.
When Menopause began, Shantie worked with her GP to find the best hormone supplements to combat an array of new symptoms. She firmly believes that healthcare professionals should always be consulted when a health crisis is experienced.
Through her work Shantie creates Yoga movement plans for midlife women, organises menopause workshops and hosts mini day retreats. All of these are designed to encourage women to move more mindfully and to understand how to effectively advocate for themselves so they may receive the healthcare they need and deserve in order to bloom during their second Spring.
Whilst yoga in itself is by no means a cure for ailments or diseases, Shantie believes that everyone can gain plenty of benefits from practising yoga and that both Yoga and Meditation are transformative practices that bring calmness, control and a greater sense of peace within one’s self. Yoga can become a guiding light, a compass for our lives.
Employee Wellbeing Manager at Bus Éireann
Martin Gillick is the Employee Wellbeing Manager at Bus Éireann with responsibility for the delivery of Bus Éireann’s Health and Wellbeing initiatives to staff nationally. With over 30 years’ experience in training development and delivery, Martin holds an MSc. in Mental Health, is an authorised critical incident stress management peer support instructor, WRAP facilitator, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and holds numerous other qualifications including suicide and self-harm mitigation.
Martin is also an external examiner for South East Technological University.
He previously work for St John of God Hospital as the Programme Manager for Mental Health First Aid Ireland and was formerly a senior Employee Support Officer in the Defence Forces working at Defence Headquarters. He provided a wide arrange of support to military personnel and their families and co-ordinated and supported a team of 23 Support officers and 7 Social workers across the Defence Forces.
He has previously sat on the Defence Forces Mental Health and Wellbeing working group and provided advice and guidance to the general staff (Senior Management) in matters relating to mental health and wellbeing strategy. Additionally Martin trained and co-ordinated the Defence Forces critical Incident support teams.
He had developed and delivered numerous programmes in the areas of mental health, wellbeing and peer support both within the Defence Forces and to other agencies and private industry.
The inimitable Deirdre O’Kane will comically close out the day with a 30 minute set musing on all things menopause, midlife and the maelstrom that is modern living.
| 8.50 - 9.40am | Registration & coffee | |
| 9.40 - 9.50am | Welcome address | Sinéad McNamara, Founder National Menopause Summit |
| 9:50 - 10.00am | Introduction & welcome to Session One | Gráinne Seoige, MC National Menopause Summit |
SESSION ONE - MENOPAUSE & THE WORKPLACE |
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| 10.00 - 10.20am | Let’s begin: Perimenopause, menopause & postmenopause defined | Dr Sumi Dunne, GP & Clinical Lecturer in General Practice RCSI |
| 10.20 - 10.40am | Menopause: Gender, equality, safety & wellness at work | Katie Ridge BL, Head of Employer Relations Adare HRM |
| 10.40 - 11.00am | Why menopause in the workplace matters | Loretta Dignam, CEO & Founder The Menopause Hub |
| 11.00 - 11.30am | PANEL: Menopause & the workplace - research, innovation & support | Ashley Connolly, Head of Health & Welfare Division FORSA Lynda Moore, Midwife CUMH & member of the INMO Executive Council Goretti Sheridan, Superintendent An Garda Síochána Martin Gillick, Employee Wellbeing Manager Bus Éireann Kay McCarthy, Founder & CEO MCCP The Independent Strategy Agency Fania Stoney, Business Development Strategist Great Place to Work |
| 11.30 - 11.50am | Networking coffee break | |
| 11.50 - 12.10pm | Bank of Ireland: Implementation case study | Joanne Healy, Head of Group Employee Relations Bank of Ireland |
| 12.10 - 12.30pm | The FemTech Revolution: delivering innovation in menopause | Dr Tanya Mulcahy, Director Health Innovation Hub Ireland, Founder Femtech Ireland |
| 12.30 - 1.10pm | MODERATED PANEL DISCUSSION FOLLOWED BY AUDIENCE Q&A | |
| 1.10 - 2.00pm | Networking Lunch | |
SESSION TWO - THE JOURNEY THROUGH MENOPAUSE |
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| 2.00 - 2.05pm | Welcome to Session Two | Gráinne Seoige, MC National Menopause Summit |
| 2.05 - 2.50pm | Mariella Frostrup in conversation with Grainne followed by short audience Q&A | |
| 2.50 - 3.10pm | Menopause health: Symptoms & solutions | Dr Karen Soffe, Joint Clinical Lead Complex Menopause Clinic CUMH |
| 3.10 - 3.30pm | Complex menopause: Navigating the journey | Dr Brenda Moran, Joint Clinical Lead Complex Menopause Clinic CUMH |
| 3.30 - 3.50pm | Sex, exercise & pelvic health | Shalini Wiseman, Chartered Physiotherapist in Pelvic Heatth & Continence |
| 3.50 - 4.10pm | Networking coffee break | |
| 4.10 - 4.30pm | Menopause & nutrition | Aveen Bannon, Founder & Dietician at Dublin Nutrition Centre & Dr Samantha Cushen, Lecturer Researcher and CORU Registered Dietician at UCC |
| 4.30 - 4.50pm | Menopause & mental health: Managing brain fog, anxiety & stress | Dr Máire Finn, GP Educator Broadcaster |
| 4.50 - 5.20pm | PANEL DISCUSSION: Menopause health & wellness | Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion Information & Training Irish Heart Foundation Fiona Weldon, Capacity Officer, Independent Living Movement Ireland Siobhan O'Donovan, Chartered Physiotherapist Creator & Founder PostureFitting Physiotherapy Service Dr Brian Kennedy, GP & Founder HRT Prescribers in the GP Telegram Group; Sarah Alcock, Founder PrimeFit by Sarah Dr Caoimhe Hartley, Clinical Lead Rotunda Menopause Clinic Shantie Tedjal-Carroll, Menopause Mentor, Yoga teacher and advocate for women’s wellness |
| 5.20 - 6.00pm | MODERATED PANEL DISCUSSION FOLLOWED BY AUDIENCE Q&A | |
| 6.00 - 6.10pm | Summit ends - closing remarks | Sinéad McNamara, Founder National Menopause Summit |
How you transform your business as technology, consumer, habits industry dynamics change? Find out from those leading the charge. How you transform
How you transform your business as technology, consumer, habits industry dynamics change? Find out from those leading the charge. How you transform
How you transform your business as technology, consumer, habits industry dynamics change? Find out from those leading the charge. How you transform
How you transform your business as technology, consumer, habits industry dynamics change? Find out from those leading the charge. How you transform
Seating will be allocated at the event.
If you wish to sit beside another guest or to attend with a group, please ensure to book all tickets under the same order.
Registration/ticketing queries:
hello@nationalmenopausesummit.com
For partnership or group bookings enquiries please contact
Sinéad McNamara | 087 77 33 199 | sinead@bestinfest.ie
For media enquiries please contact
Shell Holden | 086 15 22 200 | shell@bestinfest.ie
Date: Friday, 20 October 2023 – Full Day Event
Venue: City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork
We are delighted to announce that The National Menopause Summit 2024 will take place 11 & 12 April at the Aviva Stadium Dublin.
On sale date to be announced soon.
To register your interest in next year's Summit please input your details here.
For all event updates please follow us on insta and facebook @wearebestinfest
