Chamber News

Danske Bank Deputy CEO joins NI Chamber Board

Vicky Davies, Deputy Chief Executive at Danske Bank, has been appointed to the Board of NI Chamber.

Vicky is Deputy CEO and Managing Director of Strategy & Corporate Development at the Bank, where she has held senior positions since joining in 2012.

This latest appointment will see her join the Board which currently includes representatives from Allstate NI, Danske Bank, Devenish Group, ESB Group, EY, Henry Group, McAvoy Group, Pinsent Masons and Ulster Carpets Group.

NI Chamber & NIE Networks launch 2020 ‘Regional Networking Series’

NI Chamber has launched its 2020 Regional Networking Series, in partnership with NIE Networks. The series of five large scale networking events will see the initiative travel to North Down, Lisnaskea, Coleraine, Armagh and Ballygally. The first event in the series took place at The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, in February.

Now in its fourth year, the series is an opportunity for delegates to build connections during a structured networking session followed by a business development discussion and Q&A with a prominent member of the local business community.

In 2020, over 500 business people are expected to take the opportunity to enhance their network and explore new business prospects through the series.

Right: Valerie McConville (NI Chamber) with Paul Stapleton and Edel Creery from NIE Networks.

Left: John Healy and Ian Henry welcome Vicky Davies to the Board of NI Chamber.

NI Chamber’s International Division hosts R&D forum

NI Chamber recently held an International Collaborative Forum hosted by Grant Thornton. Over 30 members of the business community attended the Collaborative Forum, which focused on Research and Development as a catalyst for global growth.

The two hour forum brought together Northern Ireland exporters, enabling attendees to hear the international growth story of Sensata, recent winner of the Research and Development award at the AIB Business Eye Awards and innovative manufacturer, Environmental Street Furniture. Delegates also had the opportunity to learn from International Champions, A&L Goodbody, Grant Thornton and Queen’s University Belfast.

Catriona Henry (NI Chamber), Dermot Leonard (Queen’s University Belfast), Robin Montgomery (Sensata Technologies), Jonathan Hacking (A&L Goodbody), Peter Legge (Grant Thornton), Alan Lowry (Environmental Street Furniture) and Tanya Anderson (NI Chamber).

Spotlight on Ulster Carpets Managing Director

Nick Coburn CBE, Managing Director of the highly successful Portadown based manufacturer, Ulster Carpets, shared his inspirational leadership journey with local business leaders at the recent CEO Spotlight Series hosted by NI Chamber and partner KPMG. A former NI Chamber President, Nick joined Ulster Carpets in 1977 and held various positions in the company before advancing to Managing Director.

The CEO Spotlight series aims to encourage business growth by bringing together senior business people and high potential leaders, to exchange views and learn from their peers in an intimate setting.

Left: Neil O’Hare (KPMG), Louise Turley (NI Chamber) and Nick Coburn (Ulster Carpets).