The Breakfast Clubs are our Leadership Event Series. They create spaces for people in the sector, at all levels of their own Leadership journeys, to come together, hear some new ideas from other leaders in the sector and connect. They start with a fireside chat with two people with experience on a particular topic. We have a mix of leaders from within the sector and other experts in certain areas. Themes are be overarching and applicable to anyone on a leadership journey. After, we host facilitated roundtables with the audience to help people reflect on what they’ve heard and get to know others in their community.
Making it to the top is great, but who are we bringing with us? And what are we doing to make sure they have the same opportunities we have? That the playing field is equal?
As the world turns on DEI now more than ever we need to understand our roles and responsibilities as allies and to recognize our roles as individuals and leaders.
We will be joined by two speakers who are actively committed to being allies and reflecting on their journey.
This event is free to attend and open to anyone working in the community, voluntary charity or social enterprise space, in any role, at any level. You just have to register to attend.
The Leadership Academy Breakfast Clubs are available to anyone in the community, voluntary, nonprofit, or social enterprise space at any level, from volunteer to CEO. The events are free and delivered both online and in-person to allow for accessibility. We’ve had just under 600 people attend our events in 2023.
Our attendee profiles show an ongoing mix of people at varying stages of their leadership journey from emerging leaders and young people considering a future career in the sector, to senior leaders with years of experience. We also have everyone from volunteers in the sector, to consultants working with the sector as well as staff in the sector. We invite anyone at any stage of their own leadership journey with an interest in the sector to attend.
Academic, author, public speaker
CEO of the Irish Cancer Society
Fine Gael Councillor/ She Builds People
CEO Carmichael
CEO UCD Professional Academy
CEO Childrens Books Ireland
Co-Founder Black and Irish
CEO Mantra Strategy
Senior Manager Crosscare
Biodynamic Psychotherapist
CEO Open Doors Initiative
The Trussel Trust
CEO NOVAS
Foroige
Nonprofit Consultant
CEO of the ISPCC
CEO of the Daughters of Charity Child and Family Services
Campaigner and Strategy Specialist
Director of Advocacy and Research at The Wheel
Head of Ethics and Governance, Chartered Accountants Ireland
CEO of Dóchas
CEO of Nano Nagle Place
CEO of Airfield Estate
CEO of Coolmine Therapeutic Community
Former Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Contrary to popular belief the Breakfast Clubs were not called after Breakfast, even though it plays a valuable part in our day. It was actually called after the fabulous 1985 John Hughes movie.
In the movie five complete strangers find themselves becoming friends after spending a lengthy detention together. We had an idea that we wanted to make spaces for people from all across the sector with nothing obvious in common, to get together and connect. ‘Like that movie the Breakfast Club’, Sharon said to Mairead, and that is how The Breakfast Club stuck!