Climate risk, evolving regulation, investor expectations and customer demands are reshaping the way organisations compete and grow.
Competitiveness and sustainability are no longer separate business issues. They are increasingly interconnected, influencing customer decisions, investment, supply chains, regulation and long-term business success.
This conference will examine how leading businesses are embedding sustainability into strategy.
Join industry leaders as they explore how organisations are responding to climate-related challenges, strengthening resilience, creating competitive advantage, and positioning themselves for future growth in a rapidly changing business environment.
Leave with concrete ideas, examples and tools.
Mark your calendar and be part of the conversation driving sustainability across the Mid-West.
Conference Programme
Conference MC: Barry Gavin, Chair, Mid-West Sustainability Network
08.30: Registration & Networking
09.00: Welcome and Introductions
Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber
09:15 Session 1: Winning Business Through Transition Planning
Speaker Tbc
This session will explore the practical realities of developing and implementing a carbon transition plan, the key drivers prompting companies to develop transition plans, the practical steps involved, and balancing regulatory and sustainability ambitions with commercial realities. The implications of the forthcoming ISO 9001 revision will also be addressed, also why sustainability and transition planning are becoming increasingly connected to how businesses demonstrate quality, resilience, competitiveness and responsible business practice.
10:00 Session 2: Futureproofing Your Business
Aidan Kelly, Senior EHS Engineer, Edwards Lifesciences
This session will provide practical guidance for businesses that are only beginning to consider climate adaptation, including where to start and the simple tools and frameworks that can help bring climate risk into mainstream business strategy. It will show how businesses can prepare for the growing impact of climate risk while strengthening resilience and protecting long-term competitiveness. The physical risks of climate change – including heat, flooding, water stress and infrastructure disruption – and the transition risks created by changing legislation, policy, markets and technology, will also be addressed. Building the business case for resilience beyond traditional ROI measures, as well as how climate adaptation can be aligned with regulatory requirements and wider local and national planning will feature.
10.45 Coffee Break
11:00 Session 3: Strengthening Supply Chains
Sean McCaffrey, Supplier Performance and Sustainability Manager, Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail
This session will demonstrate the real impact of sustainable procurement in Iarnród Éireann, by addressing:
- What is Sustainability Procurement?
- New and upcoming Legislation – Greenwashing legislation, CBAM, EUDR, CSDDD, Battery Passports, ESPR and new EU Public Procurement Directive (if it’s released in time).
- Engagement with suppliers – Supply Chain Sustainability School, IÉ Sustainability Week, IÉ Sustainability Awards, IÉ Anti – Slavery Week and Carbon Reporting
- Social Value in Procurement
This session will include a case study by David Courtney, Senior Acoustic Consultant and Technical Manager at Enfonic. He will share Enfonic’s sustainability journey as an SME, highlighting challenges overcome, tools used and the opportunities encountered.
12:00 Q & A with Presenters
12:15 Keynote Address
Dr. Matt Kennedy, Global Head of Client Transformation, IDA Ireland
Q & A
13:00 Remarks from Anchor Sponsor
13:15 Closing Remarks
Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber
13:30 Networking Lunch
Full programme can be downloaded here: Shannon Chamber Sustainability 2026 1 Oct
Dr. Matt Kennedy
Global Head of Client Transformation, IDA Ireland
Matt Kennedy (PhD) is the Global Head of Client Transformation in IDA Ireland where he leads transformation initiatives with international business, including a portfolio of R&D, digital, sustainability and talent development offerings.
Matt is a Fellow (FIEMA), chartered environmentalist and energy engineer with over 25 years’ experience in delivering national and international climate and innovation initiatives across government, industry and academia.
Matt was Lead Negotiator for the European Union at the UN Paris Agreement (COP21) negotiations and was previously Chair of the UNEP’s Climate Technology Centre.
Matt has worked with the United Nations on clean energy and transport projects across Africa, Asia and Middle East and was previously Arup’s Sustainable Development Leader for Europe and led climate change services within infrastructure, buildings and cities.
He holds a PhD in Engineering from Trinity College Dublin, and Masters degrees from University of Galway and University College Dublin. Matt is a member of the Government’s Climate Change Advisory Council and is an experienced independent non-executive Director.
Seán McCaffrey
Supplier Performance and Sustainability Manager, Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail
Seán McCaffrey is the Supplier Performance and Sustainability Manager, Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail Procurement Department, where he leads the integration of sustainability, Social Value and responsible procurement across major contracts.
His work focuses on using procurement as a strategic tool to deliver measurable environmental, social and economic outcomes. He has played a key role in developing and implementing Iarnród Éireann’s approach to Social Value Creation, supplier carbon reporting, sustainable supply chain management and emerging initiatives such as the CO₂ Performance Ladder. His work is helping to embed sustainability requirements across hundreds of millions of euros of procurement activity and major long-term investment programmes.
Seán holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership from Technological University Dublin. In 2026, he was appointed Chair of the Sustainable Procurement Working Group of the European Railways Purchasing Conference (ERPC), bringing together railway organisations from across Europe to share best practice and advance sustainable procurement, ESG, supply chain resilience and responsible sourcing.
He is a regular speaker on sustainable procurement, Social Value and supply chain sustainability and works collaboratively with public bodies, industry organisations and suppliers to promote practical approaches that deliver measurable impact.
In 2026, Seán was shortlisted for Sustainable Procurement Champion of the Year at the National Procurement Awards, alongside a number of Iarnród Éireann procurement initiatives recognised across sustainability, innovation, collaboration and people development categories.
Seán is particularly passionate about ensuring that major public investment leaves a positive legacy, creating opportunities for communities, supporting a more sustainable and resilient supply chain, reducing environmental impacts and ensuring that procurement delivers value that extends well beyond the goods and services being purchased.
David Courtney
Technical Manager (Acoustics), Enfonic
David Courtney is a Senior Acoustic Consultant and Technical Manager at Enfonic, where he leads the delivery of acoustic consultancy services across Ireland.
Alongside his technical role, David and the Enfonic Team have been closely involved in Enfonic's sustainability initiatives and the journey to Gold Membership at the Irish Sustainability School. This has helped to embed sustainable practices throughout the business.
He will share Enfonic's sustainability journey as an SME, highlighting challenges overcome, tools used and the opportunities encountered.”
Aidan Kelly
Senior EHS Engineer, Edwards Lifesciences
Aidan Kelly is a Senior Engineer in Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability at Edwards Lifesciences Ireland, supporting manufacturing operations across the Limerick and Shannon sites.
With more than 10 years of experience in the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, he specialises in environmental management systems, sustainability programmes, regulatory compliance, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 governance, audit readiness, carbon reduction initiatives and EHS leadership.
At Edwards, Aidan has played a key role in advancing the company's environmental sustainability agenda, including support for the Ireland Climate Roadmap 2030, carbon reduction programmes, energy efficiency projects, sustainability reporting, environmental compliance and employee engagement initiatives. He has also led and supported implementation of environmental management systems, energy audit activities and community engagement.
Under the Edwards Ireland sustainability programme, the sites have achieved several notable environmental milestones, and continues to progress towards:
• 100% renewable electricity
• Zero waste to landfill
• LEED Gold certified manufacturing facility, the first manufacturing location in Ireland to achieve this certification
• ISO 14001 certified environmental management system
• Rainwater harvesting and water reuse initiatives
• Active participation in the Smarter Travel programme and sustainable commuting initiatives
• Ongoing delivery of Edwards' Carbon Neutral 2030 commitments through energy reduction and decarbonisation projects.
