BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.10//EN TZID:Europe/Dublin X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/Dublin BEGIN:VEVENT UID:1-17831@shannonchamber.ie DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261021T083000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261021T143000 DTSTAMP:20261009T151349Z URL:https://www.shannonchamber.ie/events/mid-west-sustainability-network-c onference-2026-save-the-date/ SUMMARY:'Future Ready: Driving Competitiveness in a Changing Climate CONFER ENCE DESCRIPTION:\n\n\nClimate risk\, evolving regulation\, investor expectation s and customer demands are reshaping the way organisations compete and gro w.\nCompetitiveness and sustainability are no longer separate business iss ues. They are increasingly interconnected\, influencing customer decisions \, investment\, supply chains\, regulation and long-term business success. \n\nThis conference will examine how leading businesses are embedding sust ainability into strategy.\nJoin industry leaders as they explore how organ isations are responding to climate-related challenges\, strengthening resi lience\, creating competitive advantage\, and positioning themselves for f uture growth in a rapidly changing business environment.\n\nLeave with con crete ideas\, examples and tools.\nMark your calendar and be part of the c onversation driving sustainability across the Mid-West.\n \;\nConferen ce Programme\nConference MC: Barry Gavin\, Chair\, Mid-West Sustainability Network\n\n08.30:   Registration &\; Networking\n\n09.00:   Welcom e and Introductions\n\n              Helen Downes\, CEO\, Sha nnon Chamber\n\n09:15    Session 1: Winning Business Through Transition Planning\n\nMark Bennett\, Head of Climate Advisory\, Goodbody Clearstream \n\nThis session will explore the practical realities of developing and im plementing 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 im plications of the forthcoming ISO 9001 revision will also be addressed\, a lso why sustainability and transition planning are becoming increasingly c onnected to how businesses demonstrate quality\, resilience\, competitiven ess and responsible business practice.\n\nThis session will include a CASE STUDY delivered by David McKenna\, Head of Sustainability\, ESG &\; Cl imate Strategy for the Built Environment\, John Paul Construction\n\n10:00    Session 2: Futureproofing Your Business\n\nAidan Kelly\, Senior EHS Engineer\, Edwards Lifesciences\n\nThis session will provide practical gui dance for businesses that are only beginning to consider climate adaptatio n\, including where to start and the simple tools and frameworks that can help bring climate risk into mainstream business strategy. It will show ho w businesses can prepare for the growing impact of climate risk while stre ngthening resilience and protecting long-term competitiveness. The physica l risks of climate change - including heat\, flooding\, water stress and i nfrastructure disruption - and the transition risks created by changing le gislation\, policy\, markets and technology\, will also be addressed. Buil ding the business case for resilience beyond traditional ROI measures\, as well as how climate adaptation can be aligned with regulatory requirement s and wider local and national planning will feature.\n\n10.45    Coffe e Break\n\n11:00    Session 3: Strengthening Supply Chains\n\nSean McCa ffrey\, Supplier Performance and Sustainability Manager\, Iarnród Éirean n/Irish Rail\n\nThis session will demonstrate the real impact of sustainab le procurement in Iarnród Éireann\, by addressing:\n\n What is Sustaina bility Procurement?\n New and upcoming Legislation – Greenwashing legis lation\, CBAM\, EUDR\, CSDDD\, Battery Passports\, ESPR and new EU Public Procurement Directive (if it’s released in time).\n Engagement with sup pliers – Supply Chain Sustainability School\, IÉ Sustainability Week\, IÉ Sustainability Awards\, IÉ Anti - Slavery Week and Carbon Reporting\n Social Value in Procurement\n\nThis session will include a CASE STUDY de livered by David Courtney\, Senior Acoustic Consultant and Technical Manag er at Enfonic. He will share Enfonic’s sustainability journey as an SME\ , highlighting challenges overcome\, tools used and the opportunities enco untered.\n\n12:00    Q &\; A with Presenters\n\n12:15  Keynote Addre ss\n\nDr. Matt Kennedy\, Global Head of Client Transformation\, IDA Irelan d\n\nQ &\; A\n\n13:00    Remarks from Anchor Sponsor\n\n13:15    C losing Remarks             \n\n              Hele n Downes\, CEO\, Shannon Chamber\n\n13:30    Networking Lunch\n\nFull p rogramme can be downloaded here:  005504 Shannon Chamber Sustainability 2 026 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.shannonchamber.ie/wp-content/uploads /2026/07/Event-Cover-Page-Website-1-2.png CATEGORIES:Events LOCATION:The Rine Hotel\, Newmarket on Fergus\, Newmarket-on-Fergus\, V95 E PF5\, X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Newmarket on Fergus\, Newma rket-on-Fergus\, V95 EPF5\, ;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=The Rine Hotel:geo :0,0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Dublin X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/Dublin BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260329T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:IST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR