2018 has been an exciting, productive, challenging and though provoking year. On the Facilitation front the biggest highlight was to have led the design team and been the Event Moderator for the 2nd European Ideas Lab in Brussels. It was particularly gratifying given that I had performed the same roles for the 1st Brussels European Ideas Lab and the Dublin European Ideas Lab , both in 2017. The 2nd European Ideas Lab attracted over 500 participants from across Europe, which brought together change-makers from all over Europe. Everyday activists, civil society organisations, citizens’ movements, artists, ecopreneurs and Green innovators to explore ways of bringing about positive change in society.
On the mediation front, 2018 was the year that the Mediation Act finally came into force. I have continued to work as PR consultant to the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII) on how we can promote the awareness and use of mediation and this included the development of an excellent mediation promotion video
As a LEO Fingal Business mentor I have been struct by the number of people, particularly women who have attended the business clinic with me this year who see the benefit of setting up a business using their skills to create a more rewarding and better “life balance” career.
It has been a hugely challenging year for horticulture and in my role as Coordinator of the Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF) I have spent a lot of time working on the impact that severe weather events caused during 2018. Storm Emma and the summer drought caused huge problems for Irish growers. Margins and difficulties with recruitment of labour are also pressing issues for the industry. However. the HIF has grown in strength over its short four year life and we are beginning to turn things around. I am optimistic that despite Brexit that HIF will change a struggling industry into a thriving one over the coming years.
Climate Change is both a personal and business issue for me. It is simply the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced. The enormity of the challenge is beginning to infiltrate every government but remedial action has continued to lag way behind where it needs to be. Let’s hope that 2019 marks the year when the world and all its peoples harness their collective energies to tackle it. Níl neart go cur le chéíle!
Finally, I would like to wish my clients and colleagues a hearty “Nollaig shona agus Athbliain faoi mhaise daoibh!”
