Empowering Future Generations of Women Leaders

Speakers

Shona McCarthy, CEO Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Shona McCarthy joined the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society as Chief Executive in March 2016. Shona has championed Edinburgh’s Fringe as the world’s leading open access, performing arts festival and founded on the principle of freedom of expression. From 2011-2014 she was Chief Executive of the Culture Company, leading on Derry - Londonderry’s transformational year as UK City of Culture. Prior to that she was Director of the British Council Northern Ireland. She also spent many years as Chief Executive of Cinemagic Film Festival for young people, Belfast; and the Foyle Film Festival, Derry; and was Head of Exhibition at the Northern Ireland Film Council. Shona has 28 years’ experience of working in senior leadership positions and was awarded a prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship for Innovation in 2014 and a NESTA cultural leadership award which took her to work with Naveen Kishore and the Seagull Foundation for the Arts in Calcutta in 2007.

Saoirse Stankard, Causeway Young Professionals' Co

Saoirse Stankard is a Solicitor and Notary Public at Anderson Strathern and has been recognised for bridging industry lines between law and technology. Saoirse is also a member of the Code First: Girls Community and has been an Ambassador on behalf of the social enterprise. Saoirse developed an interest in technology at the University of Edinburgh and took evening classes in HTML, CSS and Python programming and has been awarded a London Metal Exchange scholarship to further my technical skills. Saoirse has co-ordinated community events with partners including IBM, InclusIQ and Skyscanner. Saoirse has also been selected to participate in the Legal Geek Mentoring Programme recognising future leadership potential.

Stefanie O'Gorman, Ramboll

Stefanie is the Director of Economics with Ramboll. Stefanie’s consulting experience (supported by academic training in environmental management, natural sciences and economics) spans the planning, technical delivery, and management of policy and infrastructure projects. Most recently she has focused on the economics of cities and urban settlements with a view to delivering valuable and tangible social and environmental outcomes through improved design and delivery of infrastructure, the creation of investable propositions, alongside significant stakeholder, community and third sector engagement. Her work in this area concentrations on environmental and social outcomes and how to support client in making ‘better’ decision. Stefanie is from Dublin, but has lived in Scotland for the last 20 years.