Northwest Connects 2009 brought together over 120 entrepreneurs, innovators and business people
Speed-networking kicked off the day
Speed Networking continues
Signing up for the 5x5 talks
Speaker Seamus Farrell of SF Engineering during his talk
Rob Martin of Infacta speaking on e-mail marketing
Johnny Beirne speaking to audience at NWC09
Thanks to Colin Gillen of Framelight.ie Photography for covering the event. We will be uploading pictures to a permanent spot on the site shortly
Despite all the gloom surrounding us in recent times – people are still plotting, planning and looking positively to the New Year and new opportunities. Northwest Connects, a grounds-up event – planned on a shoestring – draws over 100 people to the Innovation Centre in IT Sligo this weekend.
The one-day conference aims to connect local creativity, innovation and regional networks and will showcase the expertise in the region through panel discussions and seminars.
Seamus Farrell, MD of SF Engineering, and Sligo Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year, is today confirmed as another speaker for the event. Farrell adds to an impressive and dynamic range of speakers that have been confirmed so far including Drury Communications MD, Padraig McKeon; Robert Martin, CEO of local award-winning e-marketing solutions company Infacta; Innovation and Social Media Consultant, Johnny Beirne; Surf Seeds MD, Tim Rooney; and Justin Knecht of the Centre of Design Innovation.
Northwest Connects acts at a grassroots level to promote innovation, learning and networking for the region. Entrepreneurs, innovators and people with business ideas are registered to attend the event this Saturday in Sligo.
The conference has a strong education and innovation theme, with many networking opportunities set up, three streams of speakers throughout the day and informative and set-to-be lively panel discussions throughout the afternoon.
The conference is being organised by members of Open Coffee Sligo, a casual networking group who are eager to highlight the creative and innovative work of companies and individuals in the North West Region.
“Think Big”
11.00am//Start//Full Schedule
Surf Seeds are a brand new Irish healthy snack food product based in Drunshambo Co. Leitrim. The man behind the product Tim Rooney developed the idea of using sunflower and other seed varieties as a healthy snack food after developing a range of seeded breads for a large supermarket chain.
To date Surf Seeds has been awarded a gold medal at the Great Taste Awards, successfully pitched to RTE’s Dragon’s Den and proved to be a huge hit at the recent International Food Exhibition in London.
“It’s
not PR, it’s communications – the oil that moves the engine”
12:00pm//Share//Full Schedule
Padraig McKeon is Managing Director of Drury, one of larger public relations and communications companies in the Irish market. He has worked as a communications advisor for almost 25 years both in Ireland and overseas during which time he has advised and represented companies in almost every sector, of every size and every profile of ownership or management.
He looks on communications not just as the publicity piece ‘at the end’ but actually as a core skill that should be planned into every part of any business from the smallest to the biggest and which will hugely benefit those businesses that do.
’Farming Out’ – Cultivating a product design and manufacturing network in the northwest.
11.30am//Share Stream//Full Schedule
Leo Scarff Design is a creative studio involved in lighting, furniture and sculptural structures. We work to commission for architects, interior designers, commercial business and private clients as well as promoting a collection of in-house products available to order direct from the studio.
Established in 1997, we have completed a diverse range of projects from office, retail, hospitality, display, and domestic furniture as well as many lighting installations. Ingenuity, quality, functionality, cost effectiveness and environmental responsibility are some of our design criteria.
At the Launch of Northwest Connects Niall McEvoy Head of Innovation, Innovation Centre, BIC, Liam Kiely Assistant CEO, Sligo County Enterprise Board, Joanne Grehan Regional Development Executive, Lookwest/WDC, Photo Colin Gillen/framelight.ie
On Tuesday October 27th Northwest Connects was officially launched at the Innovation Centre, IT Sligo. The launch was attended by conference organisers, Open Coffee Sligo members and key sponsors; the Western Development Commission, Sligo County Enterprise Board, AIB and the Innovation Centre.
The conference will take place on Saturday November 28th in the Innovation Centre at IT Sligo and aims to connect local creativity and regional networks. Entrepreneurs, innovators and people with business ideas are invited to attend the free day-long conference.
Throughout the day, the event will showcase the expertise in the region through panel discussions and seminars. Attendees will be asked to choose seminars and speakers depending on interests or stage of business.
The event is free to attend, however registration is essential as there are limited spaces available. Registration is now open from our website www.northwestconnects.ie
At the Launch of Northwest Connects Sponsors & NWC Conference Organisers - Photo Colin Gillen/framelight.ie
Key speakers confirmed so far include Drury Communications MD, Padraig McKeon; Robert Martin, CEO of local award-winning emarketing solutions company Infacta; Innovation and Social Media Consultant, Johnny Beirne; Surf Seeds MD, Tim Rooney; and Justin Knecht of the Centre of Design Innovation.
Northwest Connects is being organised by members of Open Coffee Sligo, a casual networking group who are eager to highlight the creative and innovative work of companies and individuals in the Northwest Region.
NWC 09 – Closing Thoughts
We still cannot get over the great response and feedback to Northwest Connects last saturday.
As an organising committee – we hoped we had left nothing to chance in the run up; our greatest concern was whether anyone would turn up? We had nearly 130 confirmed registrations and had assumed a natural attrubution rate of up to 30%.
In the end, we had over 120 people attending throughout the day – and to all of you – a huge Thanks – you are the ones that made it a success.
So – What Next?
We’ve taken some time this week to pore over the comment forms – here are some of the overriding themes that are emerging :
With regard to what people learned on the day, points raised included :
Some of the best comments came around the question of what did attendees wish there was more of :
Finally – onto your thoughts on what you would like to see more of in the future, and other tips and reccomendations :
The organising committee (part of Open Coffee Sligo) are currently evaluating all of the comment and feedback, talking with panelists and sponsors – and establishing a plan and format for NWC10.
We would be delighted if you could get in contact with us, if you haven’t done so already – and share more thoughts with us!!