Diversity & Inclusion in the Irish context

Our panel welcomes inclusion leaders for a candid discussion around what diversity means in the Irish context & how we can improve.

Our panel welcomes inclusion leaders with vastly different lived experiences of social exclusion for a candid discussion around what diversity means in the Irish context and how we can better serve those who are most underrepresented in Ireland.

We’re certain that this event will be of value to folks from all backgrounds, disciplines and interests. We welcome all attendees with genuine interest, curiosity, open-mindedness and respect to this topic. Most impactful for those working in the D&I and social justice space.

Speakers we welcome to our panel include:

Clare Kennelly | Founder at Inclusive World Training
Clare Kennelly is the founder of Inclusive World Training which is a Diversity and Inclusion training provider. She has given talks and delivered training at VMWare, DePuy Synthes, The Kingsley and Fota Hotel Collection, Institute of Banking, CUBS, CIT and more. She is also the presenter of the DisruptAbility podcast, which is a disability educational and information platform for all stakeholders. Clare is vision impaired and her professional goal is to make Cork a leader in Inclusion and a great place to live and work for all.

Paul McKeon | activist for Dublin’s Inner City local indigenous community
Paul McKeon is a native and activist for Dublin’s Inner City local indigenous community. He is a Higher Executive Officer in the Civil Service and an Equality specialist with demonstrable experience of advancing issues through a Legal, Policy and Civil Society context across a range of issues relating to housing, education, poverty, disability, and socio-economic discrimination. Spurred on from his own lived experience of socio-economic discrimination from growing up in social housing flat complexes in Inner City Dublin, Pauls work and advocacy which he carries out in a personal capacity around the case for the inclusion of a socio-economic status ground in Irish Equality Legislation led to a commitment from the State for its inclusion in the Programme for Government in 2020.

In 2021, Paul is driving a campaign to add socio-economic status in Equality legislation and is part of the Add the10th socio-economic ground alliance which is working on driving the issue forward . Paul’s work on making the case for adding Socio-Economic Status as a 10th Ground to Irish Equality Law is featured in the Institute of International & European Affairs think tank ‘Emerging Voices’. Before entering into the Civil Service, Paul also worked in a community development setting in Inner City Dublin and also spent time working in Child Protection as a Social care key worker within a number of residential units for young adults in care.
Further panelists are to be announced.

Topics of discussion and learnings will include:

• What does diversity mean in the Irish context

• Why is important in Ireland

• Dismantling the “hierarchy of diversity”

• Practical tips for meaningfully engaging with underrepresented groups

Injustice and underrepresentation of diverse groups is defined by the unique historical, political, economic and cultural aspects of different places.