In honour of International Women's Day 2021 we are delighted to announce the next in our series of Women Who Mean Business events – "Choose to Challenge" on Thursday 11th March at 1pm. We will hear from an expert series of panellists on what their organisations are doing to tackle equality in the workplace.

Panellists:

• Cecilia Ronan, Managing Director & CEO - Citibank
• Louise Phelan, CEO - Phelan Energy Group
• Margot Slattery, Global Diversity and Inclusion Officer – Sodexo

With MC - Andrew Lynch - CEO - Mason Alexander

With our fantastic line up of speakers, we look forward to welcoming you at this webinar! Please register for our event here.

Meet the Panellists

Cecilia Ronan
CEO, Citibank Europe Plc
Citi Country Officer (CCO), Citi Ireland

Cecilia Ronan is the CEO for Citibank Europe Plc & Citi Country Officer (CCO) for Citi Ireland.

In her role as CEO, Cecilia is responsible for delivery of the strategy, robust governance, end to end risk management, prudent financial management, and conduct and culture for CEP. She also she leads the Bank’s relationship with the Central Bank of Ireland and European Central Bank, as it relates to the legal entity. Cecilia also serves as Executive Director for CEP. CEP employs over 10,000 people across 22 countries.

She was appointed CCO for Citi Ireland in 2018, overseeing 2,500 people. As CCO, Cecilia works with Product and Function Heads to design, execute and embed the business strategy in Ireland. She leads and is accountable for the management of risk and controls and protecting and enhancing Citi’s brand in the Irish market. In addition, she is responsible for the attraction, development and retention of the outstanding people that Citi’s values, business and strategy require.

Cecilia joined Citi in 2000 in Human Resources. In 2012, she was appointed Head of the Citi Service Centre and CAO for Ireland, where she led a team of 1,900 Operations and Technology professionals. Most recently Cecilia has been Chief Administrative Officer for CEP providing strategic and operational support for the entity.

Prior to that, Cecilia worked in Microsoft Ireland and across a range of roles in Government and NGOs in Africa where she grew up.

Cecilia has a Bachelor of Civil Law from University College Dublin and a Masters in HR from Leicester University. Cecilia is a Vice-Chair of the FSI Executive Board, Member of the Board of National College of Ireland, Member of IBEC National Council, and Industry Advisory Committee for the Ireland for Finance Strategy, and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers.​

MARGOT SLATTERY
Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Sodexo Group

As the Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the Sodexo Group, a world leader in integrated facilities services, Margot has responsibility for the strategic direction, implementation and alignment of its integrated global diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Limerick-born Margot joined Sodexo Ireland in the early 1990s and prior to her current role, was country president of Sodexo Ireland from 2015-2019. For her work in championing successful inclusive leadership in Ireland, Margot was regularly listed on the Financial Times’ Top 100 LGBT Business Leaders and was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite by the French Ambassador to Ireland. She has also been the recipient of many other business and professional awards in Ireland and abroad.

Sodexo delivers services that improve the quality of life to clients in business and industry, education, financial, pharma and healthcare. These include food services, infrastructure build, facilities and estate management, optimising the workplace experience, wellness experiences, personal and homecare services.

Louise Phelan
Renewal Energy (Solar PV), Fintech, Technology, Financial Services, Senior Non-Executive Director

Louise is the CEO of Phelan Energy Group Ltd, an independent solar power producer that brings low cost clean solar PV power to future generations. The team comprising of over 100 specialists delivering affordable, rapidly deployable, and sustainable clean energy worldwide. Currently operating in over 15 international markets from development to operation.

Louise was previously Vice President for International Payments for PayPal, the world’s leading online payment company, with over 300 million active accounts. She was the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland in 2014. She’s also the Senior non-executive director at Ryanair Airline (2012 to date).

Louise was the Government appointee to the Action Plan for Jobs Implementation Group 2016 & 2017. And she is also the Government appointee to TLAC (Top Leave Appointments Committee 2020-2023).

Louise was a member of the National Competitiveness Council (2016 - 2017). Prior to joining PayPal, held several leadership positions in General Electric, in the areas of compliance, credit, sales and risk assessment & customer service. Louise started her career in James Crean Mars Distribution Limited.