For the first time ever, Mason Alexander sponsored this year’s Society of Young Solicitors Conference! This amazing weekend took place on the 18th to the 19th November, in The Galmont Hotel & Spa, Galway.

This year’s theme for the SYS Conference was ‘Diversity & Inclusion’, and there were some incredible speakers at this year’s event.

Speakers:

Joy-Tendai Kangere

Topic: “The Path to Equity and Justice"

Joy-Tendai is a Barrister, writer, trainer, Founder, dedicated activist, and advocate inspired by the African principle of Ubuntu which speaks to community, unity, respect, and dignity. In 2019 she co-founded Roots in Africa-Ireland, a grass-roots organisation aimed at empowering young people of African Descent. Joy-Tendai is fuelled by being community-focused and authentically using her voice to elevate everyone that she connects with.

Joy-Tendai regularly contributes to topics of race, justice, and equity as well as being called upon for her expertise in justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She also holds membership of the Employment Bar Association (EBA), Employment Law Association of Ireland (ELAI) Climate Bar Association, Black Women In Law (BWIL), Tax Bar Association, EU Bar Association, and European Circuit.

Maeve Delargy

Topic: "LGBT+ Parenting and the Law"

Maeve is a Senior Associate at Philip Lee on the Planning & Environmental team. She is a mum of two but only a parent of one! She loves a good committee and is a Founding Committee Member of OUTLaw, Chair of the IWLA Climate Subcommittee, Treasurer of the European Women Lawyers Association, Founder of Lesbian Lawyers Network, and Law Society Council member.

Robbie Lawlor

Topic: “Living with HIV / Intellectual property and inequitable access to medical technology”

Robbie became active within the HIV community since his diagnosis in 2012. Robbie is a member of European AIDS Treatment Group, co-host of the PozVibe Podcast, and is co-founder of Access to Medicines Ireland. Robbie is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Dublin City University and has a particular interest in grassroots activism and the access to medicines movement in Eastern Europe. His research explores HIV/HEP C treatment activism in Ukraine.

Mary-Kate Slattery

Topic: “Mental Health Reform”

Mary-Kate is a boxer with four boxing titles under her belt, along with a law degree and Master of Philosophy from Trinity College. When she was just nine years, she developed anorexia and spent time in and out of Crumlin children’s hospital in Dublin before eventually having to go to London to receive treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. She now uses the platform she has gained from boxing to speak out about her struggle with mental health and acts as a mental health advocate.

Raffle Winner

A big congratulations to Niamh Shanahan, from A&L Goodbody who won a Brown Thomas gift voucher!

This was such a fun event to sponsor and to attend! Thanks so much to all the incredible speakers, to everyone who attended, and to the SYS Committee for picking Mason Alexander as their sponsor this year and for putting together an unforgettable event!

Check out some of the pictures below.