Leaders’ Summit: Corporate Thought Leadership Engagement

"I'm absolutely certain that we are better off devoting our lives, our energy and our work to causes that can unite and that can pull together societies, that can recognise that diversity is strength and recognise that we all have far much more in common than we have what separates us."

This reflection, shared by keynote speaker, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, set the tone for The Open Doors Initiative’s second annual Leaders’ Summit.

Joined by an engaged and enthusiastic group of business leaders at IDA Ireland on 2nd April 2025, discussions focused on the opportunities of inclusion and migration in our current social and economic climate. As Minister Donohoe stated:

“Openness, diversity are strengths not just of an organisation. They're strengths of a country and they are strengths of an economy, and we need to make the case for them.”

Hosted by Dearbhail McDonald, Open Doors CEO Jeanne McDonagh launched the Summit calling on business to lead the discussion for the benefit of all. Attendees heard from Chair of the Open Doors Initiative board, Paddy Hayes, CEO of ESB, as well as a presentation by Lord David Puttnam on the challenges of not doing enough in this area.

Our thought provoking panel discussion featured Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, Danny McCoy, CEO of Ibec, Ángel Bello-Cortés, CEO of Fragomen Ireland, Eamonn Fitzgerald, Head of Social Impact EMEA, Indeed, and Stacey Haide McGrath, CEO of Odyssey Social Care.

Michael Lohan spoke about the importance of creating a welcoming environment:

“Sometimes it's migrating from one part of the country to another. Sometimes it's migrating from the other side of the world, but ultimately it's people. And ultimately people are looking for a new home and new opportunities and we have to welcome them. And we in Ireland have been exceptional doing that, notwithstanding that there has been some noises. But I think we have to make sure as leaders and as individuals that we stand up and we make sure that we have that welcoming voice.”

Reflecting on research that reinforces the need for diversity in business, Eamon Fitzgerald from Indeed said:

“I think first is to embrace some of the points that are in this document, the business case for investment into this community. It is not a nice for nice sake, a DEI play, it is strategic investment from the business standpoint.”

Looking ahead to the future, Danny McCoy shared his thoughts:

“What resources are we putting to actually take this opportunity that we have as an Ireland that is actually, for first time in its history, capable of seeing a bigger population and a more dramatic one? We're really only place on earth to have a lower population today than the 1840s. It's a huge opportunity, to Lord Puttnam's point about having an ambition scale for population and migration. It's a wonderful opportunity. And if we can get our rhetoric to match the finance we have, I think that's what we can do.

The Leaders’ Summit followed on the success of our inaugural event which took place at the House of Lords on 1st February 2024. Jeanne McDonagh introduced the concept of Corporate Social Justice and encouraged attendees to become leaders in this emerging area. Keynote speaker on the day was Simon Coveney TD, then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who shared the importance of responsible business practices to strengthen and sustain the communities in which they operate.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our committed sponsors, Indeed, IDA Ireland, FUEL, Bank of Ireland, Wilson Hartnell, The Core Story, Compass Ireland and EY, along with all of our expert speakers, panellists and guests who have helped make these events a huge success.