Kate Marshall - Chair

Kate is a highly experienced Facilitator and Executive Coach with over 20 years of working at senior levels in a variety of blue chip organisations and SME’s.

In the last 18 months Kate has worked as a Facilitator, Coach and Mentor to Executives, Boards and Leadership teams in Ireland, UK and North America. Kate has just recently stepped down from her role as Partner in MaST Ireland where she headed up the Leadership Development team for 12 years.to set up KM Consultancy.

Earlier in her career, Kate gained experience as a leader through various senior executive and Director roles, with particular responsibility for sales, development and business growth. Her passion is building “Business Athletes” – taking executives and teams to the top of their game.

Kate is a speaker for Vistage which is a global executive development organisation. She regularly speaks at Leadership conferences and events on Leadership and achieving personal success. She is passionate about developing young people and acts as mentor for a number of young professionals in Ireland on a voluntary basis.

Kate also serves as Director of Mentoring, facilitator and member of the Leadership Team for Arrow Ireland,

Edel Doherty - Previous Chair

Edel Doherty is Chair of Women in Business NI and Managing Director of the award winning Business Travel Solutions.

During her career, spanning over 20 years, Edel has spearheaded various business initiatives in the travel sector which led her to pursue her own venture in 2010. Business Travel solutions is a corporate travel company that offers businesses comprehensive travel management packages. The firm is rated in the top 50 Travel Management Companies in the UK securing it as a major player in the market.

Edel has been a member of the Women in Business NI board since September 2008, during this time she served on numerous works committees and became Chair of WIBNI in March 2010 - December 2012, working closely with the board, CEO and WIBNI team she has helped to take the organisation to the next level.

Tommy Maguire

Tommy co-founded Core with Edward Hanna in 1994 and is now the company's Commercial Director. His ability to build and maintain key relationships with customers and partners has helped Core to secure their strong market position. He has an in-depth understanding of our customers' operating environments and works with customer contacts at all levels of the organisation.

Tommy's natural entrepreneurial flair means he has always been able to recognise opportunity. It was his vision to start Core and his determination and drive ensured the dream became a reality. A strong customer advocate within Core, Tommy believes every project is an opportunity to exceed the customer’s expectations. Leading the company from a commercial standpoint, he ensures that we are committed to meeting our customers' needs and earning their loyalty.

Elaine McKeown

Elaine is the owner of EMK Marketing which trades under the brand name elainemarketing.com. The company provides out sourced marketing services to a broad range of clients across many sectors in N Ireland.

Elaine is an experienced marketing professional with more than 18 years’ experience in senior management positions with a number of corporate organisations. Having gained extensive experience across all aspects of marketing, Elaine expanded the business and is  now the sole agent for Secure Ring.

Secure Ring is the only police approved door chain on the market that is suitable for upvc, composite and wooden doors and Elaine is in the process of building a global network of distributors.  Elaine is seeking to expand the portfolio with a view to assisting entrepreneurs commercialise new products. 

David Elliott

Dr David Elliott has had Senior Management experience in three areas of business. He has worked in the Private Sector within the Corporate Sector as Account Director for BT with the Education Sector, as Regional Director for Amey Business Services and as Regional Manager for DELL Computers Inc. in Northern Ireland.

Dr Elliott is currently serving in the Public Sector as Chair of Libraries Northern Ireland and as a Board Member of the North Eastern Education and Library Board. He has previously served on the Boards of OFCOM, the Educational Guidance Service for Adults, and the University for Industry. He has also served as a School Governor for Grosvenor Grammar School.

David is currently operating within the SME market in Northern Ireland. He is currently the Managing Partner for Resolute Public Affairs and Professional Education Partnership. He is also currently a Sole Trader with DSE Engagement, and a non-Executive Director with Braematech Ltd.

Niamh Shiells

Niamh is founder and Director of Advance Coaching, an experienced Accredited Coach providing Outplacement & Executive Coaching and an Institute of Leadership & Management Centre delivering Coaching and Mentoring qualifications. She has been involved in people development for over twenty years working predominately at Director, CEO and Board level.

Niamh is Chair of Association for Coaching Ireland, the leading professional body for coaching across the island or Ireland. She has been Chair since September 2010 and was a finalist for the AC Honorary Global Award in 2010 for "Influencing Services to the Profession of Coaching".

Niamh was formerly on the board of Directors for Enterprising Women's Network and directly involved in its merger with Women In Business NI in September 2011.

Niamh has considerable business experience working strategically at a senior level within the public and voluntary sector in London and Northern Ireland and has exceptional insight into the executive and business environment. She has been successfully involved in private enterprise for the last ten years partnering in Ace Management an award winning Gas Company and founding and directing Advance Coaching.

www.advancecoach.co.uk
 

Lesley Hogg

AFBI provides essential scientific support to government and other industry bodies through the delivery of statutory testing, internationally recognised R&D and emergency response. Lesley is also a non-Executive Director of Women in Business, a charity supporting and promoting Business Women in NI. 

Imelda McMillan

Imelda McMillan was educated at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry  from 1976 until 1983 and studied law at Queens University, Belfast.

After graduating in 1987 she spent two years in community work in West Belfast as a project co-ordinator. Subsequently, in 1989, she became a trainee solicitor to Garrett O`Reilly of O`Reilly Stewart Solicitors, Belfast. She graduated from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 1991.

In 2000, Imelda became a Partner in O`Reilly Stewart and was appointed Staff Partner  at that time with responsibility for all personnel matters within the firm. She is Head of the Property Department and specialises in Reconstruction of Title, house building developments, apartment schemes including site acquisitions and all aspects of property law.
She was Chairperson of the Non-contentious Business Committee  and Conveyancing and Property Committee and is a long-standing Council member of the Law Society, having previously served on the Home Charter Committee, the Library Committee and the Family Committee. She is currently  the Senior Vice President of the Law Society for 2012/2013.

Nichola Robinson

Nichola Robinson, a procurement professional who has over 22 years experience in Aerospace Supply Chain.

 Currently is a member of the Supply Chain leadership team, Bombardier Aerospace Belfast who leads a team of sourcing professionals with responsibility for the planning and execution of sourcing strategies, managing the introduction of new programmes, work transfer processes and low cost country development. 

Her leadership responsibilities also include Value Engineering within Bombardier Belfast, where she leads a team of engineering and sourcing professionals who develop and implement innovative concepts.  She also represents the supply chain function on the Bombardier strategy team. 

A graduate in Management Operations from University of Jordanstown, she also has a professional coaching qualification, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. 
 

Roseann Kelly - CEO

Roseann joined Women in Business NI soon after the organisation was formed in 2002. Her role as Chief Executive has evolved as she has also taken on the responsibility of Vice Chair, Treasure, Co-ordinator and Company Secretary.

Having been employed in marketing director and managing director roles, Roseann also established her own marketing consultancy before joining Women in Business NI. Her goal is to grow the membership to 1,000 ahead of the organisation’s 10th anniversary later this year.

Roseann presides on the board of the Community Women’s Fund NI, was awarded a Belfast Business Fastest Top 50 award in 2011 for her work at WIBNI and she was recently presented an Award by Minister Arlene Foster for Services to Enterprise at Young Entrepreneur Awards.