The Young Women's Network Committee

The Young Women's Network Committee are here to help raise the voices of the network and grow together.

If you would like to join the committee please email: membership@womeninbusinessni.com for more info

THE COMMITTEE

Christine Carrigan

Committee Chair and Recruitment Consultant at Hays

Christine has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Journalism from Ulster University, contributing to her work as a journalist for a number of years and as a business correspondent for the Belfast Telegraph. Christine transitioned to the business sector where she secured employment as an Associate with Hays Recruitment; within a year Christine has laid the foundations for a successful career within the sector and has been promoted to her current role as Consultant. Through Hays, encouraged by another member of the organisation, Christine joined Women in Business. Christine sees her YWN membership as an exciting opportunity to learn from experienced businesswomen and build relationships with likeminded professionals at varying stages of their careers. Christine is looking forward to helping build on the brand, values, and ethos of the YWN network in her role as Chairperson of the YWN Committee.

Rebecca Reid

Global Marketing and Communications at Synechron

Rebecca graduated from Ulster University in 2018 with a degree in Communication Management and Public Relations, soon after she moved to Dubai for her Global Marketing and Communications role at Synechron – a global financial services company. Whilst relocating to North America and London throughout her time, Rebecca is now working from home in Northern Ireland and is also the Head of Marketing for a Northern Irish start-up business – Caram. Working in parallel at an established global corporation and watching a start-up grow from an idea to a successful business has been a fantastic learning experience for Rebecca and she knows from personal experience, the importance of having great mentors for professional growth and development. “This is one of the main reasons I joined YWN, to be a part of a community that provides a platform for young women to network with successful leaders who have paved the way” says Rebecca, as she hopes to encourage others to be unafraid to go after their goals by campaigning for mentorship and championing women in business.

Megan Lowry

QUB, MSc Marketing Student

Megan is a current MSc Marketing student at Queen’s University Belfast. She developed her interest in the world of business through a work placement as a content writer and the QUB Enterprise SU Programme, InnovateHer, through which she discovered Women in Business. Since then, Megan has taken part in many business events and opportunities to network, which led to her decision to become more involved and join the Young Woman’s Network Committee – “I cannot wait to meet more young entrepreneurial woman and help to shape this organisation to make it bigger and better!”.

Catherine Devine ACA

Advisory Senior at BDO Northern Ireland

Catherine has recently qualified as a Chartered Accountant. However, the path that she took to her position today isn’t exactly the conventional route of most! Catherine joined BDO’s audit department in 2014, fresh out of school at the age of 18 and completed the Higher-Level Apprenticeship with Accounting Technicians Ireland. During this time, Catherine deservedly achieved Apprentice of the year NI and GQ’s Apprentice of the year UK, (while also taking part in an advertising campaign with Direct NI to promote apprenticeships!) In 2016, Catherine passed the IATI exams and continued on her path with Chartered Accountants Ireland and BDO. Fast forward six years and she has gained numerous new experiences, including a period of work in London and Mauritius, “I am so excited to start my role as a Young Women’s Network committee member. It is a privilege for me to be a part of this great network of support for young women”.

Colette Heaney
Marketing and Communications Assistant at Belfast One BID

Colette graduated with a BSc (Hons) Marketing and Professional Practice from Ulster University in 2018. She currently works at Belfast One BID as the Marketing and Communications Assistant and has been in this role for over two years. Colette is honoured to be a Young Women’s Network committee member and is excited to network with ambitious and inspiring women and attend insightful events to expand her knowledge and experience by learning from the best in the industry! Through the committee, Colette hopes to help raise the voices of the network by working alongside others to help create ideas for future events, areas of support and professional development.

Maeve Kelly

Trinity College, Psychology Student

Maeve is a passionate Psychology student, with experience in innovation and leadership, as she was first introduced to the importance of good leadership while participating in the Ulster Project NI, and the Washington Ireland Projects forums. Maeve also recently completed several innovation projects as part of a level 7 certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Trinity. Since then, Maeve has completed a consultancy internship and taken part in different forums and innovation day workshops to develop her professional skills and interest in business - “One of the key things I learned was the importance of networking, mentorship, and support in achieving success”, says Maeve. Being from Belfast and working in the hospitality sector for several years, Maeve loves to meet new people; so, she joined Women in Business to build relationships, and to learn more about how to succeed in the world of business! “I’m really excited to get more involved and join the young women’s committee, working with other ambitious and entrepreneurial young women to help grow the network, support each other and develop our professional profiles together”.

Sophie Hilditch

University Of Ulster, BSC Hons Management Practice Student

Sophie developed an interest in the world of business through her financial and operational working background, while learning about the various routes it can take you in life. Sophie discovered Women in Business whilst searching for opportunities for women in the industry and from speaking with the team to gain further insight to the growing network.  Since then, Sophie has begun her Management Practice studies, from which she has taken part in events to explore the world of business with the valuable opportunities to network. Following these events Sophie decided to become more involved and join the Young Woman’s Network Committee and looks forward to meeting more young entrepreneurial woman, to help promote the network and encourage others to inspire and thrive!

Francesca Morelli

Young Women's Network Representative and Director & Co-Founder at VAVA Influence

Francesca is the Director & Co-Founder at VAVA Influence - Northern Ireland’s first agency dedicated exclusively to Influencer Marketing. Francesca also support students at Queen’s University Belfast in their entrepreneurial endeavours. She became a member of Women in Business as a final year student, studying International Business with French at QUB., while developing a tech start-up alongside 4 other business partners. Francesca is the dedicated representative of the Young Women’s Network, “Women in Business really helped me to grow my network and learn from other amazing businesswomen locally. I was really happy to be asked to represent the Young Women’s Network, as I believe this group has a really valuable place within the Belfast Business eco-system”. While anything supporting women in their careers is positive, she also believes that there is a unique opportunity to support women just starting out in their careers and seeking guidance; Francesca assures that “The Young Women’s network aims to provide this much needed support, removing any intimidation or fear associated with networking among older and more experienced than yourself”. Excited to be involved in the Young Women’s Network, Francesca encourages others to also avail of the useful resources and connections to be made with local, amazing females in business.