With Group Mentoring, YWN members can gain first hand knowledge and advice for personal career progression with leading females of the NI business community. Mentors are dedicated WIB Ambassadors from a wide range of business and professional backgrounds to ensure that we have the perfect support for you on your career path!
Online Group Mentoring will return in Spring 2021, via a 1 hour zoom meeting with small groups of members to ensure welcoming & attentive support between your mentor and peergroup.
Check out the mentoring availability...
- Monday 19th April 2pm - 3pm
- Tuesday 27th April 12:30pm – 1:30pm
- Wednesday 28th April 12:30pm – 1:30pm
- Thursday 29th April 12:30pm – 1:30pm
- Friday 30th April 12:30pm – 1:30pm
If you want to get on board, become a YWN Member today and get in touch with your interest and available dates from above via email: membership@womeninbusinessni.com Please note that it is best to get in touch with us soon, as spaces fill up fast!
Carmel McKinney OBE
Chairperson of Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
Carmel began her career in the teaching profession moving through her career as a principal, Member of the Education and Training Inspectorate and senior leader in the Further and Higher Education sector. Carmel is now the first female chairperson of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and was appointed as an independent member of the Policing Board.
Carmel is also an Equality Commissioner for Northern Ireland as a multi-award-winning professional for her work on Diversity and Inclusion; including her coaching and mentoring programmes, as she is deeply committed to ensuring a pipeline of aspiring female leaders for the future.
Michelle McAuley
MD, Consultant & Executive Coach of Creating Potential
Michelle is a trusted Business Consultant, Executive Coach and the founder of ‘Creating Potential’, an Executive Coaching and Business Consultancy firm based in Northern Ireland. Her personal style, as described by her clients, is one that “promotes and inspires confidence to deliver real and tangible results.” Having had a successful career at a Senior level within the pharmaceutical industry, Michelle is also Non-Executive Director of Lowry Grace Consulting Ltd, a business consultancy firm specialising in Human Resources, Employment Law, Learning & Development, Counselling and Health & Safety.
Elaine Birchall
Elaine was appointed CEO of SHS Group in 2015. The SHS Group has been operating in Northern Ireland for over 40 years and has grown its turnover to c.£570m. The Group owns brands such as WKD, Shloer, Bottlegreen and also distributes a portfolio of well-known brands including Colgate, Nurofen and Mars Drinks. Prior to joining SHS, Elaine held management and leadership roles in Europe, the USA and South Pacific for Colgate Palmolive.
Ellvena Graham OBE
Chairperson and Non-Executive Board Director of ICC Belfast
Ellvena has worked across a number of different sectors including Energy, Banking, Agri-Food, Business Tourism, Higher Education & the Arts. Amongst a range of interests, Ellvena has been Chairperson of the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and has been a Non-Executive Director in Ulster Bank Ltd. She is Chairperson of the Belfast Waterfront & Ulster Hall (BWUH) Ltd and a Non-Executive Director in Dale Farm Ltd. Ellvena was President of NI Chamber of Commerce & Industry for two terms.
Ellvena was a Board member of Barretstown, a charity helping children with serious illnesses, up until June 2012 and an Advisory Board Member of Women's Executive Network (WXN) in Ireland from 2008 - June 2016.
Emma Derby
Emma is the HR Director of _VOIS, which is Vodafone’s shared service organisation. _VOIS has 25,000 employees and is one of the world’s largest captive shared services.
Emma is passionate about unlocking potential in people and business, fostering a culture of success by providing a talent and skills blueprint for the future. Emma’s focus has been on Diversity & Inclusion, as well as focusing on upskilling and reskilling. With a background in both IT and telecommunications Emma specialises in change management, talent development, employee advocacy and leadership development.
Judith Totten MBE
Judith is the founder of Upstream, a business she originally established in 2011 as an independent provider of working capital funding for Northern Ireland SME’s. Prior to establishing Upstream, Judith had a long and successful career in banking, principally with Danske Bank. Judith is also a non-exec Board Member of Invest NI, is involved in supporting and fund raising for The Princes Trust in NI and sits on the CBI Council in NI. As well as being involved as a mentor / advisor to several small business owners, Judith is a respected and recognisable face throughout the province both as a provider of finance solutions for business. Judith was awarded an MBE in 2018 for Services to Economic Development in NI.
Vanessa Dunne
Commercial Finance Director Moy Park Ltd
Currently the Commercial Finance Director at Moy Park Ltd, Vanessa’s expertise combines financial leadership with strong technical knowledge. Her analytical acumen has enabled Vanessa to positively impact business performance in several international business roles, across a number of industries. These include food and agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality and distribution. Vanessa has always recognised the value of people, and she actively drives the agenda on people development initiatives across all finance roles within Moy Park. A graduate in Genetics and Zoology from Leeds University she is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.