Family Business Network Ireland was delighted to welcome members and guests to the Minerva Suite, RDS, Ballsbridge for Your Family, Your Business – Opportunity, Risk & Successful Succession, an engaging morning dedicated to exploring the opportunities and challenges facing family businesses today.
Bringing together family business owners, next-generation leaders and trusted advisers, the event provided a valuable forum for learning, discussion and networking, with expert insights across a range of topics including the economic outlook, cybersecurity, governance, succession planning and sustainable business growth.
The morning opened with Session One – The Uncertain World Around Us, where Lucinda Creighton, Prof. John FitzGerald and William Tierney examined the economic, geopolitical and cybersecurity challenges shaping today’s business environment. The discussion explored Ireland’s fiscal outlook, emerging cyber risks, energy policy and the importance of building resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.
Session Two – Positioning Your Business featured John McGrane, Executive Director of FBN Ireland, in conversation with Eoin O’Keeffe of Focus Capital. Through practical case studies, the session explored how family businesses can successfully balance growth with preserving their values, while preparing for investment, succession and long-term success through strong governance and strategic planning.
The event concluded with Session Three – Preparing Your Family, where Michael Walsh, President of FBN Ireland, and Mary Curtis of Praesta Mentors discussed the importance of governance, communication and succession planning in ensuring family businesses continue to thrive across generations. Their insights highlighted the value of early planning, clearly defined roles and preserving the legacy that makes family businesses unique.
A sincere thank you to our speakers — Lucinda Creighton, Prof. John FitzGerald, William Tierney, Eoin O’Keeffe, Michael Walsh and Mary Curtis — for sharing their expertise and experiences throughout the morning. Their thought-provoking discussions provided attendees with practical insights and valuable perspectives to take back to their own businesses.
Finally, thank you to all of our members and guests who joined us and contributed to the lively discussions and networking that made the event such a success. We look forward to welcoming you to future Family Business Network Ireland events, including Ireland’s National Family Business Conference 2026 – Values and Value… Why Ireland’s Family Businesses are Vital to Ireland’s Future.
We hope to see you there.
