![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/KarenRonan3-300x200.jpg\")
Karen Ronan. Photo by Helen O\u2019Callaghan<\/p>\n*Karen Ronan, Network Ireland President 2026. Photograph: Helen O\u2019Callaghan<\/p>\n
NETWORK Ireland, the country\u2019s largest business networking organisation for women, has appointed Karen Ronan, Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, as its National President for 2026.<\/p>\n
The organisation, established in 1983, supports more than 1,400 female entrepreneurs, SME owners and senior professionals across sectors ranging from multinational business to non-profits, the arts and the public sector.<\/p>\n
Ms\u00a0Ronan, who succeeds Amy O\u2019Sullivan of AOS Consulting as National President, has more than three decades\u2019 experience in business and tourism in Ireland and overseas. She previously led the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau for 22 years, during which time the agency generated an estimated \u20ac160mn in economic impact for Clare and Limerick by attracting international conferences and sporting events. She was appointed Chief Executive of Galway Chamber in 2025.<\/p>\n
A graduate of the Kemmy School of Business at the University of Limerick, she said her priorities as President will include strengthening commercial links between Network Ireland\u2019s 17 branches and expanding opportunities for women-led enterprises.<\/p>\n
Karen Ronan. Photo by Helen O\u2019Callaghan<\/p>\n
Ms Ronan said she plans to drive more than 3,000 business leads and introductions between members during 2026, a target she believes could unlock millions of euro in new commercial activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a great honour to take on the role of President of Network Ireland for the coming year,\u201d she explained. \u201cMy theme for the year, \u2018Building Bridges\u2019, reflects the need to connect people, ideas, sectors and regions. While progress has been made, equality for women in business cannot be taken for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Ronan added that a key part of her agenda will be encouraging members to \u201cshop their own network\u201d by sourcing suppliers and partners from within the organisation.<\/p>\n
She continued, \u201cWe must continue to build equity by addressing structural barriers, amplifying diverse voices and ensuring women are supported to lead, influence and succeed. Network Ireland has a powerful role in bringing people together to drive meaningful change,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look forward to working closely with the advisory council, national executive, regional branches, and members to deliver a year that combines advocacy, connection and tangible business outcomes, reinforcing Network Ireland\u2019s role as a powerful platform for women in business across Ireland,\u201d concluded Ms Ronan.<\/p>\n
Geraldine Casey, MD Retail Banking, AIB\u00a0said, \u201cAIB is proud to continue as an official partner of Network Ireland for a thirteenth year. Our shared goal is simple: to remove barriers, build confidence and accelerate opportunity for women in business through practical supports such as mentoring, financial guidance and meaningful connections. These supports help amplify the success and impact of women who are helping power local economies.\u00a0 These women also inspiring the next generation to build resilient businesses and brighter financial futures. We wish\u00a0Karen\u00a0every success as she assumes the National Presidency for 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen Ronan\u2019s presidency formally commenced following the Network Ireland Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dublin. Joan Walsh of Partnership International, a Cork-based work, study and travel organisation, was confirmed as Vice President for 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"*Karen Ronan, Network Ireland President 2026. Photograph: Helen O\u2019Callaghan NETWORK Ireland, the country\u2019s largest business networking organisation for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262453,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[129754,72,34111,129755,129756,61,60,129479,129757,129758,129759,15684,43,129760,19290],"class_list":["post-262452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-amy-osullivan","tag-business","tag-chief-executive","tag-galway-chamber-of-commerce","tag-geraldine-casey","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-karen-ronan","tag-md-retail-banking","tag-national-president","tag-network-ireland-annual-general-meeting-agm","tag-networking","tag-news","tag-shannon-region-conference-and-sports-bureau","tag-university-of-limerick"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=262452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262452\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}