New LIFT Board

LIFT Ireland – Leading Ireland’s Future Together

The New LIFT Board Announced

LIFT Ireland is continuing on its trajectory of positive growth with the announcement of an exceptional and extremely experienced new LIFT Board. Each member is recognised as one of the most distinguished leaders in their sector and industries.

We are delighted to have a group of immensely accomplished board members to help LIFT reach our target of reaching 10% of the Irish population by 2028. We are already on the way to creating effective change and our Board will help us LIFT even further. Announced on RTE online and featured in print in the Irish Examiner, the new board will be headed by Anne Heraty, founder of CPL as Chairperson. She will be joined by John Lonergan and Ken Casey as well as Co-Founders – Joanne Hession, Sonya Lennon and David Hession.

Chairperson – Anne Heraty

Anne Heraty is the founder of CPL Group, a global recruitment company. She led CPL to become Ireland’s top employment services provider and remains on the board after the company was acquired by Outsourcing inc. in 2021. She is a former President of IBEC, is a passionate supporter of youth education and development, and has a keen interest in social and youth affairs.

Board Member – John Lonergan

John Lonergan served in the Irish Prison Service for over 40 years, spending more than half that time as the Governor of Mountjoy Prison. John is a renowned and respected authority on social justice issues and the societal impacts of the penal system and he believes that the biggest challenge facing us today is creating a just, inclusive and cohesive society based on the core values of justice, equality, respect and compassion. He was formerly a member of LIFT Ireland’s Advisory Board before becoming a Director in 2022.

Board Member – Ken Casey

Ken Casey is Partner and Head of Corporate at Hayes Solicitors. He has over 25 years of experience in corporate governance, business law, corporate finance, and equity markets across various industries such as financial services, tech, media, airlines, gaming, hospitality and sports. Like John Lonergan, he was formerly a member of LIFT Ireland’s Advisory Board before becoming a Director in 2022.

LIFT Ireland Board Members

In addition to the three new members, the founders of LIFT Ireland – Joanne Hession, Sonya Lennon and David Hession – also sit on the new LIFT Board. Joanne Hession, the organisation’s CEO, is a successful entrepreneur and leadership expert. She founded LIFT Ireland in 2018, along with her brother, David Hession, an education accreditation expert, and Sonya Lennon, designer equality advocate and social entrepreneur.

What We Do

Driving positive leadership change in Ireland through our facilitator and partner network

Values

LIFT’s leadership learning process is based on eight key leadership values; Listening, Positive Attitude, Respect, Competence, Dedication & Determination, Empathy & Understanding, Accountability, and Honesty & Integrity.

Influence

LIFT Ireland believes that the best way to influence positive change in our country is to re-examine the way in which we view and enact leadership in our schools, communities, at home, and in our businesses.

Learning

Central to LIFT’s learning process are the leadership circles or roundtables. During these sessions, participants are given space to reflect on the eight leadership values using a well-established 5-step-method.

Network

To reach its overall goal of reaching 10% of the island’s population, LIFT relies on its network of facilitators and partners, who make a commitment to living, growing, building or hosting LIFT’s activities.

Become a partner

Pete Smyth, Broadlake

"The LIFT team have a vision to bring out the leadership potential in all Irish people. In Broadlake we see first hand the potential of Irish leaders globally when they have the right supports. The vision of Ireland being famous for it leaders is exciting and achievable. That’s why we are helping LIFT."

Pete Smyth, Chief Executive Officer, Broadlake

Catherine Moroney, AIB

"LIFT is an accessible initiative for everyone from business to education and sports and it is inter generational. LIFT's core purpose is to facilitate conversations that encourage and foster core values that can help shape Ireland's sustainable future. All decisions are made through the filter of our Values and LIFT initiative will collectively raise our awareness of those filters for sustainable decision making."

Catherine Moroney, Head of Business Banking, AIB

Chupi Sweetman, Chupi

"There is a tremendous opportunity to build a better, brighter and kinder future, not an old Ireland built on prejudice but a new Ireland built on strength. We are delighted to be a Founding Partner of Lift Ireland"

Chupi Sweetnam, Founder, Chupi

Sonya Lennon, Dress For Success Dublin

"Dress for Success is an organisation that empowers women to succeed in sustainable careers. We understand that LIFT is a vital piece of the puzzle. Fostering good values in our society now and for the future will make Ireland a better place to live and work"

Sonya Lennon, Founder, Dress For Success Dublin

GET INVOLVED

Whether you are in a company, a community group, or simply an individual who believes in the power to influence change, we’d love to hear from you. Find out how you can get involved below.

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