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Future Workforce Summit

16th Oct 2025

08:00am - 14:00pm

Venue: Dunadry Hotel and Gardens, Antrim

£0 for Members, £60 for Non-members

Corporate Enterprise Scaling

6 tickets available per organisation


Ticket Quantity:

Subtotal: Member: £0, Non Member: £60

Please get in touch with a member of our team if you need to purchase tickets.

Get in touch

Future Workforce Summit in partnership with NIE Networks,EY, Further Education NI & Workplus

This year’s Future Workforce Summit, in partnership with NIE Networks, EY, Further Education NI & Work+, will explore how Northern Ireland can deliver good jobs, close skills gaps, harness AI and green skills, and shape a joined-up workforce strategy that drives growth and competitiveness.

Your host

  • Jo Scott, BBC Northern Ireland

Jo Scott, BBC Northern Ireland

Your event speakers

  • Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister, Department for the Economy
    • Keynote Presentation
  • Phil Smith CBE, Chair, Skills England
    • Keynote Presentation: Skills England – Building a Future-Ready Workforce
  • Gordon Parkes, Executive Director – People & Culture, NIE Networks
    • Headline Sponsor Remarks
  • Dr Kevin Marshall, Head of Learning & Skills, Microsoft Ireland and Chair, National Skills Council
    • The Future Skills Priorities in Ireland
  • Gareth Heatherington, Director, Ulster University Economic Policy Centre
    • UUEPC Skills Barometer 2023 Overview
  • Paul Gillen, Partner – Employment, Immigration and Reward team, Lewis Silkin
    • ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill Update
  • Suzanne Wylie, CEO, NI Chamber
    • Delivering on Jobs and Skills

Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister, Department for the Economy Phil Smith CBE, Chair, Skills England Gordon Parkes, Executive Director - People & Culture, NIE NetworksDr Kevin Marshall, Head of Learning & Skills, Microsoft Ireland and Chair, National Skills Council Gareth Heatherington, Director, Ulster University Economic Policy Centre Paul Gillen, Partner - Employment, Immigration and Reward team, Lewis Silkin Suzanne Wylie, CEO, NI Chamber

Panel sessions

Pathways to Employment: Exploring practical solutions to improve employment outcomes, strengthen vocational routes, and connect people to work through mentoring, skills, and AI Adoption.

  • Richard Kirk, CEO & Co-Founder, Workplus
  • Kristal Miller, Professor of Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development, Ulster University
  • Ellen Thomson, University Student, SistersIN
  • Kathleen O’Hare, Chair, NI Skills Council
  • Richard Good, Director, Turnaround Project

Richard Kirk, CEO & Co-Founder, Workplus Kristal Miller, Professor of Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development, Ulster University Ellen Thomson, University Student, SistersIN Kathleen O’Hare, Chair, NI Skills Council Richard Good, Director, Turnaround Project

Pathways to Upskill and Reskill: Identifying how employers, educators, and policymakers can align, reskilling and upskilling, to meet evolving business needs.

  • Judith Crawford, Partner, People Consulting, EY
  • Mark Huddleston, Managing Director, jheSOLUTIONS
  • Emma Finney, Head of Business, Innovation & Partnerships, South-Eastern Regional College
  • Paul Cassidy, Senior Manager, Global Learning Advisory (Enterprise)

Workshops

Roundtable discussions led by experts to understand business challenges and solutions to:

  • Adopting AI
  • Unlocking Apprenticeships

Contact events@northernirelandchamber.com if you need help registering for this event.