• A delegation of 150, including John Lunn of Lunn’s; Paul Vallely and Clare Walsh of Kukoon; Brian Moloney of StormHarvester; Maire Claire Reid of TST Group; and Paul, Gary and Mike Martin of Martin Group, are travelling to Toronto for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year CEO Retreat 

• Highlights include visits to Microsoft’s Innovation Hub, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and the MaRS Innovation District, alongside engagements with leading Canadian business figures, academics and global thought leaders

Northern Ireland, 11 May 2026: A 150 strong delegation of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs, including Northern Irish entrepreneurs: John Lunn of Lunn’s; Paul Vallely and Clare Walsh of Kukoon; Brian Moloney of StormHarvester; Maire Claire Reid of TST Group; and Paul, Gary and Mike Martin of Martin Group, are travelling to Toronto this week for the annual EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) CEO Retreat, until Saturday 16th May. The retreat is a cornerstone of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme, designed to support, inspire and challenge entrepreneurs as they scale their businesses and explore new global opportunities.

The travelling delegation includes this year’s 24 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists as well as EOY alumni from across the island of Ireland, representing a broad range of sectors and industries, alongside representatives from Enterprise Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Julius Baer International. Together, they will participate in a week-long programme of executive education, leadership development and peer-to-peer engagement, while also experiencing Canada’s dynamic business environment and culture.

Toronto, this year’s host city, is widely recognised as a leading global business hub, combining a strong financial services sector with a rapidly growing technology and innovation ecosystem. Its diverse economy, deep talent pool and strong academic infrastructure make it an attractive base for scaling global businesses. At a time of global economic uncertainty, the need to diversify trade routes has never been more important, and this retreat underscores the ongoing efforts of both the Irish and Canadian governments to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen economic collaboration. It also reflects the close economic and cultural relationship that exists between Ireland and Canada, built over more than 180 years of shared history.

During the week, participants will engage with leading figures from across business, academia and sport, including sessions at Microsoft Canada, EY Canada and the Toronto Stock Exchange, as well as leadership workshops at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. The programme also includes visits to the MaRS Discovery District, the Globe & Mail Center, alongside opportunities to connect with Canadian entrepreneurs, investors and peers.

Rob Heron, EY Northern Ireland Managing Partner, commented: “The CEO Retreat is one of the most important and impactful elements of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme. Each year, we bring together a group of exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with the opportunity to step away from their day-to-day businesses, broaden their perspective and build meaningful, lasting connections.

“Toronto is a world-class business city, known for its leadership in financial services, technology and innovation. It offers our entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to engage with global leaders, explore new markets and deepen their understanding of one of the most dynamic economies in North America.

“Beyond the business programme, the retreat is also about connection. It is a time for our entrepreneurs to learn from one another, challenge their thinking and develop relationships that often translate into long-term collaboration. We hope this experience will inspire new ideas, partnerships and ambition for this outstanding group of entrepreneurs.”

Since its inception, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland community has grown into a close-knit network of more than 680 alumni, with three quarters conducting business with one another. Together, the alumni community generates revenues in excess of €28bn, and employs more than 275,000 people across the island of Ireland.

The 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists are: 

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Partner Julius Baer, and Government partners Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland.

For further information, please visit www.eoy.ie

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