A Limerick secondary school hosted an International Women’s Day event yesterday that was address by the CEO of University of Limerick Hospitals Group Ms Collete Cowan.
The event at Villiers School in Limerick City was a celebration of women who have surpassed the gender boundaries to step into and be successful in ‘male dominated’ roles.
The school secured several speakers including Irish business woman of the year and Chair of Shannon Group plc Rose Hynes who is also the only female chairperson of an Irish stock exchange company.
Other speakers included Dr Wynette Redington, Academic & Researcher and the only female Academic on the UL governing body; Prof Colette Cowan, CEO of UL Hospitals Group; Niamh Briggs, captain of Ireland women’s rugby team and Ms. Judi Curtin, successful children’s author.
Collete Cowan said: “I was delighted to be invited to speak at Villiers School today to celebrate International Women’s Day with the staff and lovely pupils of the school. The theme for International Women’s Day this year is ‘Be bold for change’, I would certainly encourage all young girls to be bold, have the courage of their convictions and to look inward and see what it is they really want to do when choosing a career.
It is so important to enjoy what you do in life and to try and make a difference. Also strength has no gender, I believe men and women need to work together to drive things forward which is what we strive to do every day at UL Hospitals Group,’ Ms Cowan added.