Now in its seventh year, our annual Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Conference is a thought-provoking, educational and inspirational day with amazing speakers, panel discussions and vibrant networking opportunities. We are delighted to announce that our 2026 Conference will be heading to Killeavy Castle Estate thanks to the support of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Announcing Our First Round Of Inspiring Speakers

Seán McCabe, Head of Climate Justice & Sustainability, Bohemian Football Club

With over 18 years in fields related to climate justice, Seán McCabe’s work combines grassroots action with international advocacy to address injustice and marginalisation through climate action. He has worked to inform the development of multilateral agreements with the Mary Robinson Foundation, enhance environmental protections with the Sierra Leone EPA, promote children’s environmental rights with UNICEF and the UNCRC, and develop the community-led climate strategy, “The People’s Transition”, with TASC and FEPS. At Bohemian Football Club, he has built a team dedicated to developing inclusive and cooperative climate solutions that can be scaled through world football.

Helen Raftery, CEO, Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI)

Helen Raftery is CEO of Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI), working with 30 staff and 3,000 business volunteers each year to inspire and motivate young people to realise their potential by valuing education and gaining an understanding of how to succeed in the world of work. JAI works with business leaders, students, teachers and other educationalists across 160 supporting organisations to deliver JAI programmes to more than 63,000 pupils in primary and second levels across Ireland annually. Helen’s clarion call is the need to ensure young people get every opportunity to participate, enjoy and excel in the area of their choosing – be it technology, sport, cultural or academic pursuits. Wherever their passions and talents lead them, we need to contribute to an environment in which young people can follow their dreams. That is why Helen is passionate about the ambitions of JAI in recruiting and training business volunteers to inspire young people to maximise their talents and to stay in school, a mission driven by the combined efforts of the professional staff at JAI, partners in education and volunteers from a wide range of industries across Ireland.

Joe Higgins, Head of Operations, Risk & Sustainability, Guinness Storehouse with Diageo Irish Brand Homes

Joe Higgins is Head of Operations, Risk & Sustainability of the Guinness Storehouse with Diageo Irish Brand Homes. Joe leads a team that has achieved great sustainability strides across energy, waste, water, biodiversity conservation, and social justice. He is perhaps proudest of these social justice initiatives, which have included becoming accredited with AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity and introducing a dedicated sensory friendly morning every month. Diageo Irish Brand Homes works with St. Michael’s House to offer employment opportunities, as well as with both Learning for Life and the Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI). JAI facilitates volunteers from Diageo Irish Brand Homes to spend time teaching and mentoring in local schools and welcomes students from those schools for work experience. The Guinness Storehouse builds on Guinness’s long standing legacy of local community support with several initiatives, most recently with the launch of the Guinness Dublin 8 Community Fund with Diageo Ireland, which sees €1 million being invested in local community initiatives and projects over five years. Joe plays a pivotal role in keeping this spirit of community engagement alive and leading on important sustainability initiatives across Diageo Irish Brand Homes.

Jenny Hanna, Owner, The Green Holiday Cottages

Jenny Hanna owns and runs The Green Holiday Cottages with her husband Mark. Sitting on a 10-acre site in Kilkeel, what was once a derelict 18th century corn and flax mill in 2012 is now a vibrant retreat with six cottages, outdoor kitchens, reception spaces, a river walk and a woodland spa. Together Jenny and Mark have shaped the vision and guest experiences, including their unique Mourne Stone Wall Building Experience, which they developed to celebrate local heritage and culture through traditional dry stone walling with original Mourne granite. And Mark’s craftsmanship has been central to the restoration of the buildings. Although not initially conceived as a sustainability project, The Green Holiday Cottages has increasingly embraced sustainable practices and balanced economic resilience with environmental stewardship. Jenny’s journey highlights the importance of evolving thoughtfully, ensuring that growth protects both people and place. Prior to launching this tourism business, Jenny’s career has spanned nursing, public health and community development where she gained deep insight into the value of networks, partnerships and building resilient communities.

Darren Rice, Manager, Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark

Darren Rice is Manager of the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark, which brings together mountains, loughs, coasts, and communities across one of Ireland’s most iconic landscapes. A lifelong advocate for heritage, Darren has worked since the early 2000s to connect people with the natural, cultural, and built heritage of their places. He leads a wide range of projects, from restoring peatlands and creating woodlands to protecting wildlife, supporting pollinators, and engaging people with the marine environment. His work is rooted in partnership, collaborating with councils, charities, landowners, and volunteers to achieve lasting impact on the ground. Darren is also an active contributor to UNESCO’s international Geopark network, sharing lessons and innovation across Europe. He serves on the Board of Northern Ireland Environment Link and on the committee of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, championing joined-up action for nature and people.

Kellie-Ann Hoey, Group Communications & Responsible Business Director, SHS Group

Kellie-Ann Hoey spearheads all internal and external corporate communications at SHS Group, alongside leading their responsible business initiatives. Kellie-Ann has been instrumental in shaping the group’s responsible business journey, playing a key role in developing and implementing their comprehensive responsible business framework. Kellie-Ann oversees the group’s wellbeing & inclusion, sustainability and community-engagement strategies. Beyond her role at the SHS Group, Kellie-Ann chairs Business in the Community Northern Ireland’s CR Leaders Network and actively contributes to committees such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and GroceryAid. Her dedication to advancing responsible business practices has garnered industry recognition, receiving the BITC Responsible Business Ambassador Award in 2023 for her outstanding commitment to driving positive change both internally and externally. In 2025 SHS Group was named Northern Ireland Responsible Company of the Year at Business in the Community Northern Ireland’s Responsible Business Awards.

Adrian Martin, Director of Hospitality, Killeavy Castle Estate

Adrian Martin is a hospitality leader with 20+ years’ experience managing luxury hotels and heritage estates across Ireland, and now guiding Killeavy Castle Estate’s sustainable-luxury journey. As Director of Hospitality since March 2024, he oversees all operations from guest accommodations to estate grounds and spa/wellness services. Adrian is committed to delivering world-class guest experiences while anchoring every aspect of the estate in a deep respect for heritage, community and the natural environment. Under his leadership, Killeavy Castle Estate builds on its pioneering ‘people & place’ ethos and has earned multiple sustainability awards, including ‘Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Business of the Year’, recognising its zero-waste food programme, single-use plastic reduction, extensive recycling and composting, and a farm-to-fork model bringing produce from the estate gardens and farm to its restaurants. Killeavy is also undertaking a multi-year, £1.5 million landscape restoration project across its 365-acres, rewilding woodlands and farmland, planting native broadleaf species, enhancing biodiversity and fostering a carbon-positive environment. Adrian’s vision blends heritage stewardship, sustainable operations and luxury hospitality to create a sanctuary where guests, staff and environment flourish together.

Michelle Boyle, Head of Tourism Product Development & Visitor Experience, Newry, Mourne & Down District Council

Michelle Boyle is Head of Tourism Product Development & Visitor Experience at Newry & Mourne District Council since 2018. Over the past 14 years, Michelle played a leading role in the successful designation of the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark. This work involved building strong partnerships across local communities, government and international bodies, while ensuring that the region’s unique geological heritage was not only protected but also celebrated as a driver for sustainable tourism. Michelle is also the Council’s official tourism representative on the European Geopark Network. She is also responsible for marketing and PR, industry engagement, management and development of tourism facilities and delivering the council’s tourism strategy.

Joe McGirr, Founder, The Boatyard Distillery

Joe McGirr is the founder of The Boatyard Distillery, Fermanagh’s first legal distillery since 1890. Joe set up the distillery in 2016 with an ambition to make a gin so perfect for Martinis that it would be poured in the world’s finest bars and restaurants around the world. In Joe’s words, “Sustainability was always important to the business. That said, we didn’t set out to create a sustainable business. We set out to become a great gin distillery. We took decisions that would not fall under the word ‘sustainability’, but they were practical decisions that make sense on many levels. A sustainable approach is a practical approach and it just made sense to us at every step of the journey.” The business launched a Green Team called ‘Better Boatyard’ in 2022 with the task of improving the overall sustainability and governance of the business. This led to the business becoming the first distillery on the on the island of Ireland to gain the prestigious B Corp Certified in 2023. This certifies that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. Better Boatyard initiatives have included making bottles from recycled flint glass (circular economy), sourcing grain from a local organic farmer (reducing food miles and improving biodiversity) and providing health insurance to all employees – and much more. 

To get excited about next year’s conference, why not take a look at last year’s Story of the Day video below. Or you can see last year’s itinerary and speakers below that.