The IIBN runs 40 - 50 networking and other events each year and has three chapters in London, New York and Dublin. The aim of the group is to bring Irish business professionals of all hues together. The IIBN are renowned for their high quality of the speakers and content at their events. Irish and Irish American professionals based in New York are no strangers to their events.

Paul O’Kelly is a strategic thinking, leadership and growth strategist. He works excusively with leaders and teams who are deeply committed to growth, positive change and making sustainable breakthroughs.

A native of, and still living in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, Ireland, he is currently working with clients in Ireland, USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Middle East and Africa, and with teams from Asia and Australia. His current clients include global leaders such as ActiVision of USA, Generali of Italy; ETEX Group Belgium. His current Irish clients include several technology companies and household names such as Bord na Móna, Tegral and Bank of Ireland. He is working with fast growth companies such as KEMP Technologies, New York; Infosim Germany and USA; Guidion, Amsterdam; Height for Hire, Ireland, UK, Slovakia, Hungry and Biotector, Cork, Ireland.

He delivers his results through one on one work with the leader or the leadership team; and sometimes through larger scale and whole organisation processes. Paul has facilitated workshops with 400+ people in a room and through multiple workshops he and his teams have engaged 1,000’s of people in a single organisation. He thrives in the challenges of rapid growth, internationalisation, deeply ingrained disunity or hostility, in multicultural and multinational environments.

He has a deep interest in education, is a Board Member of Atlantic Corridor, funded by the Irish Department of Foreign affairs and has worked with organisations such as Facebook and Ericsson in building interest in STEM education. He works regularly on a pro bono basis with schools, and 3rd level institutions developing strategies and contributing to leadership and growth programmes. On a professional basis he was retained by Dubai Government to work with Ohio University on the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Programme for Sports Leadership Development for emerging leaders from all sectors.

Paul is very active in amatuer and professional sport in Ireland and internationally, in both coaching and strategy development. He designed and led the strategic thinking and planning process for the GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, several counties and clubs. He worked with Niall Quinn to design the club structure and plan to bring Sunderland Football Club to the Premiership and build a the club’s relationship with the community, city and its Academy. As a coach and “kinda psychologist” he has worked in gaelic football, hurling professional rugby, Olympic Sailing. He is currently working with MTM Team Qhubeka the South African professional cycling team and Qhubeka charity. Qhubeka’s vision is to bring African riders to the very top of world professional cycling and provide bicycles for African children who often walk more than 2 hours to school every day.

Paul is regularly invited to speak at international events and faciliate learning workshops including Big Business Day, Riga, Latvia; EuroGeographics European Conference, Belfast; Axor Executive Forum, Ukraine; the ALTO Global Conference, London and the Association for Coaching. paul@paulokelly.com www.paulokelly.com

Join IIBN Members, many of whom will be traveling over to join us from the UK and Ireland, guests and VIP guest speakers for the 4th IIBN Annual Global Conference will take place in New York on Friday, November 7th 2014 at the Convene Center. Don’t miss this opportunity to organise an invaluable business trip and access some of the most successful and exciting business talent associated with Ireland in decades. Click HERE for Early Bird Rates!