St Patrick’s Week - Business Events 2024

We have wrapped up our St Patrick’s Week Business Events for 2024! This was another successful year and we would like to share a massive thank you to all of our network, clients, collaborators and Team Ireland colleagues for supporting a busy ten days of St Patrick’s Day events showcasing Irish innovation in Australia and New Zealand.

With Ireland’s Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly leading this year’s mission, it was brilliant to be able to spotlight Irish innovation in Digital Health through several initiatives in March. One particular highlight was a visit to a Calvary Health Care aged care facility using Irish technology from MEG | Healthcare Quality Management Software. 

We also hosted a HeathTech Networking Breakfast at the Consulate General of Ireland. The morning’s event aimed to Connect Irish Innovation with our NSW HealthTech industry contacts, to spark engaging conversations and to share global insights into HealthTech innovation between Ireland and Australia. This was a fantastic opportunity to bring together a number of Enterprise Ireland A/NZ-supported digital health clients and advisors in person.

We would also like to thank our Advisory Panels in Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and Wellington for giving your time and invaluable advice to MEG | Healthcare Quality Management Software, T-Pro, myPatientSpace, Siren, and Ergo. Attended by Minister Stephen Donnelly in Australia and Minister Jack Chambers in New Zealand, they were an excellent opportunity to for our clients to receive valuable market entry advice from a diverse group of advisors. 

Enterprise Ireland also held our annual St Patrick’s Day Business Lunches in both Sydney and Melbourne and hosted panels at both the lunches. In Melbourne, Tiarnan McCaughan moderated our lunch panel discussion with Asora, Combilift and Quitch and at our Sydney lunch, Judith Harrington moderated with SiteMinder, Stripe, CustomerMinds, and CoolPlanet. The panels were made up of Irish-affiliated startup leaders who gave valuable insights on entering and scaling in the Australian market. 

We were also delighted to welcome Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications Jack Chambers as part of a week-long tour of New Zealand focused on celebrating the political, cultural and business connections between Ireland and New Zealand. The Minister took part in events across Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington including taking part in the Enterprise Ireland Auckland and Wellington Advisory panels to hear from Irish companies Siren, Ergo and Superfy.  

In recent years, the trade relationship between Ireland and New Zealand has accelerated recording double digit growth in exports year on year. In Agritech, a traditional area of strength for both countries, we’ve seen closer collaboration to solve industry challenges such as the announcement of the joint research call between Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries to research emissions from pasture-based livestock systems and meet climate goals. Last year saw a significant partnership formed between Fonterra and Irish firm APC Microbiome to establish a research hub studying the human microbiome and develop new innovative products. In the tech sector, companies like Skillsoft, Fineos and Combilift have seen significant growth.  

The Minister and Enterprise Ireland team was delighted to meet with so many of the people and organisations that have helped make this relationship so strong such as the Irish Business Network of New Zealand (IBNNZ). We look forward to continued growth in the years ahead. 

We would once again like to thank those who attend any of the business events Enterprise Ireland hosted and look forward to celebrating with you once again in 2025.

Here are some images from the week: