The Ireland Canada Connection

The strength and potential of the Ireland Canada relationship was highlighted in very clear terms in a specially commissioned independent economic report, compiled by economist Jim Power for the ICBA. 

It details the 'enormous' growth opportunities between Ireland and Canada, given the right conditions. These conditions are outlined in the report and form a central part of the ICBA's efforts to impact policy and facilitate an enhanced business environment in Ireland for Canadian operations.

In this episode of the Ireland Canada Connection Jim talks about the background to the report, some of the most striking findings in terms of exports and investment, where he believes the most valuable opportunities lie to build on the current relationship, and what policy makers and stakeholders need to do to make sure that opportunity is realised.

To read the full report, follow this link

Produced and presented by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Born and raised in Canada, Chris Collenette moved to Ireland almost twenty years ago and has recently officially become an Irish citizen. Chris spent four years as Chairperson of the Ireland Canada Business Association and in this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection he talks about his time in the role, fostering the Ireland Canada relationship and helping to grow the organisation’s membership and influence.

Chris also talks about what led him to move to Ireland, how he adjusted to life in a new country, personally and professionally, and the similarities and differences between his home country and his adopted one from a societal and political perspective.

Produced and presented by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

In 1980 Terry Fox embarked on a remarkable journey. With one leg having been amputated due to cancer, he set out to run east-to-west across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. It was called ‘The Marathon of Hope’.

Terry did not get to complete his journey, but his efforts resulted in a worldwide legacy, inspiring annual Terry Fox Runs around the globe, and raising hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research. On this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, Patrick Haughey is joined by Terry’s older brother, Fred Fox, Manager of Support Relations at The Terry Fox Foundation. Fred talks about growing up with Terry and what he was like as a kid, the remarkable fortitude with which he handled his cancer diagnosis, the genesis of the terry fox run and the impact it has had worldwide ever since. 

This year’s Terry Fox run Ireland will take place in Herbert Park in Dublin on Sat September 16th at 9am. 100 % of the proceeds from the run will go directly to the Irish Cancer Society to help fund world class cancer research. This run is not only a great cause, but it is also great fun so if you’d like to sign up and support a great cause, here is the link to register  https://www.idonate.ie/event/terryfoxrunireland2023 

Presented and produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand 

Natalie Marchut, Manager of Development and Strategy with the Downtown Strategy Team at the City of Calgary, explains how the city has been incentivising developers to convert vacant offices into much-needed homes. With many countries experiencing a severe shortage of residential property, this innovative initiative is being hailed as a potential solution, and many other governments and city councils around the world are considering a similar approach, including in Ireland. 

Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand.  

Dr Karen Weekes is an endurance adventurer, sports psychologist and Irish Sportswoman of the Year 2022. In conversation with Cabrina Conaty, Karen talks about some of her greatest adventures including her 4,000 mile cycle from Vancouver to Halifax and a 3,000 mile row from the Canaries to Barbados solo and unsupported, earning her the title of the first Irish female to row any ocean solo. They also discuss the mindset required for her extreme challenges, cultural similarities between Irish and Canadian people, and how the lessons of these journeys are applicable to business.

[00:01:23] Solo rowing 3,000 miles.

[00:03:56] Sports Psychology and Endurance Training.

[00:09:02] Testing mental tools during adventure.

[00:13:35] Cycling in extreme temperatures.

[00:18:22] Mental preparation for challenges.

[00:19:36] Encountering wildlife on the journey.

[00:22:23] Canadian hospitality and friendliness.

[00:25:54] Overcoming negative self-talk.

[00:29:15] Handling uncontrollable situations.

[00:32:38] Business Mindset and Growth.

Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand 

A  fascinating conversation with Canada’s Minister of Labour,  Seamus O’Regan. Topics include:

·      His Irish heritage and time studying in University College Dublin learning about Ireland’s Celtic Tiger 

·      How much he enjoyed his years as a national breakfast tv show presenter, despite not being a morning person! 

·      The housing crisis in Canada and Ireland and his faith in our ability to solve them 

·      Being in Belfast for the Good Friday Agreement commemorations and sharing the room with John de Chastelain, Tony Blair, Teresa May, Bill Clinton, Liz Truss and many others. 

·      The pride he felt when Ireland passed marriage equality legislation 

·      Why CETA should be fully ratified 

Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand for the Ireland Canada Business Association 

“To this day, I will go somewhere and I will meet somebody with Irish Heritage and they’ll have tears in their eyes about how important this is to them”

The month of March is now officially 'Irish Heritage Month' across Canada, and its all thanks to James Maloney, a Canadian MP with Irish roots, who wanted to find a way to formerly recognise the contribution that the Irish community have made to Canada’s society, culture and infrastructure.

In this episode of the Ireland Canada Connection, James tells the fascinating story behind this initiative, and the impact it has had since being unanimously passed in the Canadian House of Commons in 2021.

Produced and presented by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Henk Potts is Director of Investment Strategy at Barclays Private Bank. In this episode of the Ireland Canada Connection Henk gives his outlook for the global economy, he talks specifically about how Canada and Ireland are performing and what opportunities and challenges are coming down the tracks, and we discuss falling inflation, a looming European recession, and the opportunities for investors in the current market. 

 The Ireland Canada Connection is produced and presented by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand 

At the ICBA Maple Leaf Dinner 2022, Leo Varadkar (now Taoiseach) delivered a keynote speech that addressed the power of the relationship between Ireland and Canada and the continuing  support that it will be given by Ireland's political leadership. Click play to listen to the full speech.

"So, colleagues, just really wanted to conclude tonight by once again saluting what is the strength of the Ireland Canada relationship, a relationship that is connected by our cultures, by our literatures, and above all, by our people. We're divided by a wide ocean, but bound together forever by our past and united in our hope and ambition for the future. Ireland and Canada share a truly unique relationship and as we face an uncertain world and the increasing challenges of this new century, Canada will remain a friend and ally for Ireland and a partner in working towards the betterment of our people, our two countries and the wider world. "

The aviation industry is going through a period of significant innovation right now, in particular around its efforts to become more environmentally sustainable and lessen its impact on the planet. 

In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, Blaithin O’Donnell, Sales Manager for Air Canada in Ireland, outlines some of the fascinating things that the company is doing to become more environmentally friendly. The strategy includes small but effective actions like changing the nature of the paint used on airplanes, right up to the introduction of electrically powered aircraft in the near future. 

We also speak about the return to business travel and why SMEs have been much quicker than larger companies to make business trips post-Covid, and we hear all about the future of aviation and what this will mean for travellers. 

 The Ireland Canada Connection is presented and produced by Patrick Haughey of Audiobrand. 

Strategic communications are central to what successful companies do day to day. Whether it's communicating with clients and customers, the media and on social media, or internally with staff, it pays to have a clear and effective strategy. 

In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, Lorna Jennings, Managing Director of Hanover Communications Dublin, talks about how to build such a strategy, communicating in a crisis situation, and why every company should find its ‘why’.   

The Ireland Canada Connection is brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association

 Produced and presented by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand 

Sachin Aggarwal is CEO of Think Research – a Canadian technology company that is helping to shape the future of healthcare through digital. 

Sachin paints a fascinating picture of how healthcare will be delivered in the future as a result of digital tools that can help reduce the work load and the mental load of health practitioners, allowing them to concentrate on the patient. He also talks about why Think Research has established a presence in Ireland and how that experience is working out so far. 

https://www.thinkresearch.com/ca/

The Ireland Canada Connection is presented and produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Cybercrime is one of the top concerns for business leaders in 2022. Remote working, the rise and rise of digital commerce, and increased sophistication among cybercriminals are all fuelling a remarkable rise in cyber threats, predominantly ‘ransomware’ and ‘phishing’. 

 In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, host Patrick Haughey meets Ciaran Luttrell, Director of Operations at e-Sentire - a global cybersecurity services company headquartered in Ontario, Canada and with a European base in Ireland. eSentire is a valued member of the Ireland Canada Business Association. They discuss: 

·      What is driving the exponential growth of cybercrime in recent years.

·      Why small companies are just as at-risk as enterprises. 

·      How business leaders can protect their companies from attack. 

·      Why eSentire chose Ireland as its European base, and advise for other Canadian companies considering establishing an operation in Ireland.

·      How to connect your Canadian and Irish offices and keep the company culture consistent. 

·      Attracting and retaining top tech talent. 

The Ireland Canada Connection is produced by AudioBrand 

Building a happy, healthy and highly engaged workforce is one of the key priorities for modern business leaders. Success in this area leads to success in talent acquisition and retention, and also customer and client experience. In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, host Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand is joined by:

  - Miriam Manning, Director of Human Resources at TELUS International Ireland. Headquartered in Canada, and with 50,000 team members globally, around 2000 of those based in Ireland. TELUS International provides exceptional customer experience solutions for its partners, and Miriam sees providing an exceptional employee experience as a central part of that role.

- Desmond O’Sullivan, Director of Customer Experience and Director of PMO at Optel Group. A company with operations in both Canada and Ireland, Optel Group is  global provider of traceability, track-and-trace and vision systems. The company has four facilities across four different continents, and currently tracks over 25 billion products. 

 Miriam and Desmond discuss how their companies go about creating an exceptional employee experience, what impact this has on culture and productivity, and what advise they would give to others, based on their experience. 

In the mid 1800s, a 3000-mile long cable was laid across the Atlantic Ocean connecting Valentia in Co Kerry with Hearts Content in Newfoundland. It was described at the time as “a triumph of science and energy over time and space” and it completely revolutionised the communications of the day, bringing Europe and North America much closer together and thereby enhancing trade, diplomacy, culture and so much more. 

 In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, host Patrick Haughey meets Leonard Hobbs, Chairperson of the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation, to talk about the history of this cable, how its impact can still be seen today, and his bid to make Valentia Island a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

 The Ireland Canada Connect is produced and presented by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Pharmapod is an Irish software company that has developed a cloud-based platform to reduce medication errors for patients. In recent years, the company expanded into Canada and has been rapidly growing there ever since.

In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, Anne Keogh, CFO of Pharmapod, tells host Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand, the remarkable story of the company’s growth across Canada, what she has learned about succeeding in that market, the role that CETA has played in Pharmapod’s growth, and future plans.

Greenfield Global, a large and successful Canadian company,  chose Ireland as the location for its very first base outside of North America. In 2020 Greenfield opened its 3,8000 sq meter facility in Co Laois, Ireland, and has very ambitious plans to grow its presence in the country.

Ken Finnegan, MD of Greenfield Global Ireland, has been leading the companies establishment and expansion since it established in Ireland, and all the way through the Covid pandemic. In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection Ken chats with Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand about:


+Why Greenfield Global chose Ireland as its very first base outside of North America
+Why the company chose to set up outside of the main cities, and, having visited 32 different sites,  Ken shares what he learned about the finding the best location for your company
+How Greenfield is helping in the fight against Covid 19 
+Turning waste in to valuable energy and why sustainability should be top of every business leader's agenda right now. 
+How to lead a team and drive progress during challenging times like a pandemic   

The Business Council of Canada is one of Canada’s most influential business representative organisations. It represents the chief executives and heads of 150 leading Canadian businesses, employing 1.7 million Canadians and composed of every major industry across the country.

Goldy Hyder, the Council’s President and CEO, has a fascinating track record in business, public policy, and in the not for profit sector. He has such informed and passionate opinions about effective leadership, business strategy and global trade. In this interview we talk about:

·        His ties to Ireland, his trip to Dublin in 2019, and why the keynote speech he gave then is as relevant today as it was then

·        Driving the competitiveness of Canadian businesses 

·        Why trade is the solution to an impending global recession

·        How Eastern countries have managed Covid-19 more effectively than those in the West

·        His hope for what the new US Presidency might achieve for global trade and relations 

·        Why CETA has been a boost for businesses and why Ireland must ratify the agreement

·        The leadership mindset and policy-making in times of crisis

Eamonn McKee has become Ireland’s new Ambassador to Canada, Jamaica and The Bahamas. He previously held ambassadorial positions in Seoul and Israel and has spent the last 5 years as Director General of the Trade division at the Dept of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador McKee is also an avid reader of history and indeed loves writing about the subject too, which gives him a very interesting perspective on some of the biggest challenges that the world is facing right now.

In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, Ambassador Eamonn McKee joins Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand to talk about:

·       His priorities for his new role of Ambassador to Canada 

·       The importance of national brands and how to grow them 

·       Why Ireland thrives in a free-trade global environment

·       How business is all about relationships and personal connections, and why this makes organisations like the Ireland Canada Business Association so important 

·       The new wave of Irish emigrants making Canada their home

·       How an understanding of the past can help us make better decision in the present 

Joe Aherne founded the Leading Edge Group in 1995 in Cobh, Co Cork, and in 2009, decided it was time to internationalise. Joe chose Toronto, Canada as Leading Edge's first location outside of Ireland. 

In this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection, Joe tells Patrick Haughey all about the experience and what he learned from it, including:

Why he chose Canada over other countries on the list of potential locations 

The first steps he took – what worked and what he would do differently 

His advice for other Irish companies considering expanding into Canada

Canada’s response to the Covid-19 crisis and what other countries might learn from it