Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Programme has supported leaders to bid to host conferences worth approximately €2.9 billion since 2009
Fáilte Ireland has honoured the outstanding contributions of 109 sector leaders at the biennial Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards held at The Royal Dublin Society on Thursday 27th November.
These leading academics and industry experts, known as conference ambassadors, were celebrated for hosting international conferences in Ireland between 2023 and 2024, and collectively generating an estimated €117 million for the Irish economy.
The role of conference ambassadors underpins the Government’s Business Events 2030 strategy by attracting high-value international conferences that deliver economic impact and long-term legacy for Ireland.
Conference Ambassador of the Year 2025
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of Conference Ambassador of the Year award to Professor Cathal Gurrin of Dublin City University. Since 2011, Professor Gurrin has secured multiple international conferences worth an estimated €6.4 million, including the 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval (ECIR) in 2023, which contributed approximately €470,000 to the local economy. With more events in the pipeline, his efforts continue to position Ireland as a leading global conference destination.
Two spotlight awards recognised excellence in sustainability and social impact:
- Sustainability Award: The 35th International Geographical Congress 2024, organised by Dr. Niamh Moore-Cherry (UCD) and Professor Frances Fahy (University of Galway) took place at Dublin City University.
- Social Impact Award: The 54th European University Continuing Education Network (EUCEN) Conference 2024, led by Dr. Lyndsey El Amoud, took place at University College Cork.
Supporting sector leaders to bid to host conferences
Since its inception in 2009, Ireland’s Conference Ambassador Programme has motivated and supported nearly 3,500 sector leaders in their journey to bid to host conferences worth approximately €2.9 billion. These events, often held outside the busy summer period, deliver significant economic, social, and environmental benefits, with each international delegate’s value estimated at more than two and a half times that of the average leisure tourist.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said:
“I congratulate all of the ambassadors recognised at the Conference Ambassadors Recognition Awards. Their success in attracting international conferences is helping to deliver the Business Events 2030 strategy, which I launched earlier this year. This strategy sets out our ambition to position Ireland as a sustainable, world-class destination for business travel, driving economic growth and supporting regional development. The work of these ambassadors demonstrates how collaboration and leadership can turn that vision into reality, strengthening Ireland’s reputation on the global stage.”
Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland Caroline Bocquel added:
“Our conference ambassadors are true champions for Ireland on the global stage. Their dedication and expertise have not only delivered an estimated €117 million to our economy over a two-year period, but they have also showcased Ireland as a world-class destination for knowledge exchange and innovation. These conferences create lasting legacies- strengthening our industries, fostering collaboration, and driving regional growth. At Fáilte Ireland, we are proud to support this network and encourage more leaders to join us in bringing future business events to Ireland.”
