Meg Mathews, Meg's menopause
Meg Mathews (@megsmenopause) is the founder of MegsMenopause. An icon of the nineties Brit Pop scene and a former music industry PR, events planner and designer, Meg is an entrepreneur and an international advocate for the menopause.
She is open and honest about her personal experience and has garnered huge media interest nationally and internationally for her views on menopause, her struggles with menopause symptoms, and the solutions she has devised.
She has become a spokeswoman to raise awareness to the chronic lack of support of working women going through the menopause. She has been invited to speak at governmental institutions and ministries to represent the concerns of women at menopause and to help contribute to shaping new legislation around menopause in the workplace. Some of these key participations include at Foreign & Commonwealth Office, BBC headquarters, 2019 Business Disability Forum, John Lewis & Partners, Superdrug, and the Stella Live Panel by the Independent.
In addition to her MegsMenopause campaign Meg is also an online columnist for Red Magazine and was named by the magazine as one of their Top 20 Career Shifters in 2017. She is an ambassador for PETA, Pup Aid, supports a number of animal charities and environmental causes. More on www.megsmenopause.com
She is open and honest about her personal experience and has garnered huge media interest nationally and internationally for her views on menopause, her struggles with menopause symptoms, and the solutions she has devised.
She has become a spokeswoman to raise awareness to the chronic lack of support of working women going through the menopause. She has been invited to speak at governmental institutions and ministries to represent the concerns of women at menopause and to help contribute to shaping new legislation around menopause in the workplace. Some of these key participations include at Foreign & Commonwealth Office, BBC headquarters, 2019 Business Disability Forum, John Lewis & Partners, Superdrug, and the Stella Live Panel by the Independent.
In addition to her MegsMenopause campaign Meg is also an online columnist for Red Magazine and was named by the magazine as one of their Top 20 Career Shifters in 2017. She is an ambassador for PETA, Pup Aid, supports a number of animal charities and environmental causes. More on www.megsmenopause.com
dr mary ryan, endocrinologist
Dr Mary Ryan (@drmaryryan) is one of our favourite menopause speakers. She has a long interest in women’s health and is involved in a nationwide lecture series for the last two years on educating women on menopause.
She trained in Trinity College Dublin and obtained her MB BCH BAO in 1992. She then specialised in Endocrinology and General Medicine and she is also on the Specialist Registrar.
Dr Mary was part of RTE's “How Long will You lLve” programme for four years and is regular media guest for her expert views on menopause, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Endocrinology.
She has lectured and tutored over the last 11 years in the Post Graduate Medical Degree programme in University of Limerick. Her hobbies include Soprano Singing and she trained with Dr Veronica Dunne, and has produced two CDs: “Carpe Diem”. and “ The Next Chapter”. More on www.drmaryryan.ie
She trained in Trinity College Dublin and obtained her MB BCH BAO in 1992. She then specialised in Endocrinology and General Medicine and she is also on the Specialist Registrar.
Dr Mary was part of RTE's “How Long will You lLve” programme for four years and is regular media guest for her expert views on menopause, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Endocrinology.
She has lectured and tutored over the last 11 years in the Post Graduate Medical Degree programme in University of Limerick. Her hobbies include Soprano Singing and she trained with Dr Veronica Dunne, and has produced two CDs: “Carpe Diem”. and “ The Next Chapter”. More on www.drmaryryan.ie
DIANE DANZEBRINK, THE MENOPAUSE COUNSELLOR, ACTIVIST
Diane Danzebrink a.k.a. The Menopause Counsellor (@dianedanzebrink) is passionate about improving education and awareness about menopause and empowering women to take control of their health and well being before, during and after menopause.
A wellbeing consultant to individuals and organisations she has professional nurse training in menopause and is a member of The British Menopause Society.
As a result of her own menopause experience which had a profound effect on her quality of life she created menopausesupport.co.uk which provides evidence based information, education, advice and support for women and their families, educational seminars for employers and training for therapists.
In October 2018 Diane created the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign calling for mandatory menopause education for GPs, menopause guidance in every workplace and for menopause to be included in the national RSE curriculum - this was achieved in July 2019. Diane is regularly invited to comment in the media on television, radio and in print.
A wellbeing consultant to individuals and organisations she has professional nurse training in menopause and is a member of The British Menopause Society.
As a result of her own menopause experience which had a profound effect on her quality of life she created menopausesupport.co.uk which provides evidence based information, education, advice and support for women and their families, educational seminars for employers and training for therapists.
In October 2018 Diane created the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign calling for mandatory menopause education for GPs, menopause guidance in every workplace and for menopause to be included in the national RSE curriculum - this was achieved in July 2019. Diane is regularly invited to comment in the media on television, radio and in print.
Laura Dowling, the fabulous pharmacist
Laura is Instagram's Fabulous Pharmacist (@fabulouspharmacist). Passionate about health and lifestyle wellness, she graduated from the School of Pharmacy at Trinity College Dublin in 2002.
She is a practicing supervising pharmacist who loves to share her practical and researched-based scientific knowledge with others, in a fun and engaging manner. In her daily Instagram posts she discusses medicines, natural therapies, illnesses, healthy food , skincare , mental health and exercise in between preforming advanced ashtanga yoga poses and baking sourdough bread with her three sons.
Her aim is to make everybody feel as fabulous as possible by inspiring them to lead balanced, healthier lives - always in a consistent and achievable way, and by avoiding short term crazes and fads!
Inez Murray, CEO, FINANCIAL ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN
Inez Murray is the Dublin and New York based Chief Executive of the Global Banking Alliance for Women and a recognised global expert on barriers and solutions to financial independence for low income communities.
She is a passionate about empowering women through financial independence. "If you were to choose an intervention that supports women, for me, it’s about enabling them to generate their own wealth. Financial independence allows people to make their own decisions. That’s an important reality."
Inez's expertise lies in building pathways to wealth creation for women. That starts with recognising and removing barriers, such as competing responsibilities and time constraints specific to women.
She is a passionate about empowering women through financial independence. "If you were to choose an intervention that supports women, for me, it’s about enabling them to generate their own wealth. Financial independence allows people to make their own decisions. That’s an important reality."
Inez's expertise lies in building pathways to wealth creation for women. That starts with recognising and removing barriers, such as competing responsibilities and time constraints specific to women.
Catherine O'Keeffe, perimenopause coach, wellness warrior
Catherine O'Keeffe, (@WellnessWarrior.ie), is Ireland's first peri-menopause coach, mother of three boys and newly minted marathon runner.
A former financial services director and a trained homeopath, Catherine is a self-confessed health geek, regular contributor to the My Second Spring menopause website and speaker at health events throughout Ireland and the UK. She is author of The Best Friend's Guide to Anxiety: A Practical Toolkit for Moving Beyond Anxiety at Menopause.
She has extensive knowledge in the area of menopause and peri-menopause management and shows clients how to optomise nutrition, exercise, supplementation and other lifestyle changes during these significant years. She holds private consultations for clients over Skype, Zoom and at her offices at Kilkenny and Dublin. More at www.wellnesswarrior.ie
A former financial services director and a trained homeopath, Catherine is a self-confessed health geek, regular contributor to the My Second Spring menopause website and speaker at health events throughout Ireland and the UK. She is author of The Best Friend's Guide to Anxiety: A Practical Toolkit for Moving Beyond Anxiety at Menopause.
She has extensive knowledge in the area of menopause and peri-menopause management and shows clients how to optomise nutrition, exercise, supplementation and other lifestyle changes during these significant years. She holds private consultations for clients over Skype, Zoom and at her offices at Kilkenny and Dublin. More at www.wellnesswarrior.ie
LISE-ANN MCLAUGHLIN, life coach, wild at heart
Lise-Ann (@LARocketWoman) is an actor, screenwriter and life coach with a special focus on women, through her empowering Wild at Heart days.
Having raised her children, she felt she wanted to make a contribution: " I followed my passions, for social equality, for women’s right to stand up in the world and I trained as a coach, qualifying three years ago.
Years of playing a huge variety of characters had given me a deep understanding of women’s lives and stories and of their vulnerability and strengths. Last year I trained further, becoming a One of Many Coach, a way of coaching which helps women play to their strengths, use their instincts, wit and wisdom to get brave, find their self-belief and get back out there. Now my day is spent helping women, ordinary women like you and me, to transform their lives, so they’re happy, busy and fulfilled." More at Lise-Ann.com
Having raised her children, she felt she wanted to make a contribution: " I followed my passions, for social equality, for women’s right to stand up in the world and I trained as a coach, qualifying three years ago.
Years of playing a huge variety of characters had given me a deep understanding of women’s lives and stories and of their vulnerability and strengths. Last year I trained further, becoming a One of Many Coach, a way of coaching which helps women play to their strengths, use their instincts, wit and wisdom to get brave, find their self-belief and get back out there. Now my day is spent helping women, ordinary women like you and me, to transform their lives, so they’re happy, busy and fulfilled." More at Lise-Ann.com
DR KATHERINE MULROONEY, cosmetic DERMATOLOGIST
Dr Katherine Mulrooney MB BCh, BAO, MSc. Clinical Dermatology (@drmulrooneyclinic) specialises exclusively in the treatment of ageing skin for the past 15 years and is at the forefront of all advances in cosmetic dermatology.
After studying medicine at NUI Galway, she completed a masters degree in Clinical Dermatology at the renowned St John’s Institute of Dermatology at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Her keen aesthetic eye, and ‘less is more’ principle has earned Dr Mulrooney an excellent reputation and moreover a loyal client base.
Dr Mulrooney continuously updates her knowledge with frequent travel to recognised international conferences on cosmetic dermatology.
She is co-founder of The Dr. Mulrooney Clinic in Dublin 4, where she works alongside her sister, Dr Jane Mulrooney, for the past 10 years.
After studying medicine at NUI Galway, she completed a masters degree in Clinical Dermatology at the renowned St John’s Institute of Dermatology at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Her keen aesthetic eye, and ‘less is more’ principle has earned Dr Mulrooney an excellent reputation and moreover a loyal client base.
Dr Mulrooney continuously updates her knowledge with frequent travel to recognised international conferences on cosmetic dermatology.
She is co-founder of The Dr. Mulrooney Clinic in Dublin 4, where she works alongside her sister, Dr Jane Mulrooney, for the past 10 years.
ALANA KIRK, THE MIDLIFE COACH, WRITER
Alana Kirk is an author, freelance writer, fundraiser, charity campaigner and midlife coach.
Her bestselling debut book 'Daughter, Mother, Me: a memoir of love, loss and dirty dishes' explores her experiences in the sandwich years, caring for young children and ageing parents. The Sandwich Years followed, and she is working on her third book.
Alana is a qualified Life and Leadership coach with an Advanced Diploma in Personal Leadership and Executive Coaching, and a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Her speciality? Women in midlife. She coaches clients as The Midlife Coach.
Alana writes regularly for newspapers including the Irish Times and the UK Daily Mail, writing about a variety of issues facing women today. She lives in Dublin, with her three children, a dog, two cats and a very scared hamster. Find out more www.alanakirk.ie
Her bestselling debut book 'Daughter, Mother, Me: a memoir of love, loss and dirty dishes' explores her experiences in the sandwich years, caring for young children and ageing parents. The Sandwich Years followed, and she is working on her third book.
Alana is a qualified Life and Leadership coach with an Advanced Diploma in Personal Leadership and Executive Coaching, and a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Her speciality? Women in midlife. She coaches clients as The Midlife Coach.
Alana writes regularly for newspapers including the Irish Times and the UK Daily Mail, writing about a variety of issues facing women today. She lives in Dublin, with her three children, a dog, two cats and a very scared hamster. Find out more www.alanakirk.ie
janette ryan, menopause skincare expert
Janette Ryan is Head of Education for Vichy, and has over 18 years’ experience working in skincare.
A qualified beauty therapist and beauty therapy tutor Janette has spent the majority of her career educating both beauty therapy students and pharmacy staff on the fundamentals of skin at every stage of our life from baby to adult.
Janette joined Vichy in 2007 and since then has been upskilling both pharmacy skincare advisors and pharmacists on the importance of skin health and how to give the best skincare advice to customers and patients. Janette has a specialism in menopause and the changes that occur in the skin during this stage in our lives.
Janette will provide a blueprint for skin health and optimal grooming at menopause.
aisling grimley, founder, my second spring
Aisling Grimley set up the website mysecondspring.ie in 2013 to answer questions she herself experienced as she entered her late 40s and perimenopause. The website, which has around 1.5m visitors annually, was a response to the dearth of good information online on the subject. Aisling takes the approach that while it can be challenging, perimenopause and menopause “is a completely normal life-stage, and not a disease to be treated`.
The site is visited by women all over the world who are seeking proactive solutions to their menopause symptoms. “We wanted to both provide effective advice on symptom management, but also to reframe the ideas around menopause,” she explains.
Aisling, a former financial PR executive, catering entrepreneur and community activist, is the author of The Best Friend's Guide to Menopause and a sought after commentator on menopause in Ireland. She lives in Dublin and is mother to four daughters and a golden retriever. More at www.mysecondspring.com
The site is visited by women all over the world who are seeking proactive solutions to their menopause symptoms. “We wanted to both provide effective advice on symptom management, but also to reframe the ideas around menopause,” she explains.
Aisling, a former financial PR executive, catering entrepreneur and community activist, is the author of The Best Friend's Guide to Menopause and a sought after commentator on menopause in Ireland. She lives in Dublin and is mother to four daughters and a golden retriever. More at www.mysecondspring.com
Niamh prendergast, director, davy private clients
Niamh has over 18 years’ experience in providing client wealth management. There is no doubt that financial services is an industry historically dominated by men, however in recent years, she has seen a gradual change in the landscape, with many women more visible in their roles in financial organisations, and more women seeking a more pro-active role in managing their financial affairs.
Niamh specialises is advising women - and men - who are approaching or at retirement, helping them to get comfortable using their capital base to fund their lifestyle.
The reality for most of her clients is that retirement is really a change in direction or pace, rather than a hanging up of the boots, and they are planning for a dynamic second act.
Niamh specialises is advising women - and men - who are approaching or at retirement, helping them to get comfortable using their capital base to fund their lifestyle.
The reality for most of her clients is that retirement is really a change in direction or pace, rather than a hanging up of the boots, and they are planning for a dynamic second act.
orla moore, director, linwoods healthfoods
Details to follow
Breffnie O'Kelly, MC, THE M WORD
If Breffnie wasn't at the M Word, she'd probably be on a Zoom call to a client in America or Sydney listening to their feedback on properties that she has shortlisted for them.
Taking inspiration from the concept of midlife as "a second Spring", a chance to start again, Breffnie went back to college to get an Estate Agent's licence in 2014 aged 47. She then talked her way into a job as a prize wining sales negotiator for DNG.
Now Breffnie runs her own property finding and coaching service for busy people. She's been thrilled to be asked to speak in recent months as an industry expert by Thejournal.ie (sister company to DAFT.ie) and to contribute articles on property buying to The Irish Times.
Breffnie's happy to have found a brilliant way of combining her passions for life coaching ( qualified life and business coach) and property (licenced estate agent). www.breffnieokelly.ie
Taking inspiration from the concept of midlife as "a second Spring", a chance to start again, Breffnie went back to college to get an Estate Agent's licence in 2014 aged 47. She then talked her way into a job as a prize wining sales negotiator for DNG.
Now Breffnie runs her own property finding and coaching service for busy people. She's been thrilled to be asked to speak in recent months as an industry expert by Thejournal.ie (sister company to DAFT.ie) and to contribute articles on property buying to The Irish Times.
Breffnie's happy to have found a brilliant way of combining her passions for life coaching ( qualified life and business coach) and property (licenced estate agent). www.breffnieokelly.ie