Fuel Your Potential

RDJ recently held the latest in its women in leadership series, ‘Fuel Your Potential’ in association with Sisterly at Salthill Hotel in Galway on Friday, 22 March.

It was a high energy morning which kicked off with a refreshing SISTERLY sea swim on Ladies Beach, followed by an inspiring discussion with our panel of trailblazing speakers on how tailored approaches to female health, nutrition and performance can be game-changing but are often overlooked in favour of a one-size fits all approach.

Our speakers gave candid and relevant insights across their respective fields with regard to gaps in research in female health and nutrition, measures to foster continued engagement of girls in sport, the importance of not underestimating personal potential and the open environment that needs to be cultivated on the path to achieving gender parity in the corporate world.

Our panel moderated by RDJ Corporate Partner, Marie Gavin included:

• Jenny O’Connell | Sisterly

Jenny is one of the three founders of SISTERLY, a female-led start-up developing smarter supplements that work for women. A lawyer for over 20 years, she worked as an attorney in New York before returning to Dublin to work as a barrister. For reasons unknown, she completed an Ironman and swam across Lake Geneva before a few rounds of Covid caused her to pause and look for better solutions to support her own energy and immunity. She and her SISTERLY co-founders Aoife Matthews and Louise O'Riordan are on a mission to give female health the time and attention it deserves.

• Annalise Murphy | Irish Olympic Sailor

Annalise is a triple Olympian sailor from Dublin, with a sporting career highlighted by an Olympic Silver medal. Her Olympic journey began with qualification for the London 2012 Olympics, where she experienced the heartbreak of narrowly missing the podium despite dominating the initial races. In a historic moment at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Annalise etched her name in Irish sporting lore by securing a silver medal, becoming Ireland's first female sailor to achieve such a feat and only the fourth Irishwoman overall to claim an Olympic medal. Seeking new horizons, Annalise embarked on the rigorous challenge of the Volvo Ocean Race, circumnavigating the globe with a 50/50 mixed team aboard Turn the Tide on Plastic. Despite facing unforeseen challenges, she secured her spot at the Tokyo Olympics. Sport doesn’t always give you what you want or deserve, and Annalise ultimately finished in 18th. Post-Tokyo, Annalise completed an MBA at Trinity College Dublin. Additionally, she showcased her versatility and competitive prowess in cycling, capturing three national titles in 2023. Annalise now serves as a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Athletes’ Commission and is a board member of Irish Sailing’s Olympic Steering Group.

• Dr Lisa Ryan | Atlantic Technological University

Dr Lisa Ryan is Head of School of Science and Computing at Atlantic Technological University. Since arriving at ATU in 2015 from Monash University, Australia, Dr Ryan has established the Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition and new areas of study in Sport & Exercise Science, Sports Coaching, Strength and Conditioning, Biomechanics, Sport & Exercise Nutrition, and Public Health Nutrition and received Enterprise Ireland funding in 2017 to establish the Medicinal Nutrition and Sport thematic research group extending the capabilities of the MET Gateway at ATU. She has a particular interest in sex-based differences in concussion presentation and management and the potential role of nutrition in concussion recovery. She is currently leading six European Projects focused primarily on Sport, Exercise and Nutrition fields. Dr Ryan is an advocate for all aspects of women’s health and the promotion and support of women in sport. In 2024 she is co-leading a national group to support and develop all aspects of Women in Sport in Ireland.

• Sally Anne Sherry | Director, Counsel & Co-Founder

Sally Anne Sherry is an experienced Director, Solicitor and Founder with over 20 years of experience in law and business. Sally Anne trained with a top Irish law firm and spent many years working in-house for some of Ireland’s top real estate developers. A former competitive swimmer, she founded Kahm Sustainable Swimwear during lockdown in 2021 with her sister, Áine. Sally Anne is currently an External Member of the Governing Body of Technological University Dublin, a Non-Executive Director of Donegal 2040 Strategic Development DAC, CEIST (Catholic Education An Irish Schools’ Trust) and As Darragh Did CLG

View photos from the event here.

If you would like to hear more about upcoming RDJ Women in Leadership events, please email rdjevents@rdj.ie