May 26th 2026 – Book Your Place Now
BiG* Leaders Summit
The Premier Business & Networking Event In The West of Ireland – The Galway Executive Skillnet BiG* Leaders Summit is the highlight not to be missed.
The 2026 Event will take place on May 26th with speakers to be announced very soon.
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2026 Speakers
Marie Gleeson
Marie Gleeson is a former Irish Navy Ships Captain and Founder of NavMar Leadership, with over twenty years’ experience leading teams in high-risk, high-pressure environments. Rising from naval cadet to Captain of the LE AOIFE, Marie developed a leadership style rooted in resilience, service, and decisive action in the face of uncertainty.
One of the first female officers in the Irish Navy, Marie brings a unique perspective on leading in traditionally male-dominated environments. Her powerful personal and professional journey, spanning international operations, critical decision-making, and profound personal adversity, allows her to deliver leadership lessons that are both deeply human and highly practical.
An honest, engaging, and inspiring speaker, Marie translates the realities of command into clear, actionable insights for today’s business leaders, showing how to lead with strength, empathy, and purpose when it matters most.
What is the BiG* Leaders Summit?
Connect with a local network of peers
Our BiG* events are perfect for that catch-up chat with your colleagues and friends. Bring your team, make introductions, share insights, and enjoy the show.
Learn, Unlearn, Relearn
To stay ahead in business, we all need to adapt to change. The BiG* Leaders Summit delivers new thoughts on existing challenges and gives you the chance to reflect on your successes and build for the future.
Share the excitement
This is one of the standout events in the West of Ireland, take pictures, post your thoughts, take your new employees. A free event that pays back in learnings and enjoyment.
BiG* Names
Our Past Speakers
BiG* stands for Based in Galway – We are Galway Executive Skillnet and we believe that while Galway is recognised as ‘the place to live in Ireland’ we need to ensure that it is ‘the place to work in Ireland’. To achieve this aim we need strong successful businesses, with strong successful teams, managers and leaders.
What participants have to say about our events
FAQs
Are you looking for answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the BiG* event?
How do I sign up for the event?
The registration link is available below. For more information, contact info@galwayexecutiveskillnet.com
When will the event take place?
BiG* Leaders Summit 2026 will take place on May 26th in the Ardilaun Hotel, Galway.
Will there be opportunities to ask questions during the show?
We offer Question & Answer segments to our guest speakers when time allows and a roving microphone will go through the audience.
What topics will be discussed during this event?
The theme for our BiG* Events is Learn, Unlearn, Relearn, including more in-depth discussion on resilience and building confidence.











