THE CEO of Shannon Chamber has been elected to a prestigious position at the Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF).
Helen Downes was elected to the Foundation’s board of directors, effective immediately.
Helen serves as Chief Executive of Shannon Chamber. She has been instrumental in transforming the Chamber into a dynamic force for regional and economic development and business advocacy.
Under her leadership, the Chamber has launched a series of strategic initiatives that foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally, significantly expanding its membership and influence.
Welcoming her appointment, Mark Purdy, chairman of the Canada Ireland Foundation’s board of directors, said that “Helen’s vast strategic business experience and relationship building successes in Ireland will bring a welcome international perspective to the Canada Ireland Foundation”.
“As we prepare to open The Corleck, the vibrant new venue for arts, cultural, and heritage programming for the Irish-Canadian community, her talents and support will be invaluable in many areas, most especially in stakeholder engagement and HR.”
Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, John Concannon, added: “On behalf of the Embassy of Ireland, I would like to congratulate Helen Downes on her election to the Canada Ireland Foundation’s board of directors. Helen will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the board. I wish to express my gratitude to the existing board for giving so generously of their time and playing such an important part in supporting Ireland in Canada”.
Shannon Chamber represents over 330 companies spanning a wide range of industries, collectively employing approximately 20,000 people in Shannon and the wider region in which it operates.
Before joining Shannon Chamber, the native of Hospital, County Limerick, served as HR business partner at Thomson Financial (Ireland) Ltd, where she managed core HR functions and compliance with health and safety regulations across multiple sites.
