The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) in partnership with Bank of Ireland is delighted to host the 10th Women@SIMI event!.
Now in its milestone year, Women@SIMI continues to offer a valued platform for professionals across our industry to connect, share insights, and build lasting relationships. The event is also a celebration of the extensive contributions made by women across the Motor Industry in Ireland.
This event aims to provide a platform for professionals within our industry to come together to network, exchange experiences and create business contacts. SIMI remains committed to promoting inclusion and empowerment within the Motor Industry.
The Event
We were delighted to be joined by Mary Kennedy, our MC for the day, along with our guest speakers.
This year’s panel features an inspiring lineup of industry leaders, including:
• Susan Russell, CEO of Retail Bank of Ireland
• Helen Westby, Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland
• Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor & Columnist
Speakers
Susan Russell, CEO of Retail Bank of Ireland
Susan has more than 20 years' experience in Financial Services both in Ireland and the UK As CEO of Retail Ireland, Susan is responsible for over 2.2 million active customers across all segments including mass market, premier, youth and vulnerable customers. Retail Ireland's distribution channels encompass the branch network and contact centres along with a wide range of digital banking options. A full suite of retail banking products and services are offered through these channels including mortgages, loans and everyday banking. Susan holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Masters in Business Studies from University College Dublin.
Susan is a Group NED of New Ireland Assurance Company and President of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland.
Helen Westby, Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland
Helen has many years of experience in the automotive industry. Accruing a wealth of knowledge across BMW Group’s business, particularly in Retail Network facing roles and she is an experienced learning and development leader. Helen began working for the BMW Group in 2000 as a consultant supporting a Customer Quality Programme, then moved to a Regional Business Development Manager role. In 2013, Helen was promoted to BMW Regional Sales Manager, before her move to BMW Group’s Training Academy. In 2023, Helen took on the role of Managing Director at BMW Group Ireland.
Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor & Columnist
Geraldine Herbert is a columnist and Motoring Editor at the Sunday Independent, and Ireland’s first female motoring editor of a national newspaper. A regular contributor to radio and television, including RTÉ, Virgin Media and the BBC, on transport, motoring and consumer issues, she has written about transport and motoring for over two decades.
Founder and editor of Ireland’s first and only website for women on wheels — www.wheelsforwomen.ie — covering bikes, cars and motorbikes, Geraldine is a graduate of the National University of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin.
Bookings
Date: Friday, 12th September 2025
Venue: The InterContinental Dublin 4
Time: 12pm to 4.30pm-approx
Bookings are open, we encourage you to secure your play today to avoid disappointment
Email: josullivan@simi.ie
Cost: €140pp including VAT (€113.82 +€26.18 vat23%)
Previous Women@SIMI Events
Previous Guest Speakers
Our Previous guest speakers have come from a variety of backgrounds to share their own personal stories and insights as to how they became leaders within their chosen profession.
- 2024 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Sharon O’Buachalla, Managing Director of Ayvens and Aoife O’Grady, Head of Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI)
- 2023 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Louise Grubb CEO TriviumVet, Norah Casey Broadcaster, entrepreneur and human rights campaigner
- 2022 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Sharon Keegan, founder of Peachylean Athleisure wear, Lucy Gaffney, founding director of the Digicel Group
- 2019 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Breege O’ Donoghue Executive Director, Penneys, Alison Comyn , Award Winning Journalist
- 2018 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Francesca McDonagh, Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland, Geraldine Herbert, Editor & Motoring Journalist, Gerry Hussey, Performance Psychology Consultant
- 2017 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Anna May McHugh, Managing Director National Ploughing Association (NPA), Paula Fitzsimons, Managing Director of Fitzsimons Consulting, Michelle Spillane, Director of Global Marketing, RTÉ.
- 2016 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Moyagh Murdock CEO of the Road Safety Authority, Penny Ferguson, Founder of the Living Leader and Regina Doherty, Government Chief Whip, and Minister of State in the Department of An Taoiseach.
- 2015 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Louise Phelan, Business Speaker, PayPal VP Global Operations EMEA, Mary O’Rourke, Former Government Minister and writer, Gráinne Cronin Former Aer Lingus Pilot.
- 2014 Inaugural Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Katie Taylor, Olympic Gold Medalist, Nicola Byrne, CEO and Founder of Cloud 90, 11890 and Stenics Media, Lynne Cantwell, Ireland's most capped women's rugby player, Aifric Campbell, Novelist and former MD of the trading floor at Morgan Stanley, Rosemary Smith, the legendary rally ace and SIMI Irish Motor Industry Award Winner.
Event Information
Gallery
