Sustaining Irish Rugby Forum: Meet The Experts – Dr Una May

The inaugural Sustaining Irish Rugby Forum takes place this Sunday November 24^th at the Aviva Stadium under the theme Shaping The Future Together.

The one-day gathering is an opportunity for club volunteers to come together with industry experts and identify strategies that ensure the sustainability of rugby in the coming years.

MEET THE EXPERTS: Dr Una May – Director of Participation and Ethics with Sport Ireland.

Dr Una May will discuss the Irish Sports Monitor and address the forum on how sport is being impacted by a changing Ireland. The ISM is a large population study undertaken biennially in order to provide trends in participation in sport and physical activity in Ireland.

She has worked with Sport Ireland (previously the Irish Sports Council) since 1998 and has managed the Irish Sports Council Anti-Doping Program since 2001.

She is currently the Director of Participation and Ethics in Sport Ireland with responsibility for overall Participation in Sport and Physical Activity, Safeguarding, Diversity and Inclusion and Anti-Doping.

She has a PhD in Exercise Physiology (1996) and a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science (1991) from John Moores University, Liverpool. She has represented Ireland in both orienteering and mountain running.

She is a member of the Implementation oversight Group of the National Physical Activity Plan.  She also represents Sport Ireland on the All-Island Obesity Action Forum and on the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy Oversight Committee and the National Advisory Group for Volunteering.

“Sport Ireland is delighted to participate in this event, working together to identify ways forward in tackling the challenges of a changing society,” said Dr May. “This is based on our values and principles of developing a sustainable, responsible and responsive sports sector.”

Event Details:

‘Sustaining Irish Rugby’ – Shaping The Future of Club Rugby Together

Date: Sunday, November 24
Venue: President’s Terrace, Aviva Stadium

10:00  Registration & Networking

11:00 Welcome – Greg Barrett, Chair of IRFU Rugby Committee

11:05 Opening Remarks – Colin McEntee, Director of Rugby Development, IRFU

• Framing the objectives of the day.

11:20 New Ireland Society and the Club of the future – Ronan Fitzpatrick, Director of Digital PwC Ireland

• Addressing societal changes in Ireland

11:40 Irish Sports Monitor – Una May, Director of Participation and Ethics, Sport Ireland

• How sport is being impacted

12:00  Q&A with Una May and Ronan Fitzpatrick

• Findings & implications from opening sessions

12:30 Lunch

13:30 Rugby’s Response To A Changing Society- Anne Marie Hughes, Spirit Of Rugby Programme Manager

• Club perspective and case studies

14:15 Sustainable energy and your club –  Cormac Mannion, Head of Energy Services, Energia

• How clubs can be more sustainable.

14:45 Developing a Club Strategy – Ronan Fitzpatrick, Director of Digital PwC Ireland

• How to develop a club strategy

15:05 Break-out session

15:15 Closing Remarks – Colin McEntee, Director of Rugby Development, IRFU

15:30 ENDS

 

The event is free but ticket-only with limited availability.

To get your tickets, go to http://bit.ly/RugbyForum.