Hello, and a Very Happy New Year to all our Members and followers.
Knowing the coaching ethos I can imagine you may have woken up this morning, January 1st 2023, with a sense of gratitude for the year and what it brought to you.
2022 seemed to go past in a blur for many of us as we tried to catch up on those lost moments of the pandemic, seeing family, children, grandchildren, meeting clients face to face when possible and opening our hearts and minds to those of our ICF family, and their families, caught in war, confusion, grieving and loss. There has been that niggling question of the economic crisis and its impact on Ireland and what we coaches can expect as our clients face all the demands on their time, and how we can support them to remain committed to their intentions for coaching.
I am thrilled to announce our new Board of Directors.
I spoke some time ago about New Years Resolutions and asked Members to step up to a role in the 2023 ICF Ireland Board. And WOW, we were overwhelmed at your response, for which I am enormously grateful. Thanks to your response, we now have a new ICF Board to take us into our 20th anniversary year.
Barbara Edwards, Roel Wuite and myself Eileen Jameson – President 2023 are absolutely delighted to welcome the new Board Members.
Stephen Clements has accepted the role of Director, ICF Relations. Stephen won the Coach of the Year Award in 2020 and brings his well-known capacity as a coach, mentor, supervisor and networker extraordinaire to help us in Ireland to tap into all the amazing benefits offered by ICF Global and to keep us all informed about initiatives that can benefit Members.
Siobhan Bradley becomes our Director, External Relations. Siobhan is an executive leadership, life and conflict coach with great experience in Foreign Affairs, Tourism, education and business sectors across Ireland. Siobhan will be advocating at the highest levels for the integration of coaching and a coaching approach to reinforce the development of the coaching industry in Ireland.
Clodagh Swanson joins us as Director, Member Relations. Clodagh is no stranger to the ICF Ireland Family and was President of the Board in 2015. Clodagh is passionate about the coaching profession, relationship management and continuous learning and development. Clodagh will be listening to our Members’ needs and making sure that their opinion is heard when it comes to learning and social events for Members.
Annette Tully steps into the role of Director, Marketing and will support the development and sustainability of the ICF Ireland Chapter and the ICF Brand in Ireland. She will be supporting training schools in their journey to become ICF accredited, and work with coaches who have yet to benefit from all the values of becoming an ICF Member. Annette brings fantastic experience in marketing and development of a coaching culture and will be instrumental in supporting the Chapter to promote the benefits of Coaching to benefit society.
Marianna Rolikova embodies the energy and dynamism needed in the role of Director of Social Media. She brings a portfolio of international and global experience of running massive social media campaigns for political and social agenda. Watch out for ICF Ireland increasing its social media footprint!
With so many highly capable and experienced candidates it was a considerable challenge for the panel to nominate the Directors mentioned. Many of the other candidates have expressed their passion for coaching and willingness to support coaching in Ireland, by accepting to become an Associate to the Board. Once the planning for 2023 is underway, the Directors will reach out to these members to find areas of mutual interest and benefit for all.
Associates are of key importance to the continuity and sustainability of the Chapter as well as providing extra resources in specific areas to harvest our greatest potential for success across our four strategic goals.
And so with all these wonderful appointments, the Board would love to kick off 2023, our 20th anniversary year, with a celebration of the ICF Family. We invite you to please come and meet the Board, and your fellow ICF family coaches, at our first social event of 2023, on Friday January 13th from 1800 – 2030. Please see the event notice on our web site.
May 2023 be an excellent year for you personally and another step towards an Ireland that thrives through coaching.
My very warmest wishes,
Eileen Jameson,ICF Ireland President 2023.