A new survey from leading Irish IT managed services provider Auxilion reveals that data loss/theft and ransomware/malware attacks were the cybersecurity concerns most cited by IT leaders when it comes to the cloud - at 30% respectively.

The research, carried out by Censuswide and involving IT decision-makers across large enterprises in the Republic of Ireland, found that 40% of respondents see IT security risks as a main concern associated with adopting and managing cloud computing.

A similar proportion (42%) said that the changing cybersecurity landscape was one of the biggest obstacles to the successful delivery of their IT strategy. Moreover, one in four (26%) IT leaders in Ireland do not think current laws and regulations are sufficient to protect privacy, access, and confidentiality in a cloud-based environment.

Adding to this, almost a quarter (24%) of IT decision-makers surveyed who are currently using the cloud do not think their own organisation has sufficient capabilities to manage cloud computing and more than a third of those respondents admitted to having little or no visibility of their workloads in the cloud (36%).

Despite this, some 83% consider cloud to be a more secure approach for their organisation. It appears that IT leaders are being proactive in this area with 83% also having a cloud security strategy in place and 73% currently using a technology partner to manage their cloud strategy and services.

The study also found that the shift to cloud is set to continue with nearly all respondents (96%) expecting to migrate more workloads, applications, and processes to the cloud over the next 12 months.

On October 9th, Auxilion, HPE and Zerto will be holding an event hosted by broadcaster Ivan Yates to discuss the increased need for robust data protection, cloud security, and business continuity capabilities.

Donal Sullivan, CTO, Auxilion, said: "While the cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, organisations are facing an even bigger uphill battle at the moment with the rise of threats enabled by Artificial Intelligence and the introduction of the European-wide NIS2 regulation in October.

"This means businesses not only need to be more proactive when it comes to securing their data and responding to incidents, they also need to ensure that they are meeting their compliance and regulatory obligations. This requires the right technologies and partners that can support security, mobility and scalability.

"The truth is that in this day and age, resilience and recovery are as important as detection and prevention when it comes to cybersecurity. Businesses which fail to recognise this and adapt their strategy could be at risk operationally, reputationally and financially."

Chris Rogers, Senior Technology Evangelist, Zerto, said: "Rapid recovery from a cyber incident is more than a reactive measure - it's a critical component of a resilient and forward-thinking business strategy. The ability to swiftly bounce back from disruptions not only minimises downtime but also safeguards reputation, customer trust, and bottom line.

"The real competitive edge lies in turning these challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation, and partnering with experts to unlock advanced cyber resilience capabilities can significantly accelerate an organisation's journey to cyber maturity."

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Three Ireland has announced it has reached over 3 million 'Internet of Things' (IoT) connections in Ireland. This milestone represents the latest step in the operator's position as an IoT leader, with over 75% market share for IoT.

IoT technology helps to connect and optimise systems for businesses. In 2023, Three provided 600,000 connections in the Irish market. Three Ireland's IoT customers span a variety of sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, energy and motoring.

The benefits of IoT are wide-ranging and the use cases for IoT are endless whether it is for a small, medium or large business. At Three, we encourage customers to challenge us to design tailored IoT solutions to meet their needs. For example, Three has partnered with ESB Networks on the nation-wide rollout of smart meters, with over 1.8 million meters underpinned by Three's network, installed so far, helping to build a more sustainable Ireland by encouraging more energy efficient living.

Three's IoT has also been deployed successfully across the retail sector with the operator connecting retail point of sale devices and providing robust Wide Area Networking backup for retailers all over Ireland.

Three Ireland's IoT solutions also range from providing life-saving connectivity for lifebuoys in Dublin, to ensuring temperature and transit conditions are maintained for important pharmaceutical drugs.

Karl Mc Dermott, Head of 3Connected Solutions comments: "This important milestone demonstrates Three's position as the IoT leader in Ireland. IoT continues to evolve and we continue to invest in our products and our solutions that are locally developed and supported here in Ireland. We look forward to building on our support through technology and connectivity to businesses of all sizes and in various sectors including energy, medicine, transportation and security."

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Sony has announced the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (SEL85F14GM2) a premium lens offering a supreme blend of high resolution and stunning bokeh with fast autofocus (AF) in a compact body. This is a second-generation lens that inherits the optical design that achieved a high-level fusion of bokeh and resolution that was highly praised in the first-generation model, and generously incorporates the latest technology.

When paired with the latest Sony's Alpha series cameras, it is an ideal option for a wide variety of creative uses in both photography and videography, including portraiture, wedding, travel, and cinematic video.

"In 2016 we launched our G Master lineup and the first generation 85 mm F1.4 lens was one of the three lenses part of that pivotable moment for Sony.

Our goal with our G Master line is to design glass that delivers stunning resolution and beautiful bokeh, while incorporating the highest level of technology available at the time, and we are proud to continue that message with the next-generation FE 85mm F1.4 GM II we are announcing today," said Yann Salmon Legagneur, Head of IP&S Marketing, Sony Europe. "We know how many photographers and videographers rely on the large aperture 85 mm focal length.

We are excited to offer an updated version packed with our latest lens technologies, all while maintaining a lightweight lens and extremely compact in size."

High Optical Performance & Beautiful Bokeh

The advanced and refined optical design and elements of the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II bring together appealing bokeh and enhanced high resolution, making it ideal for portrait photography.

Packed with two XA (extreme aspherical) and two ED (extra-low dispersion) lenses, the state-of-the-art optical design effectively suppresses aberrations. This combination offers corner-to-corner resolution and rendering, resulting in outstanding image quality. Moreover, Sony's original Nano AR Coating II technology effectively subdues flare and ghosting for clear, crisp images.

The 11-blade circular aperture and optimisation of spherical aberration during the design and manufacturing process provide the beautiful, soft bokeh that is the hallmark of G Master series.

Fast, Precise, Quiet Autofocus and High Tracking Performance

The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II's AF is agile, maximising the speed advantage of advanced camera bodies. For stills, it is up to 3 times fastericompared to the previous modelii, tracking moving subjects with high precision. It keeps up flawlessly with the Alpha 9 III's 120fpsiiicontinuous shooting, and subject tracking performance is improved by as much as 7 timesii.

Lightweight and Stylish Design without Compromises

Compared to the current FE 85mm F1.4 GMi, the weight of the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (642 grams, 22.7 oz.) is approximately 20% lighterivand 13% smaller in volume, which is achieved through the latest mechanical technology and optical design. The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has a filter diameter of ?77 mm, diameter of 84.7 mm (about 3-3/8 in) and length of 107.3 mm (about 4-1/4 in).

Effective Cinematic Creation Features

For smooth movie creation at F1.4, the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has an XD linear motor. Focus breathing is minimal, and in-body focus breathing compensationv is supported. It has two customisable focus hold buttons and an AF/MF switch offer flexible operability, while an independent aperture ring and Linear Response MF focus control provide the kind of intuitive control that creative shooting demands.

Crafted for Durability

The front lens element features a fluorine coating, which makes it easy to remove fingerprints, dust, oil, and other contaminants from the lens surface. The dust and moisture resistant designvi provides extra reliability for outdoor use in challenging conditions.

Pricing and Availability

The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II will be available in September 2024 for approximately €2,100 EUR at a variety of Sony's authorised dealers.

A product video on the new FE 85mm F1.4 GM II can be viewed here.

For detailed product infor...

Imagine a world where all the information about the city or town you live in - from bike share availability to flood detection to nocturnal bat activity - is readily available in a 3D map on your mobile phone. A world where data-driven cities use geospatial artificial intelligence, such as interactive mapping, 3D environments, modelling and simulations, to manage their urban environments and tackle problems in real time.

The digital transformation of maps and mapping that has been underway in recent decades is far from over and is likely to see highly visual 3D maps replace 2D maps among other advances, according to a presentation by Prof Rob Kitchin of Maynooth University's Department of Geography and Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) to the 2024 International Geographical Congress (IGC).

He was delivering the keynote address at a session on the future of mapping at the largest gathering of international geographers which is taking place in Ireland for the first time. In his talk, Prof Kitchin said the process of digital transformation continues to evolve and will demand new ways to make sense of mapping.

Prof Kitchin said that urban 'digital twins', a twinning of physical environments and systems and a virtual counterpart, are still in their infancy. Presently they exist as City Information Modelling (CIM), where a detailed virtual model mirrors the urban landscape with accurate topology and topography and realistic buildings and landscape rendering and in which administrative and real-time data can be visualised.

However, such models are far from being a true digital twin in terms of changes in the real world being updated in real-time in the virtual model, and changes in the model creating an alteration in geographic space.

"Yet CIMs and the promise of digital twins have captured the interest of many stakeholders. Governments see them as a useful tool for urban management and governance, formulating and assessing urban planning, and the monitoring of city services and policies. Architectural, construction, and planning businesses see them as a means to develop and sell urban designs and plans.

"Researchers aim to use them to produce urban simulations and models and to facilitate participatory projects relating to local places, and civil society organisations are interested in creating new kinds of counter-mapping initiatives that might open up new political conversations about urban development," Prof Kitchin said.

He noted that CIMs allow:

users to be immersed in, and walk or fly through, digital landscapes

display many kinds of spatial and environmental data

experiment with building and urban designs such as altering building dimensions

run various forms of simulations and models such as traffic movement

act as a collaborative environment for discussion, design practice and operations

By doing so, they have the potential to enrich public understanding of prospective urban design in public consultation, facilitate participatory planning and improve communication of sustainability science, and aid real-time management of city infrastructures and space.

He also noted that digital twins and deep maps prompt critical reflection on the nature of mapping. While such methods are cast as "value-free, objective" they are instead "an engine, not a mirror" in that they change rather than just reflect the world. In this sense, they are far from being neutral tools but reflect the ambitions and aims of their creators.

The IGC session was co-hosted with the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference taking place in London. Also presenting at the same event were Luke Barrington, AI Product Lead for Google Dublin, and Celine Rozenblat, Chair of the United Nations Geospatial societies on Global Geospatial Information Management who discussed the development of Geo-AI.

In his presentation, "Earth AI: Models of the planet as seen from satellites to Street View and everything in between", Google's Barrington spoke about using geospatial obse...

Vodafone Ireland, in collaboration with Folk VML, is proud to unveil a powerful new out-of-home (OOH) campaign addressing the escalating issue of e-waste in Ireland. As part of Vodafone's ongoing 'Home of Trade-In' initiative, this campaign uses the stunning backdrop of Glendalough to highlight the magnitude of e-waste through a dramatic depiction of a literal mountain of unused smartphones.

With more than 5 million unused smartphones languishing in drawers across Ireland, the valuable raw materials they contain are being overlooked and wasted. This issue remains largely hidden and forgotten, as these devices sit idle and unused.

Vodafone offers a range of solutions to tackle this growing problem, including refurbished smartphones, Trade-In programs, device repair, and recycling services. These initiatives give unused phones a new lease on life, ensuring they are repaired, recycled, or repurposed.

Speaking about the campaign Amanda Nelson, CEO at Vodafone Ireland, said: ''This campaign was designed to grab attention and spark conversations around e-waste and the role we can all play in tackling this problem. Through initiatives like Trade-in, fix and go, recycling and our refurbished phones, we are committed to addressing this problem by extending the lifecycle of our customers devices, offering them better, more sustainable value that's kinder to the planet."

Jonny Cullen, Creative Director at Folk VML added: ''There are over 5 million unused smartphones across the breadth of Ireland. Calling out that alarming stat is one thing but bringing that stat to life for the consumer in a dramatic visual is way more powerful. Our job was to inform the public that you can do something about it by trading in, repairing, recycling and repurposing these smartphones thanks to Vodafone.''

The adverts will appear on billboards at Summerhill North Road in Cork City, Dorset Street in Dublin and Wellpark Road in Galway City from Monday 26th August to September 8th.

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We look at the latest cable free charging tech from Zens. You can see more about the Office Charger on their website here.

Zens Office Charger Pro 3 reviewed

Our testers were keen to play around with this device. The funny thing is that, overall, while they were pretty positive about it. Firstly it does the job well, it plugs and plays, and charges fast. As a usable tool, with the endless hassle in the office with heads dying and charging leads being pinched, borrowed or just plain disappearing, there is a clear value for a device like this. In this context our testers gave it a solid thumbs up and definitely liked it.

We can tell this too because none of them are rushing to return it to the office either.

The one thing where it could be more useful is, much like the EU directive on one charger working for all devices, it would be great if this charger also did this. First up it is Apple facing, so all those users will be happy. It does also seem to happily charge Pixels too. However when some of our other android users wanted to join the party they were not always successful. As it seems that, overall, our team are fans of this product, it would be good if it also worked for all types of phones.

Apart from that caveat this is a good piece of gear.

More about the Office Charger Pro 3

€129,99

• Charges 3 devices wirelessly at the same time

• New Qi2 technology supports 15W wireless magnetic charging

• Supports 5W Apple Watch Fast Charge

• The magnetic connection ensures a perfect positioning

• Apple StandBy mode support

Product description

Upgrade your desk setup effortlessly with the Zens Office Charger Pro 3, the ultimate charging solution for iPhone 12 and up users who prioritize functionality, quality, and value. Charge three devices simultaneously with Qi2 technology, an excellent alternative for MagSafe, delivering 15W wireless magnetic charging.

Crafted from high-grade zinc/alloy, this sleek charging station is perfect for any nightstand, side table, or office desk, providing complete peace of mind as three of your personal devices charge with maximum power.

Plus, with support for Apple Standby mode, you can conveniently utilize widgets like agenda, clock, and work mode while staying connected. Minimize cable clutter, maximize productivity, and enjoy added convenience in your home office!

Features

Works with most MagSafe cases (< 3 mm)

Made from high-grade zinc/alloy

45W power adapter

3 year warranty

Tech specs

Charges iPhone:All iPhones from 12 and upCharges Apple Watch:All Apple Watch Series up to 5WCharges AirPods:All AirPods with a MagSafe case (3rd generation AirPods & AirPods Pro 2nd generation)

Model number:ZEDC25B/00

Output:25WCertification:Qi2 certified & MFi certified

Product dimensions (LxWxH):14,5 x 9,3 x 15

Product net weight:381 grPower supply:45W power adapter (EU/UK/US)

Power supply cable length:1.5 m

See more product reviews here.

Lidl Ireland is set to launch its Eastern European Week tomorrow, 29th August, offering a selection of authentic Ukrainian food and drink products for the first time in stores across the country. This new initiative follows the success of Lidl's renowned "Tastes of the World" campaigns, which have previously featured popular themes such as Italiamo, Vitasio - Japanese Style, and Eridanous - Greek Style.

The Eastern European Week promises to deliver a unique culinary experience, showcasing the rich flavours and traditions of Ukraine with products like Dumplings with Cherry, Sunflower Halva, Creamy Honey, a selection of desserts, and more. The initiative is a result of the "European Shelves for Ukrainian Producers" project, a collaboration between Kwayga and USAID's Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA).

This project was designed to help Ukrainian food and drink producers either begin or re-establish their export activities, with a strategic emphasis on developing sustainable international buyer connections to market and sell their products globally.

Kwayga played a pivotal role in this project by providing expert advice, valuable industry insights, and access to a comprehensive commercial network of European buyers.

Through Kwayga's advanced AI-driven technology, the platform efficiently sourced hundreds of Ukrainian suppliers who were part of the program. Kwayga's system ensured that Lidl could connect with the right producers to bring authentic Ukrainian products to their Irish stores, fostering new business relationships and securing new contracts that resulted in 25 Ukrainian products on Lidl Ireland shelves.

"We are very proud to have been a part of this important project and delighted to see how Kwayga's AI-driven technology has played a role in connecting Lidl with Ukrainian food producers," said MikeMcGrath, CEO of Kwayga. "This initiative not only showcases the strength of Ukrainian products but also highlights the importance of global cooperation in sustaining economies and communities during challenging times."

Adding a personal perspective, Alona Dekhtiarenko, a Ukrainian living in Cork, said, "I'm thrilled to find authentic Ukrainian produce available here in Ireland. It's a comforting reminder of home and one more wonderful way to stay connected to home."

USAID ERA Chief of Party Tim Madigan commented on the project's impact: "This collaboration exemplifies how strategic partnerships can create meaningful economic opportunities for Ukrainian producers. By working with Kwayga, we were able to connect these businesses with new markets, helping them not only recover but also to establish a sustainable presence in the global food industry."

Lidl Ireland's Eastern European Week showcases the retailer's commitment to meeting the demand for authentic international experiences, all while supporting resilient producers who have navigated challenging conditions. Through its collaboration with Kwayga, Lidl has successfully leveraged AI-driven technology to discover and source the best Ukrainian products, ensuring a unique experience for its customers.

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Schneider Electric's David Abrahams Named New Chair of the iMasons Armed Forces Meeting Resources Group (MRG)

The iMasons Armed Forces MRG is a strategic initiative formed to raise awareness of data centres in the military community, showcasing the industry's career opportunities, and educating the sector about the value that veterans can bring to mission-critical organisations.

As Chair, David Abrahams will continue to champion the iMasons values and support for veterans seeking employment in technical, engineering and operational roles across digital infrastructure.

His appointment reinforces Schneider Electric's long-term commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and follows its recent announcement of the Veterans Transition Programme, alongside its mission to bridge the data centre skills shortage.

Dealing with data centres in the military community

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has today announced that David Abrahams, Key Client Manager, Cloud & Service Providers, Secure Power division, has been named the new Chair of the iMasons Armed Forces Meeting Resources Group (MRG).

The iMasons Armed Forces MRG is a strategic initiative, formed to increase the number of military veterans, military spouses, guards, and reservists working in data centres and digital infrastructure. It helps to both raise awareness and showcase the industry's career opportunities for veterans, while informing and educating the data centre sector about the value that veterans can offer to mission-critical organisations.

As its new Chair, David Abrahams replaces Mike Eytle, EMEA Regional Director, Datacentre Lease Construction and Fit-Out for Microsoft, and is appointed to lead alongside Lee Kirby, Executive Chair and Global Sponsor of the Armed Forces MRG, to build upon Mike's work - leading the initiative locally in the UK and Ireland (UK&I), and championing the iMasons support for veterans seeking employment in technical, engineering and operational roles.

As a member of the Royal Air Force Reserves, David's ambition is to connect the iMasons with other industry Veteran Support Groups and bring together the digital infrastructure ecosystem to support veteran employment opportunities within the UK and Ireland.

"The technology industry has a plethora of initiatives underway to help engage with graduates, apprentices and early talent, but is also calling out for highly experienced technical and operational personnel, who can provide a valuable contribution to the ever-growing data centre industry," said David Abrahams, Key Client Manager, Cloud & Service Providers, Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric.

"Being appointed Chair of the iMasons Armed Forces MRG provides us with a valuable opportunity to give back to those who have served for King and country, while helping to address the skills shortage by building the data centre workforce of the future."

AI and data centre skills shortages

With the significant increase in demand for energy and data centre capacity, fuelled by the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), David's appointment aligns with Schneider Electric's mission to bridge the sector's skills shortage, which according to Uptime Institute, will require 300,000 full-time employee equivalents by 2025.

To address this, the company already has several digital programmes in place, including the Schneider Electric University, a vendor-agnostic and CPD accredited professional development platform, which helps stakeholders upskill and stay up-to-date with the latest technology, sustainability, and energy efficiency initiatives.

To date, the Schneider Electric University has delivered more than one million, free-to-attend courses to over 650,000 data centre, energy and sustainability professionals, and has more than 180 countries represented by its global user-base.

Additionally, Schneider Electric recently announced its new Schneider Electric Training programme, c...

As part of its global expansion plan, Integrity360 has acquired Grove Group, a longstanding cybersecurity and cloud services company headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition provides Integrity360 with approx.

600 additional customers across 51 countries, a deep partnership with leading NDR (Network Detection and Response) vendor Darktrace, and another global SOC (Security Operations Centre) location, bringing the group's SOC locations to 5.

Grove customers will benefit from access to Integrity360's extensive cyber services portfolio encapsulating cyber risk and assurance, cyber security testing, incident response, infrastructure, end-point, PCI compliance, and a highly comprehensive range of cyber security managed services including innovative XDR/MDR solutions.

Integrity360's innovative range of services have been recognised four times in a Gartner market guide, most recently as a Representative Vendor for the second year running in the Gartner guide for Managed Detection and Response services.

Grove, like Integrity360, has a long and deep history in cyber security and was founded in 2005, employs approx. 50 employees and is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa with a regional office in London, UK. Grove has grown strongly over the last 5 years with a CAGR of over 22%, and during 2023 achieved sales of approx. €17m.

Grove serves over 600 customers, across multiple countries and regions including the UK, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Mauritius. Grove has developed deep and long standing relationships with several of the world's leading cyber security vendors including Darktrace, Proofpoint, ESET, and Mimecast. The combination of Grove with Integrity360 brings group annual revenues to approx. €130m (up from approx. €85m in 2022) and expands group resources to over 500 employees.

Grove's technical support operations will serve as another SOC (Security Operations Centre) operation based out of Cape Town and will be combined with Integrity360's other four SOCs in Dublin, Sofia, Stockholm, and Naples - together operating with over 140 dedicated engineers, consultants and cyber experts in delivering a wide ranging set of managed services for customers including EDR, XDR and MDR (Endpoint Detection and Response, Extended Detection and Response, and Managed Detection and

Response).

Grove's relationship and deep technical skills in Darktrace have led to the company winning the Darktrace partner of the year award for 3 consecutive years, and its innovative "dSOC" managed service for Darktrace technology is enabling a growing number of customers to optimise their investment in Darktrace AI driven threat detection and response technology.

Grove's expertise in Darktrace solutions will add to that developed by Integrity360 following the partnership that it formed with Darktrace in early 2024.

Ian Brown, Executive Chairman at Integrity360 commented: "We are delighted to be welcoming Grove to Integrity360. The enhanced group significantly expands our existing activities and cyber services across other continents including Africa and the Caribbean in addition to bolstering our existing markets throughout the UK and continental Europe.

"The addition of another Integrity360 regional hub in Cape Town will further enable us to serve the local needs of customers, and the SOC will add to and expand our already considerable 24/7 SOC operations. Both companies share a passion for customer service and innovation and we look forward to offering the group's enhanced range of services to our collective customers and partners over the coming weeks and months."

Pip Witheridge, Founder and Chairman of Grove commented: "I am delighted that Grove is joining Integrity360 and continuing the growth journey that we started some 19 years ago. Thanks to the support of our customers, partners and employees Grove has grown and flourished during that time and I am confident will continue to d...

The IMI (Irish Management Institute), a centre of excellence for business education, has published new research revealing that AI is not currently a strategic priority among most business leaders in Ireland.

The 'IMI Leadership Barometer' surveyed senior business leaders in Ireland from private, public and semi-state organisations across a wide range of sectors, including technology, food/agriculture, utilities, banking, finance, professional services, legal, healthcare, logistics, construction and others. The research provides key insights into the attitudes and priorities of senior decision-makers as they navigate a shifting business environment and the rise of disruptive new technologies.

Findings show that only 30% of business leaders currently consider AI a strategic priority. Many organisations are still in an experimentation phase with the technology, with 40% of leaders stating that they are testing the technology in areas of their business. A further 30% of decision-makers reported struggling to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology, reflecting a clear need for upskilling and education in technology among business decision-makers.

With businesses continuing to face the impact of a tight labour market, attracting and retaining highly skilled talent is set to continue as a top concern for decision-makers, according to the findings of the Barometer. 36% of leaders state that retaining top talent is set to become more difficult over the coming months. More than half of business leaders (54%) believe that retaining talent will remain challenging in the next 12 months.

Despite these challenges, business leaders in Ireland are generally confident about their capacity to navigate change. Findings reveal that 84% of senior leaders are reasonably confident about their capacity to achieve core business objectives over the next 12 months. Only 4% of decision-makers state their organisation is fully prepared to overcome obstacles and unlock business growth over the months ahead.

Leadership and management capabilities are the top business priority for senior decision-makers, indicating clear awareness among leaders of the importance of strengthening skills in this rapidly evolving landscape. Future workforce skills/ways of working and technology from a business perspective make up the top three most important areas on leaders' business agenda for the coming months.

The new research is released as the IMI announces the agenda for its 2024 National Leadership Conference. First held over 70 years ago, the NLC 2024 will bring together senior business leaders from across Ireland for a series of discussions focused on enhancing leadership skills and positioning their organisations for future success.

Speakers at the event include Deputy Simon Coveney, former Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland; Ann Kelleher, foundry technology development General Manager at Intel Corporation; Bernard Gloster, CEO of Health Service Executive; Siobhan Talbot, the former CEO of Glanbia; Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland; and Christopher Hartwell, Head of the International Management Institute & Professor of International Business Policy at ZHAW

School of Management and Law.

The 2024 edition of the NLC will be held on October 3rd at IMI's Sandyford campus, with additional speakers due to be announced in the coming weeks.

Commenting on the release of the research, Shane O'Sullivan, CEO of the IMI, said: "Senior leaders across Ireland continue to navigate a fast-evolving business environment from a tight labour market to rapid advances in technology and heightened global competition. The IMI Leadership Barometer provides an important insight into the key challenges and opportunities facing leaders in Ireland in this environment and the actions they're taking to prepare their businesses for future success.

"It's clear from the findings of the Barometer that many leaders are still at an...