Joanne Hession – Founder and CEO of LIFT Ireland (Leading Ireland’s Future Together)

Joanne, a distinguished leadership expert, is fervently committed to assisting organisations in realizing their business aspirations by harnessing her specialised training and entrepreneurial skills.Following her experience working in Rwandan refugee camps after the Civil War, Joanne, at just 27, founded two businesses: The Entrepreneurs Academy and QED The Accreditation Experts. Over the course of 25 years, The Entrepreneurs Academy has guided over 70,000 entrepreneurs toward success, while QED serves clients in more than 20 countries. Joanne is a TEDx speaker and co-author of the best-selling book, "Don't Get A Job - Build A Business" for entrepreneurs. She has been featured in Forbes and the New York Times and over her career has held many roles including Board member and elected Council Member of Dublin Chamber .In 2019, she received the International Award for Equipping Others, presented in the USA by Dr. John Maxwell, for her leadership role in LIFT Ireland.