Leitrim woman takes part in Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation

The second Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation, a European Leadership Academy (ELA) programme developed under the patronage of Huawei has taken place in Zagreb.

The programme brought together 20 rural female leaders from across Europe, including Siobhán Gallagher from Leitrim, to share her expertise and underscore the pivotal role of women in creating new opportunities for rural Europe.

Over 50 global thought leaders and mentors joined the groundbreaking programme to share their expertise and underscore the pivotal role of women in creating new opportunities for rural Europe.

After taking part in the programme, Siobhán noted that: “During my time at the European Leadership Academy for Rural Innovation, I gained invaluable insights that continue to resonate with me even now, after returning home. One of the most powerful lessons was the importance of networking.

“Connecting with the nineteen other female entrepreneurs from rural areas made me realise how much more we can achieve together than individually. The shared knowledge, experiences, and support highlighted the strength in community especially for rural female entrepreneurs, who often lack access to such networks.

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"Working in intense environments on proposals and pitches during the week also showed me how much we could achieve in such a short time. It was an experience filled with so many valuable lessons, and I continue to reflect on different aspects of it, finding new inspiration each day.”

The Academy also heard from Ana Le Chevillier, Clinical Research Manager – Data and AI at AI PREMie who spoke on a panel about artificial intelligence, innovation and the new digital economy.

Reflecting on her experience she said: "Participating in the Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation was an incredibly inspiring experience. The students truly took charge of the event, engaging with full attention and enthusiasm. Their dedication and openness set the tone for thoughtful and impactful discussions.

"The event united students and speakers from across the EU, shedding light on the common challenges faced by women in rural and depopulated areas while emphasising the importance of learning from our neighbouring countries. It was inspiring to see how sharing our personal 'Aha' moments, the turning points that sparked our journeys into tech, can empower and motivate other women.

"I wholeheartedly recommend the Academy to anyone looking to drive change and connect with like-minded individuals committed to closing the gender and urban-rural divide."

While in attendance in Zagreb, Mary Coughlan, former Tánaiste and longstanding supporter of the European Leadership Academy, remarked that “the energy here is fantastic, and the opportunities given here will be grabbed with both hands,” adding that “digitalisation is very much part of improved opportunities in rural areas” and “women are catalysts for development."

The Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation presents a unique learning experience, providing participants with the opportunity to dialogue and learn from global mentors and expert speakers.

Luke McDonnell, Head of PR, Huawei Ireland said: “The programme demonstrates Huawei’s continued commitment to closing both the gender gap and the urban-rural gap. It was fantastic to see such strong Irish representation. As a father of a young daughter, I’m especially proud of Huawei’s ongoing commitment to creating a platform for strong female role models. If she can see it, she can be it.”

The programme demonstrates Huawei’s continued commitment to closing both the gender gap and the urban-rural gap, contributing to a world where rural women are empowered to shape a sustainable, digital future.

Students participate in panel discussions, lectures, deep-dive workshops and teambuilding activities on entrepreneurship, the use of recent technologies for green innovation and the digitalisation of SMEs through to accessing funding and placing local products in global markets.

Participants are encouraged to explore solutions that can deliver tangible results in their regions, becoming role models for other rural women.

For the first time, a European Leadership Academy programme was opened to candidates from Iceland, Türkiye, and Switzerland in addition to the previous candidate countries across the EU Member States, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans.

The 20 students, selected from a competitive talent pool, come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including engineering, medicine, agriculture, and social sciences, and are united by their desire to unlock new opportunities for rural communities.

Chosen by an independent jury, they have each received a full Huawei scholarship to attend the Academy and are the living embodiment of the company’s motto ‘Leave no one behind’.