MEET THE BUYER
:: NI Chamber’s annual Meet the Buyer is on the move, with the 2023 event set to be hosted in Ballymena for the first time. The major procurement showcase will take place on Thursday November 16 in Tullyglass House Hotel.
Delivered in partnership with Bank of Ireland UK, it will see more than 200 local suppliers pitch their products and services to 20 major buyers with significant procurement needs. They include Bassetts, Harland & Wolff, MJM Marine, NIE Networks, Translink, Belfast City Council and Ulster University, among others.
Chamber chief executive Suzanne Wylie said: “We know that shortening supply-chains and finding local solutions to procurement needs is increasingly important to businesses. Security of supply is crucial for firms across all sectors and in many cases, the procurement solution is close at hand.
“This event is about helping buyers and suppliers to make new connections which ultimately, leads to new orders and business growth. Through our unique matching process, NI Chamber will be facilitating more than 300 meetings between buyers and suppliers in Northern Ireland who can meet their specific needs. From experience, we know that this formula works, leading to long-lasting and mutually beneficial customer relationships.”
Members and non-members can still register to attend the business networking element of the event. To book a networking place visit northernirelandchamber.com.
Meet the Buyer with Bank of Ireland UK is delivered as part of NI Chamber’s Learn Grow Excel programme, which is also supported by its SME Partner, Power NI.
FESTIVE FAIR
:: Magheramorne Estate's Festive Fair takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday November 14 & 15 from 10am to 6pm, with offers ranging from unique handmade crafts to delicious homemade treats.
Discover the perfect gifts for your loved ones or treat yourself to something special, all while supporting local businesses. Enjoy a line-up of live Christmas entertainment with fabulous festive food available from Jane’s Kitchen pop-up café. The cost is £20 per car. Booking available at www.magheramorneestate.com
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
The Institute of Directors in Northern Ireland has joined forces once again with law firm Herbert Smith Freehills in Belfast to launch the 2024 Women’s Leadership Conference.
Returning to Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday March 8, the conference is expected to be another sell-out event, attracting over 500 delegates and participants.
The theme for the 2024 event is from former COO of Meta, Sheryl Sanberg: “In the future, there will be no female leaders, there will just be leaders” and attendees will be asked to consider how they can commit to this aim within their own businesses and organisations.
Headlining the 2024 conference will be journalist and campaigner, Mariella Frostrup. Known for her appearances on Panorama, hosting Open Book on BBC Radio 4 and her role as The Observer newspaper’s resident Agony Aunt, in recent years Mariella has become increasingly involved in advocacy work, campaigning for equal rights and women’s causes in particular.
She is a gender ambassador for Save the Children, a founder trustee of The Great Initiative, a gender equality charity, and a long-term supporter of Comic Relief.
She will discuss her best-selling book ‘Cracking the Menopause’, which Mariella co-authored with writer Alice Smellie, and talk about the work she has done to encourage more women to come forward and seek out the support they need to navigate this phase of their life.
Joining Mariella on the line-up will be acclaimed chef and former Great British Menu contest Danni Barry. Now executive head chef at Ballynahinch Castle in County Galway, she is only the second ever Irish woman to hold a Michelin star and was named Irish Chef of the Year in 2016
Also returning in 2024 will be the 8th ‘Pitch Perfect’ competition where female-led startups take to the stage for a live pitching competition with audience members voting on who should take home the £4,000 prize.
Tickets are available to purchase now from the IoD NI website and more information about speakers and running order will be posted on the IoD NI’s social media channels
As well as Herbert Smith Freehills, other sponsors include NIE Networks, KPMG, Danske Bank, Henry Brothers, SONI, The Irish News and Translink.
BATTLE OF THE BUSKERS
:: Belfast’s busking performers and solo street musicians will showcase their musical talents in the inaugural ‘Battle of the Buskers’ competition.
Co-ordinated by McEnaneys Bar in west Belfast, it will see emerging young solo artists face off in a series of live heats as they compete for a prize package worth over £10,000.
The prize package will include a brand-new Fender Stratocaster guitar and Boss Katana amplifier, as well as an airtime package with Juice radio worth over £1,500.
The winner will also secure a residency at McEnaneys Bar, The Balmoral Hotel in Belfast and Millies Public House & Kitchen in Dunmurry.
The knock-out style competition format will see contestants showcase their talents to a live audience at McEnaney's Bar who will vote for their favourite acts.
The grand final on Friday December 15 will be contested by the top two musicians from the live knock-out stages to be crowned the ‘Battle of the Buskers’ champion.
BELFAST MEDIA FESTIVAL
:: More than 1500 people are expected at The Mac Belfast on Wednesday November 15 for the opening of the 14th Belfast Media Festival (BMF) entitled ‘A City in Motion’ (the event runs until Thursday).
A schedule of 36 sessions covering all aspects of the industry from TV commissioning to gaming and film-making to podcasts was unveiled by the BMF committee,with workshops, skills training, panel discussions and keynote speeches by leading lights of the industry. Wednesday highlights include:
· Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz looks to the future in conversation with Shaminder Nahal to discuss the current challenges facing the UK’s most provocative public service broadcaster. (10am - 11am)
· TV presenter Sarah Greene, host of The Finish Line joins Potato TV’s Michael Kelpie, Adam Adler and Martin Scott (The Chase, MoneyBall and The Cube) to talk to Kathy Clugston about creating an enduring TV quiz. (12 noon - 1pm)
· BAFTA Games presents Bridging Worlds from Television to Games with Ripstone – The Liverpool based publisher shares their experience of working with Netflix to bring The Queen’s Gambit to life as a game. (2pm - 3pm)
· The flagship RTS NI Dan Gilbert Lecture this year features Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer for BBC. (3.45pm - 4.45pm)
Thursday highlights include:
· When Diversity Meets Creativity – Lata Sharma talks to panelists Paula Campbell (CINE, Northern Ireland Screen), Emma Patterson-Bennett (BBC NI) Gavin Halpin (Paper Owl Films) and Gerard Stratton (Triplevision Productions) about the local sector’s role in helping to create positive change. (10am - 11am)
· Podcasts: Uncovering the Truth – Author, film-maker and journalist Jon Ronson is joined by Nicoline Greer, Andy Martin and Dylan Haskins to explore podcasts' power to unearth hidden stories and challenge conventional narratives. Chaired by Kathy Clugston. (10am - 11am)
· NÍ BAC ACH BUA / The Rise of Irish Language Drama – After the global success of ‘An Cailín Ciúin’ Máire Bhreathnach discusses the new found appreciation of Irish language with TG4’s Alan Esslemont, Danu Media’s Siobhán Ní Ghadhra and Damian McCann, Writer and Director. (11.30am – 12.30pm)
· Blue Lights – Under the Bonnet of the Hit Drama – A master-class with the creators of the BBC hit drama as they share behind-the-scenes secrets from filming of Series 2 and discuss the highs and lows of making a gripping and authentic network drama in Belfast. (11.45am – 12.45pm)
· Film Makers Panel – The Green Wave – Kathryn Ferguson, director of 'Nothing Compares,' Ross White, co-writer and co-director of the Oscar-winning 'An Irish Goodbye’ and Stacey Gregg writer ‘Ballywalter’ discuss the global resonance of stories from this region with Sara Gunn-Smith. (3pm - 4pm)
· The Magical World of Disney+ EMEA - Meet the visionary commissioners behind some of the most beloved and iconic content on the streaming platform including Lee Mason, Sean Doyle, Johnny Richards and Hannah Scott in conversation with Channel 4’s Maeve McLoughlin. (4.30pm – 5.30pm)
BMF host William Crawley said: “This year’s BMF promises to be a celebration of all screen-based media with high profile speakers from across film, TV and gaming aiming to excite, refresh and inspire attendees at all levels in their careers. It's lovely to have the opportunity to talk to more leading lights from our industry in person and to meet our future generation of storytellers.”
For free registration and to see the full schedule of events go to www.belfastmediafestival.co.uk
