WIP was delighted to host the annual Alumni Thanksgiving Receptions in Custom House, Belfast on Thursday November 27th and also in O’Connell House, University of Notre Dame, Dublin on Wednesday December 10th 2025.

The receptions provided a great opportunity for Alumni to reconnect with each other and welcome the 2025 graduates from the WIP Academy and WIP Emerging Leaders programs. Alumni from across the decades attended both events making many connections, old and new.

During both events, Nicola Skelly, Executive Director, shared some exciting updates on the new WIP Alumni Engagement Strategy including ways in which Alumni could connect with each other across year groups, celebrate the amazing work they do and contribute to WIP leadership programs. Caoimhe Ní Mhaolagáin, Director of Programs, also spoke about the importance of both leadership programs in building leadership capacity across Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

We were delighted to hear from some of our Alumni at each event who shared their reflections on the impact their WIP experience had on their leadership journeys. Special thanks to Pearse Smith (WIP Academy 2025), Paddy McCaughey (Class of 2005), Kathryn Walls (Class of 2000), Rachel Doran (Board Member and Class of 2013), Niamh O'Keeffe (Class of 2007) and Ben English (Board Member and Class of 2012).

We look forward to many more opportunities to connect in 2026.