Location: The Academy Restaurant, Ulster University Belfast Campus

Date: April 23rd 2026

Time: 0830-1000

Ulster University’s Sustainability Team invites Northern Ireland’s business community to a complimentary Business Breakfast at the award‑winning, Green Key‑certified Academy Restaurant. Attendees will hear from three leaders who’ve driven sustainability in their own organisations, and will be able to ask questions regarding their own businses.

This event is designed for business leaders, managers, sustainability leads and anyone with responsibility for, or interest in, how their organisation approaches environmental and social responsibility. All sectors welcome. Places are strictly Limited.

The panel will include:

Marie-Louise Gaile — Head of Sustainability, Ulster University

Marie-Louise leads the sustainability strategy at Ulster University, driving culture change, carbon reduction and embedding sustainability across the institution’s operations, research and curriculum.

Marie Louise is joined by two of the recently appointed Visiting Professors in sustainability and CSR at Ulster University:

Heather McLachlan — Director for Northern Ireland, National Trust

Heather leads the National Trust’s work across Northern Ireland, stewarding some of our most iconic landscapes and heritage sites while placing biodiversity recovery, climate resilience and community engagement at the heart of the organisation’s mission.

Kieran Harding — Chief Executive, Business in the Community NI

Kieran has championed the responsible business agenda in Northern Ireland for over three decades. Appointed Chief Executive of Business in the Community UK in April 2025, he bridges the gap between business ambition and real-world accountability.

Themes explored:

• The sustainability journeys of three very different NI organisations
• The practical challenges of embedding sustainability in day-to-day operations
• What responsible business leadership looks like in Northern Ireland’s unique context
• How collaboration across sectors can accelerate progress
• Practical actions your business can take — starting this week

Organised by the Ulster University Sustainability Team. For enquiries contact sustainability@ulster.ac.uk