CIPD Ireland Podcast

What does award-winning people practice look like in action? In this episode, Meg Dunphy, the CIPD in Ireland, speaks with previous CIPD in Ireland HR Award winners from John Sisk & Co, Tayto Snacks and FINEOS about the initiatives, challenges and results behind their success. From culture change and organisational transformation to learning and development and emerging talent, hear practical insights and advice for anyone considering entering the HR Awards 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Performance, productivity, trust and wellbeing are often discussed as separate priorities, but the most successful organisations understand they are deeply connected. Ahead of the CIPD in Ireland Thrive Conference 2026, Meg Dunphy speaks with Annamarie O'Connor, People and Culture Director at Tayto Snacks, about the people practices behind one of Ireland's most recognised and award-winning organisations. From leadership and manager capability to employee voice, culture and organisational effectiveness, they explore how putting people at the heart of business decisions can help drive sustainable performance, productivity and wellbeing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should employers in Ireland be doing now to get ready for pay transparency, even while some of the legal detail is still evolving? In this episode, Meg Dunphy, Engagement, Policy and Content Lead at CIPD in Ireland, speaks with Anne Phelan, Rewards and People Advisory Director at Aon, about the practical steps employers can take now to prepare.They explore where organisations should focus first, from pay frameworks and job architecture to recruitment practices, pay equity analysis, data readiness and manager capability.The conversation looks at what good preparation really involves, the common gaps employers may need to address, and how to build confidence and consistency ahead of implementation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Meg Dunphy and guest Neil Mullarkey explore why modern leaders must stay agile, listen deeply and adapt their communication in a world defined by rapid change and evolving expectations. Drawing on improv principles, they discuss the human skills that underpin effective leadership in 2026 and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future Ready People Professional is a new CIPD in Ireland podcast series designed to support HR and people professionals to build confidence, relevance and impact in a fast‑changing world of work. In this first episode, guests Katie Sloan, HR Business Partner, Intel and James Ryan, CEO, WorkMatters join host Meg Dunphy to explore AI and technology – cutting through the hype to focus on what people professionals really need to understand. From AI literacy and ethics to governance, skills and decision‑making, our expert guests share practical insights on how HR can play a critical role in shaping fair, responsible and effective use of AI in organisations. Whether you’re early in your career or operating at a strategic level, this episode will help you ask better questions, engage confidently with leaders and technology partners and prepare for what’s next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Far from being an HR silo, learning is the strategic lever that unlocks resilience, retention, and reinvention. As organisations grapple with skills shortages, the rise of AI, cultural change, and the urgent need for talent retention and succession planning, learning has moved centre stage. This episode creates a buzz around learning by showing its direct business impact and sparking new ways to think about its role in transformation. Host Meg Dunphy opens the conversation with Linda Waters, Senior Employer Solutions Manager, CIPD, Robert Mac Giolla Phadraig, Founder and CEO, SkillStack and Michelle McShortall, Advisory Services Manager, Intuition to bring clarity and energy to the big questions: What are we doing right now? – Tackling disruption through reskilling and agility. What are we doing for tomorrow? – Building sustainable pipelines of skills and leaders. Real-life examples – Stories of organisations reinventing their approach to learning. The frontier of transformation – Where culture, technology, and human potential converge. AI-powered personalisation – How intelligent tools are tailoring learning to individuals, making it easier for time-poor executives and employees to get exactly what they need, when they need it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of Disability Pride Month, the CIPD Ireland Podcast shines a spotlight on what inclusive leadership means through the lens of disability in the workplace. Our latest HR Practices in Ireland 2025 report reveals that 23% of employers cite disability as their most pressing equality challenge—yet meaningful inclusion and representation remain elusive in many organisations. Host Meg Dunphy is joined by Catherine Murray, an autistic researcher specialising in disability and inclusive employment at AHEAD, and James Cawley Jnr, Business Development Manager at the Irish Centre for Diversity. Together, they explore the barriers still facing disabled people at work, how employers can go beyond compliance to foster genuine inclusion, and how leaders can amplify disabled voices to create workplaces where everyone belongs. Learn more about AHEAD’s WIDE Framework, offering practical steps to help build accessible, disability-confident workplaces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast marks International HR Day on 20 May, celebrating the vital role of the people profession. This year’s theme, “Humanify AI: Leading Change Together”, highlights how the people profession is uniquely positioned to guide organisations through rapid transformation by putting people at the centre of change.It’s a perfect fit with the theme of last week’s CIPD Ireland Annual Conference— “Delivering organisational performance through people”. In this episode, we bring you insights from the conference stage, featuring Mary Connaughton, Professor Peter Cappelli, and Marie Toft.Report Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, your host Meg Dunphy dives into neurodiversity in the workplace with guests Shane O'Brien Senior HRBP Mongo DB and Bronagh Eaton an Independent Neurodivergent Coach and Global Neuroinclusion Specialist with DHL Supply Chain, two people practitioners who are themselves neurodivergent.As part of Neurodiversity Awareness Week, we want to shine a light on what inclusion really looks like—bringing the conversation back to individuals and keeping it simple. Our guests share their lived experiences, offering valuable guidance on how employees can advocate for themselves and how managers can create a more inclusive environment. Whether you’re a people professional or a line manager, this episode is a great starting point to build awareness and gain actionable tips on making the workplace more conducive to neurodivergent talent.Join the conversation using #NeuroInclusionInWorkplace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month’s episode we share highlights from our annual Wellbeing Conference:Dr. Mark Rowe, a renowned physician, shares insights on lifestyle medicine and its impact on employee health. We explore the Future of AI in Wellbeing with experts Ger Perdisatt of Lua Healthcare, Sarah Horne of Oracle, and CIPD’s David D’Souza. Discover how the power of embedding wellbeing into leadership practices can drive business success, featuring perspectives from Tobba Vigfusdottir Kara Connect, Catherine Fitzgibbon Core, and Cathal Divilly Great Place to Work Explore innovative ways to enhance employee wellbeing and listen now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 October is World Mental Health Day and this year's theme is ‘Mental Health at Work’ so in this minisode, we discuss mental health in the Irish workplace. Meg Dunphy, HR Policy and Engagement Manager speaks to Mary Connaughton, Director, CIPD Ireland, about what our CIPD HR Practices research is saying as well as practical tips for opening up the dialogue in organisations and looking at the working environment.   You will also hear from Dr. Mark Rowe, our opening keynote at the annual CIPD Ireland Wellbeing Conference, giving us some tips for supporting our mental health. What are you doing in your organisations? Tell us by tagging @CIPDIreland and #WorldMentalHealthMonth #WorldMentalHealthDay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this month's podcast, CIPD’s Lisa Hogan is joined by Dr. Declan Bogan, Goodbody Clearstream, Mary Connaughton, Director, CIPD Ireland, and Sara Mullally, Network Manager, Sustainable HRM Skillnet. They discussed how organisations are getting more focused on achieving positive social and human outcomes and drilled into how HR can align workforce development with their people practices, incorporating a sustainability lens to deliver the broader business sustainability goals.   For further information on sustainable people practices check out: - Our website: http://www.cipd.org/ie - Sustainable HRM Skillnet page: https://sustainablehrmskillnet.ie/ - Sustainable People Practices framework: https://www.cipd.org/ie/about/news/cipd-skillnet-launch-sustainable-people-practice-framework/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for part two of our Annual Conference highlights! This episode delves into insights on AI and features snippets from two popular panel discussions.  CIPD awards winners give advice on embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), maintaining it as a priority in all circumstances, and handling backlash against EDI efforts. Additionally, our HR Director panel explores the importance of workplace mental health, in line with our latest HR Practices report findings.   Tune in for essential insights and practical advice for people professionals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.