Accenture was proud to sponsor The Washington Ireland programme for Service and Leadership (WIP) as it celebrated its 15th anniversary on Thursday 8th October at the K Club, Kildare and later with a reception at Dublin Castle in the company of the President of Ireland Mary McAleese and US Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney.
 
At the event are left to right; Frank Kennedy, Mark Ryan, Dr Martin McAleese, President Mary McAleese, Kevin Sullivan (US ambassador to Ireland), Emma Cassidy and Shane Carmichael.
The reception at Dublin Castle, was attended by over 300 guests, including 16 TDs, ministers from the NI Assembly, a range of distinguished civil servants and leading business figures. Both Mark Ryan, country managing director for Accenture in Ireland, and Accenture employee Shane Carmichael joined the president, Ambassador Rooney and WIP Chairman Kevin Sullivan on the stage in St Patricks Hall from where they each addressed the audience.
Shane Carmichael (WIP Alumni 1997) spoke as a proud employee of Accenture and WIP Alumni as he explained how participants have the benefit of learning first-hand about the principles of service and leadership through the programme. Students gain perspective and understanding of our entwined past but more importantly take inspiration for what they might and can become in the future. Shane recalled a meeting he enjoyed with US Senator Teddy Kennedy in 1997 and reminded the audience that the late senator, who dedicated much of his professional to the service of others, would be proud to see WIP celebrating its 15th year. Following Shane, Mark Ryan spoke of the increasing importance of developing leaders with a true commitment to the principles of leadership and service, calling on those present to make a contribution to addressing some of the pressing challenges facing the island of Ireland today—challenges that are serious but which, in the end, must be addressed. Ryan drew parallels between the principles WIP stands for and those Accenture endeavours to embody—and closed by reminding those present that in pursuit of our own objectives we must always remember to give something back by assisting those less fortunate than ourselves. President McAleese closed the speeches with some stirring remarks about the important work WIP is doing to develop leadership skills for the first real generation of a post-conflict and prosperous Ireland while sustaining the important relationship between the United States and island of Ireland. Back to the Ireland Sponsorships home page To Top |