The Leadership Academy Breakfast Club
The Leadership Academy Breakfast Club
Join us for our next Leadership Academy Breakfast Club on the theme of Leadership & The Next Generation - 5 February 2026.
The issue of succession planning is an important one for the sector, and the sector is changing.
The next generation of founders and activists have new ideas and new ways of doing things.
At this event, we’ll meet two emerging leaders in the sector and hear about their experiences stepping into leadership roles.
This event is free to attend but registration is required.
- You can book places for yourself and/or colleagues by clicking the button below.
- This event will take place online.
- Closed Captions can be enabled by participants.
- Please email eileen@wheel.ie if you have any special requirements.
Meet Your Speakers
Leon Diop is a mixed race man from Tallaght, Dublin. Leon graduated from Maynooth with a degree in psychology before going on to be Maynooth Students’ Union President for two terms. In June of 2020 he founded Black and Irish. An organisation working on the behalf of Black and mixed race people in Ireland. He is the co-author of the award winning book, Black and Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes and a host of the Black and Irish podcast. He currently serves on the board of the Childhood Development Initiative, Tallaght and Work Equal. In September 2024, Leon was named as a European Leader for the Obama Foundation.
Sorcha Killian Co Founder of Hygiene Hub, Board Director at LGBT Ireland. Founded a charity to provide hygiene services to vulnerable populations which now has a team of 13 people in head office alongside 70+volunteers across 9 counties with international ties and successfully secured funding to support the needs of refugees, children in need, and to conduct research with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Meet Your Facilitator
Sharon Hughes is the Leadership Academy Manager in the Skills Team of The Wheel. Sharon has been involved in membership organisations for over 20 years. Before working for The Leadership Academy, she was C.E.O. of a nonprofit. Her background is managing member Events and Communications. Sharon is a qualified Coach, is a member of the Teaching Council of Ireland and is currently studying Psychology. She is low-key obsessed with Leadership. If you are interested in learning more about the Leadership Academy or you have a great idea you would like to share, please email her at sharon@wheel.ie or feel free to connect with Sharon on LinkedIn.
Feedback from previous attendees
"For me personally, the benefits to the Breakfast Clubs have been many but key are the value of think-time, the cross sectional networking and having a product to offer staff looking to consider upskilling – in this regard promoting the breakfast club internally in Trócaire, in particular to my own team, is very relevant to the area of continuous leadership learning and development." Karen Casey - Head of Community Engagement & Outreach, Trócaire
"As a young professional in the sector, it seemed as though there was ‘in theory’, a lot that this kind of idea sharing and information website could offer the sector although it seemed slightly wishy washy; just another website with links and articles. The Breakfast Clubs created a networking space that feels open to all leaders, future and established, so that we can meet and make connections. Sharon encourages the early career professionals in the room to be the leads for discussion and she connects people with such ease who may have been to shy to make an introduction before... I have found TLA events extremely interesting and engaging, having enjoyed the variety of topics covered in sessions and the space to network freely. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of attending a Leadership Academy breakfast to attend and get involved." Amy Ennis, former Recruitment Coordinator at 2into3
"The Leadership Academy is a wonderful initiative and space to foster leadership and personal growth for those of us working in the nonprofit sector. It is great to be able to share insights but also to learn and gain new insights from fellow participants in the events. I really enjoyed my involvement as a panellist on a Leadership Academy event, which was wonderfully organised by Sharon with great support from her colleagues in The Wheel. Would highly recommend getting involved and responding positively if asked to be a speaker, panellist or facilitator at one of the Academy events. Ní neart go chur le chéile – There is no strength without unity. " Diarmaid O’Corrbuí - CEO, Carmichael
