Women's Conference

February 3, 2024

The fifth Annual Women’s Conference will be held on February 3, 2024 at the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library. This is a signature event for our 25th anniversary series.

The themes for this year’s conference are “Celebrating the Creativity of Women and “St Brigid: A Woman, A Life, A Legacy”.
 Speakers and panelists will share their Irish background and connection to Arizona, their fascinating career or story, their role in the community, their talents and creativity, along with values championed by St. Brigid. This year we are delighted to honor Mary Moriarty with the AZ Woman of the Year Award in the Community Building category.
 
There is a ICLF members only Happy Hour after the Conference and before the Druid event. If you are not a member of the ICLF you can purchase a “FRIEND” membership here, and use the discount code “ICLF25” for $5 off. The Grove of the Rising Phoenix will celebrate Brigid in a presentation that showcases the broad impact she has had around the world.
 
You can see the progress we are making on the St. Brigid Monument as you enter through the West gate. We continue to partner with the City and AZ Built on our plans. You can donate specifically to this project here to continue this work. If you donate $2500 or more your name will be listed on the dedication plaque.
 

Values: Faith, spirituality, bio-diversity, sustainability, arts and culture, social justice, peace, hospitality and education  

Just added: Join us after the women’s conference for a FREE demonstration by the Grove of the Rising Phoenix in honor of St. Brigid. Several women druids will recognize the Celtic goddess and perform a ritual in her honor. Cash bar available. Doors at 5 PM.

 

Registration Now Open

ICLF Members – $40
Non-Members/Door price – $50
18-26 year old – $15
Artisans/Small Businesses/Volunteers – $15

All sales are final and non refundable

Arizona Irish Women of the Year 2024

Mary is originally from New York. Her mother was born in Co. Donegal, and her grandfathers were from Co. Cork and Co. Kerry.

Mary’s relationships and partnerships started with City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Team when she served as Executive Director of the Irish Cultural Center for several years. She was instrumental in the development of the Irish Cultural Center and opening of The Great Hall 2002, Cottage 2004 and the McClelland Library 2012 and corresponding events and activities that educate and celebrate Irish Culture. She is the former Operations Manager for the Irish Cultural Center and the Wedding Coordinator there. She is a board member for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire Committee since 1998.

In 2023 Mary was honored by the Mayor of Phoenix for Community Support. In 2016 she was given the honor of the ICLF Anam Cara Award. 

Fun fact: the Irish Community has been part of her life for the past twenty seven years and it has been a life well lived!

Keynote Speakers

Michelle Tinsley, CXO Executive
YellowBird Holdings, Inc.

Michelle Tinsley is the Co-Founder and former President/COO of YellowBird Holdings. YellowBird matches highly qualified EHS professionals with businesses simply and easily. Prior to founding YellowBird, Michelle served as CEO of Tinsley Retail Insights- a consulting firm helping retailers drive actionable innovation to compete with digital disruption, which she formed in January of 2018. Michelle served in a variety of roles over a 26-year long career at Intel. 18 years in Finance with her last role as the mini “CFO” of what is today’s IOT business. She then served 6 years in General Management/strategy roles and 9 months in sales leadership.
On the personal side of things, Michelle is an angel investor in the Arizona Technology Investors group since 2013. Michelle served on the BOD for QuikTrip for 5 years, and actively serves on the board of AZ Tech Investors and YellowBird. Tinsley received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Oregon (Marketing & Finance) and an MBA from Arizona State University. She is happily married and raises her two sons aged 16 and 10 with her husband Alan in Phoenix, Arizona.

Síobhra Quinlan

In her own right, musician Síobhra Quinlan forged a successful career as a premier opera and classical vocalist, as well as a co-curator for Ireland’s Edge, a stream of Other Voices.

Now she has moved into the world of diplomacy and is scaling her artistic influence as the head of cultural affairs at the Consulate General of Ireland in Los Angeles, working jointly with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Culture Ireland.

With the goal of forging new diplomatic ties with the United States, Quinlan is working to showcase both the ultra-famous and the up-and-coming Irish stars in LA. She is the first person to have held this job and has quickly become the face representing Irish contemporary cultural talent abroad.

Lynne Hartke

Lynne Hartke celebrates the difficult and the beautiful with her husband Mayor Kevin Hartke in Chandler, AZ where they have also pastored a church for over thirty-five years. When not on hiking trails avoiding rattlesnakes, Lynne writes, speaks, and keeps up with their four grown children and four grandchildren.
She is the author of Under a Desert Sky: Redefining Hope, Beauty, and Faith in the Hardest Places. Lynne is also a contributing author to nine books with Guideposts. She is the founder of Legacy Story Circle and a story coach for several cancer organizations, helping others share their valuable stories. As a breast cancer survivor, Lynne was named a Voice of Hope with the American Cancer Society in 2018.

Award Presenter

Conor Doherty-Greene

Conor Doherty-Greene is currently Ireland’s Deputy Consul General to the Southwestern United States, serving in this position since August 2022. Prior to this role, Mr. Doherty Greene served as Counterterrorism Coordinator in Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs – International Security Policy Section, with a focus on UN Security Council and European Union issues. Within the International Security Policy Section, Mr. Doherty-Greene also worked as desk officer for Afghanistan, and on thematic desks including Cybersecurity and Organized Crime. Mr. Doherty-Greene served as Deputy Director for Training & Development in his first assignment within the Department. Mr. Doherty-Greene holds a BA in English Literature and Linguistics as well as a Masters degree in Violence, Terrorism and Security Studies.
He is a keen sportsman, playing Gaelic Football, Hurling, Rugby and practicing Judo.

Event Sponsors