Almost 400 business leaders and political figures gathered at Titanic Belfast on Friday for The WiB Group 2026 Chair’s Lunch in what was one of the first major business events of the calendar year.
Making her transition as Chair, The WiB Group’s Nichola Robinson reflected on the influence of visionary leadership and the legacies shaping the future of Northern Ireland: “Today, I challenge you to look at legacy through a different lens. A positive lens. How it can inform your leadership to lead with resilience. To lead a culture defined by value. To think bigger than the day-to-day agenda and instead consider the collective impact of how your business will be remembered in five, 10, or 20 years’ time.
“The WiB Group proudly champions inclusion as an instrument for innovation. It is the wind in our sails, guiding us in our mission to address the acute need for bespoke support for businesswomen and ultimately raise the bar for workplace equality. Dialogue is best when it is dynamic. Whether in business or in life. When every person is given a voice and with it, the ability to pitch in and contribute. Viewpoints are expanded. Knowledge is shared. Economies are enriched. The best-laid plans become those that arise from a diversity of thought.”
Aligning with the event’s theme, Leading with Legacy, attendees on the day engaged in a panel discussion involving Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners Theresa Donaldson, Eleanor Hudson (BT Group), Chris Conway (Translink) and Margaret Topping (Queen’s University Belfast).
Sponsored by Belfast Harbour alongside associate sponsors BT, Queen’s University Belfast, Translink and Glandore, Chair’s Lunch saw leaders and business owners from across a variety of sectors celebrate and support the past and future work of The WiB Group which now reaches a community of 250,000 people across Northern Ireland.