Olympians to Ignite Passion for STEM for Girls at Largest-Ever I Wish Showcase

Several female Olympians and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates will lead an extraordinary lineup of speakers at the largest-ever 11th annual I Wish Showcase, taking place on 6 February at the RDS, Dublin.

Olympic sprint star Phil Healy will be joined at the Showcase by rower Zoe Hyde, who also competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Claire Dunne, a member of the 4x400m relay squad at the London 2012 Olympic Games and now Head of Social Impact at Deloitte, will also speak. Together, they will inspire over 4,000 female teenage students from across the island to consider STEM careers, highlighting how advancements in STEM innovation drive success in sports and beyond.

I Wish, a community committed to showcasing the power of STEM to teenage girls, has held its renowned annual Showcase — with inspirational speakers, interactive exhibitions and workshops — since 2015, engaging with over 62,000 students in this time, hosting over 1,000 speakers, and partnering with over 130 industry leaders. Registration is still open at iwish.ie/register.

Speaking ahead of the event, Phil Healy said: “STEM drives innovation on and off the track. From the engineering of high-performance running shoes and the physics behind optimal sprinting techniques to the data analytics fine-tuning training plans, STEM is a part of my daily life as an athlete. I’m thrilled to share my journey and show how women in STEM are revolutionising every facet of sports. The I Wish Showcase is an incredible opportunity for young girls to see the endless possibilities available to them.”

TV host Sinead Kennedy, returning MC, will guide the event’s programme, with more speakers to be announced in the coming weeks. There will be over 30 exhibitors, including key partners Deloitte, Dell Technologies, Merck, Virgin Media, Sport Ireland Her Moves Campaign, Johnson & Johnson, Regeneron, Qualcomm and more.

I Wish co-founder Caroline O’Driscoll said: “The findings from our most recent annual survey report make it clear that while progress has been made, systemic barriers persist, preventing too many young girls from seeing STEM as a viable career path. Role models like Phil, Claire and Zoe are crucial in shifting this narrative. By showcasing women who have broken through these barriers, the I Wish Showcase provides tangible examples of success in STEM and empowers them to imagine their future in these industries. This is how we inspire change — by showing young girls the endless possibilities available to them.”

The 2025 I Wish Showcase will feature a new Sport Innovation Hub where attendees can explore how advancements in technology are revolutionising performance, training and competition. Additionally, the event will debut a Food Science Hub, offering a glimpse into how STEM is reshaping what we eat and how it’s made. Other innovative hubs dedicated to construction, entrepreneurship and emerging STEM fields will showcase the latest breakthroughs shaping these industries.

This year’s event features ongoing transport partnerships with Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann, along with a new partnership with Translink, making the event fully accessible to students from Northern Ireland for the first time.

Co-founder Gillian Keating added: The success of the I Wish Showcase is a testament to the power of collaboration and strategic partnerships. By drawing on the support of our industry leaders, educators, and transport partners that we have been able to connect young women with the resources and networks they need to choose and thrive in Stem careers that work for them. Together, we are building a community that champions inclusivity, equity, and opportunity for girls across the island of Ireland.””

Beyond the annual showcase, I Wish has expanded its activities to a year-round suite of programmes, including a Tech for Good Programme, entrepreneurship programmes and the newly launched I Wish Primary Programme.

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