Episode 300: The Return of Disrupt Dublin – Big Ideas, Fast Talks, and Real Conversations About Work (with Bill Banham)
A Better HR Business
After a long break, Disrupt Dublin is returning on Thursday, 26 February 2026, bringing fast talks, sharp thinking, and real conversations about the future of work in Ireland.
In this episode, I’m joined by my event co-host Bill Banham, Editor of HR Gazette, host of the HRchat Podcast, and one of the long-standing forces behind Disrupt events across the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada.
We talk about why now is the right time to relaunch DisruptHR Dublin, what makes the format different from traditional HR conferences, and what attendees can expect on the night.
What Is Disrupt?
Disrupt was founded in 2013 in Cincinnati and has since run events in more than 170 cities worldwide. Its format is simple and demanding:
Five-minute talks
Twenty slides
Slides auto-advance every 15 seconds
Speakers have no room to waffle. They must be clear, direct, and honest. The result is high-energy talks that get straight to the point and often say the things people are already thinking but rarely hear on stage.
Bill explains how this format changes the dynamic for both speakers and audiences, creating a sense of shared risk, focus, and connection. The aim is not polished perfection, but useful ideas that spark new thinking.
Why Disrupt Dublin Matters
This will be the first Disrupt event in Dublin since before the pandemic, and the relaunch is designed to feel social, open, and practical.
Rather than a full-day conference, Disrupt Dublin is an evening event with time built in for proper conversations. Talks are recorded and added to the global Disrupt library, which now hosts thousands of short presentations from around the world.
Topics on the night will span leadership, culture, talent, technology, learning, wellbeing, and how work is really changing in 2026 and beyond.
Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/disrupt-dublin-returns-tickets-1976595846385.
Event Details
Date
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time
5:00 pm to 8:30 pm GMT
Location
Personio Dublin
Georges Quay House, 43 Townsend Street, Dublin 2
Agenda
5:00 – 6:00 Registration and networking
Drinks, canapés, and first conversations
6:00 – 6:15 Welcome and opening remarks
6:15 – 7:00 Lightning Talks – Round One
7:00 – 7:15 Break
7:15 – 8:00 Lightning Talks – Round Two
8:00 – 8:30 Wrap-up and final networking
Speakers Include
Kelsey Cates, Global Head of Learning Experiences, Google
Elizabeth Buckley, HR Director, Forvis Mazars
John Kennedy FCIPD, Head of HR Organisational Development, Iarnród Éireann and Vice Chair, CIPD Ireland National Committee
Dr. Mary Collins, Chartered Psychologist, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Simon Peter Haigh, Founder and CEO, GCM Growth Group
Ivan Stojanovic, Co-founder, Taladria
Bill Banham, Editor, HR Gazette
More speakers and partners will be announced closer to the event.
Who It’s For
Disrupt Dublin is designed for in-house HR and Talent professionals, people leaders, founders, researchers, and workplace innovators. Capacity is limited, and priority will be given to practitioners and guests of partners and speakers.
How to Attend
Places are limited. Registration does not guarantee entry, and tickets may be refunded if the event is full or attendee criteria are not met.
Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/disrupt-dublin-returns-tickets-1976595846385.
If you are looking for a short, high-energy event that challenges standard thinking and brings together people who are actively shaping work in Ireland, this is one to put in the diary.
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