More than 180 participants gather for panel discussions and breakout sessions with industry leaders
Trade
Keith Barry
In association with Exertis
Exertis successfully hosted their Exertis Engage Expo 2026 at the Heritage Hotel in Co Laois, attracting over 180 participants and 16 vendor exhibits with positive feedback highlighting increased industry collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The event opened with a welcome address from Damian Guerin, the newly appointed managing director of Exertis Ireland, followed by an overview of the day’s agenda from Stephen Mulligan, pre‑sales Manager, emphasising practical insights and actionable strategies attendees could implement in their organisations.
A central feature of Engage Expo 2026 was the series of vendor‑led breakout sessions, hosted by platinum sponsors Dell Technologies, Cisco and Fortinet. Each session was led by subject‑matter experts and included interactive Q&A. Exertis extends its thanks to Malcolm Orekoya, Tara Gale, Colin Boyd, Brian O’Toole and Tony Davitt for their valuable contributions and expertise throughout these sessions.
The afternoon programme included dedicated networking opportunities, followed by the Exertis Ireland professional services speed talk, with contributions from DLL Group, Macro Evolution Services, Castillians and Exertis Professional Services, which initiated discussions on future collaborations and next steps to help partners accelerate growth and unlock new opportunities.
A panel session on The Future of Work and Education in an AI World brought together industry leaders: Alison O’Sullivan of Grant Thornton, Hugh Brett of Grinds360, and Jim Lehane of Exertis Ireland. Hosted by Stephen Mulligan, the discussion explored how AI is reshaping both workplace and learning environments through real‑world experience and practical insight.
The conference concluded with a keynote address by Keith Barry, whose session Redefine the Impossible delivered a compelling, memorable close to the day. Through his captivating insights and interactive demonstrations, he empowered the audience to push the boundaries of what we perceive as possible and achieve the impossible.
The event wrapped up with an evening BBQ and casino-style entertainment, giving attendees the chance to continue networking and sharing insights in a relaxed setting.
Exertis would like to sincerely thank all participating vendors for their engagement, collaboration and support in making Engage Expo 2026 a success. Our thanks extend to Dell Technologies, Cisco, Fortinet, LockNcharge, DLL, MIXX, Promethean, LG, Epson, Hypertec, Castillians, Sharp, MacroEV and Omada for their valuable contributions throughout the day.