This week on the roundup: celebrations, podcast episodes, confrontations, changes, thought leadership, net zero carbon buildings, expatriates, biological costs, physical assets, borrowing potential, reflections, sea turtles, full-day workshops, wealth managers, processes, different impressions, impressive milestones, content, award opportunities, and more!

But first, here are the IPBN Highlights of the week

What a fantastic way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! The IPBN Sustainability conference was a huge success, thanks to support from our members, sponsors, executive, media, and education partners, panellists, moderators, and special guests! In the coming days, we will be sharing the panel recordings, uploading videos to YouTube, and covering panel highlights online, so stay tuned! We have already uploaded the first batch of images here on our website, but stay tuned for many more to come

We shared our newest Podcast! In this episode, we’re joined by IPBN member Andy O'Donoghue, digital health entrepreneur, technology columnist, and broadcaster. The conversation centres on Andy’s experience chairing the 4th Investnet Technology in Healthcare Summit, one of Ireland’s key gatherings of healthcare leaders, policymakers, clinicians, and technology innovators.

And finally, don't forget to check out our Job Board! We update it regularly with member job announcements. 

And now...

IPBN Executive Partner Ardanis posted, "I had the opportunity to attend the 7th Annual Sustainability Conference hosted by the Ireland Portugal Business Network at the EU Green Campus at Universidade Europeia, and I left with more questions than answers which, in this context, I believe is a good thing. What struck me most wasn’t just the ambition in the room, but the underlying urgency. We are no longer discussing whether sustainability matters: we are confronting how far we still are from where we need to be. There was a clear sense that progress is happening, but not at the pace the moment demands. And that gap should concern all of us, not just as professionals, but as individuals."

IPBN Executive Partner PwC Portugal shared their latest "ESG in action" video on the changes stemming from the Omnibus process, the CSRD Directive, and other regulations. I take this opportunity to highlight the recent developments in Sustainability disclosures.

IPBN member IN2 Engineering shared, "Don’t miss our thought leadership piece about the new UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard Version 1 and how lessons learned from the industry can help achieve it!"

IPBN member Sharon O’Neill Ryan said, "Therapy changes depending on where you are and who you serve. In the Algarve, we found that traditional clinical settings aren't always the right fit for expatriates navigating life in a new country. At Talking Therapy, founded by Sharon Ryan, we combine clinical methods with the Portuguese landscape. We support English-speaking residents."

IPBN member Elaine Godley posted, "The 'Absolute Truth' about your team is hidden in their data. Most coaching and leadership training is full of fluff. We talk about "personalities," but we ignore the biological cost. When a leader or a teacher wears a "mask" to survive the day, they aren't just stressed—they are making themselves sick. I’m Elaine Godley, and for 30 years I’ve been proving that you cannot separate behaviour from health. Today, I am officially opening the doors to the DISCPlus Academy."

IPBN member Memorable Green shared, "The era of the disposable building is over. Through ecodomehomes.com, we are deploying aerodynamically superior circular structures designed to be the most resilient physical assets on the planet. This isn’t speculation; it is proven science. Our units are engineered and certified to withstand 8.0 magnitude earthquakes, massive flooding, and the devastating force of an F5 tornado. While traditional structures fight the energy of a storm, the EcoDomeHomes.com sheds it."

IPBN member GRID Finance B Corp said, "Every business deserves access to clear, straightforward finance. With GRID Finance, you can explore your borrowing potential in just three quick steps. Start today at gridfinance.ie and see what funding could work for your business."

IPBN Board member Sharon Dehmel shared reflections on the IPBN Sustainability Conference. "We don’t have an ocean problem. We have a leadership problem. That was the uncomfortable truth sitting beneath the seventh Ireland Portugal Business Network Sustainability Conference this week. Read more about Sharon’s reflections on the conference."

IPBN Board Member Rachael Milne posted, "On St. Patrick's Day, I attended the 7th Annual IPBN Sustainability Conference for the Ireland Portugal Business Network, focused on the Blue Economy, and as a board member, it was great to see the quality of discussion and engagement in the room. One idea came up again and again: Ireland and Portugal don’t just share values… we share the same ocean. Around this time last year, I was volunteering on a conservation sea turtle programme in the Galápagos. It came back to me because the issues being discussed aren’t abstract. You see the impact up close. Some of the conversations were practical, not just high-level. Read Rachael's feedback here."

IPBN member Filipe Pinho Pereira said, "Today I’m starting a new workshop I've designed, built on my experience working with teams and individuals over the past year. It's a full-day workshop that takes you from 0 to 1 in AI proficiency. Tailored for everyone, we’ll cover the fundamentals, practical workflows, and hands-on experimentation that actually make AI useful day-to-day. I keep saying: training nowadays is the HIGHEST leverage opportunity in AI today."

IPBN member Swissquote Bank Europe wrote, "The Nordic private wealth community gathers again in Stockholm. On 26 March 2026, Swissquote Bank Europe will attend the 9th Annual Private Wealth Nordics Forum — one of the region’s leading meetings for family offices, private banks, and high-net-worth wealth managers."

IPBN member PinkRoom has been rethinking how they present Pink Room. "The way we build hasn’t changed, but how we talk about it needed to. A clearer view of our work, our process, and our focus on mobile. More soon!"

IPBN member SEE Countries shared, "Hospitality in tourism is no longer a 'nice to have,' it’s a differentiator. Two travellers can book the exact same experience and leave with completely different impressions. Not because of the activity itself, but because of how it was delivered. A warm welcome, clear communication, small details that show attention. Or the opposite, a cold interaction, lack of guidance, friction along the way. The experience may be the same, but the feeling isn’t. And that’s where loyalty is built. Hospitality doesn’t mean overcomplicating the service."

IPBN Academic partner Porto Business School posted, "From Porto to the world! Porto Business School’s Global Online MBA has just reached #6 worldwide in the Financial Times ranking, an impressive milestone for the programme and the entire community behind it. Results like this reflect years of work: strong faculty, committed teams, and participants who bring global perspectives into the learning journey."

IPBN member Flow Productions shared some behind-the-scenes moments from the capture of interviews for Details' thank you content, following the distinction as Golf Business of the Year by the World Golf Awards. "In this type of production, the objective goes beyond the visual record: it is about building a clear communication piece, aligned with the brand's identity and up to the relevance of the recognition received."

IPBN partner Art&TUR announced, "ART&TUR will happen this year in OVAR from 27th to 31st! In partnership with Turismo Centro de Portugal, the Câmara Municipal de Ovar, and several local institutions, preparations are underway for the 19th edition of ART&TUR - International Tourism Film Festival. This year's festival will be dedicated to cultural themes that highlight the humanities and shared heritage, encouraging new perspectives on cultural promotion and tourism. ART&TUR will once again present multiple competitions running simultaneously:

- ART&TUR Global - Award for the Best Tourism Film Worldwide. Awarded films enter the competition at CIFFT - the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals 
- ART&TUR Portugal - Award for the Best National Film.
- Blogging Fundão - Prize for the Best Blog Publication about Ovar.
- ART&FACTORY - Award for the Best Audiovisual Production about Ovar.

For the 2nd consecutive year, the IPBN will support the festival and we encourage our members to apply!

IPBN member Carlos Justino asked, "Do you have a tourism experience in the Algarve? It could be worth €5,000! The Region of the Algarve is organising awards for local companies, and I thought that some of IPBN members would like to participate. The Região de Turismo do Algarve has launched the “Make in Algarve – Best Cultural and Creative Tourism Experiences” Award, which will recognise the top cultural and creative tourism initiatives in the region. Applications are open until 12 April. Find out more and apply here!