This week on the roundup: new members, invitations, compliance, practical strategies, workforce challenges, podcasts, rankings, industry clusters, export turnover, the art of living well, donations, web design, entrepreneurs, valuations,  promotions, passion and prestige, benefits, certifications, articles, data platform implementations, and more! 

But first, here are the IPBN Highlights of the week 

We shared an IPBN Spotlight interview with new member Roland Kern, CEO of the Redwell Store Portugal by Quentinho do Lis. Find more about his background, and how his heating system warms objects and people directly, creating a natural warmth without relying on air convection! Read the full spotlight article here.

Time is ticking... don't forget to register for the IPBN's 4th Annual Tourism Conference on October 22, 2025, at TUMO Lisboa from 9h to 13h, followed by a networking lunch and a Portuguese wine tasting. Why not help us fill the room? If you can't make it, feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues and contacts.  

We welcomed the newest member of the IPBN A.C.T. Audit, represented by Chief Operating Officer MC Tomassini! This company is an accounting and auditing firm, licensed by the ACCA in both the UK and in Ireland. Its core services include Audit and assurance, management accounting, bookkeeping, VAT compliance, financial statement preparation, financial due diligence, payroll, and company services, among others. Check the full profile here!

We introduced our new Master Class on Friday, Oct 31, at 11h30 for a one-hour online IPBN Masterclass led by Jean Evans - Networking Architect, The Networking Architect, who will share practical, proven strategies for creating authentic professional connections that lead to long-term growth and opportunity. Register here.

In anticipation of the 4th edition of our Tourism conference next week, we have asked two experts their views on the hospitality and tourism sector's workforce challenges — from skill shortages to shifting labor laws. Listen in on this podcast for insights on how Portugal’s tourism workforce can adapt — sustainably, strategically, and with purpose. 

And now...

IPBN Academic partner Porto Business School's Executive MBA has made its debut in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2025, securing the #95 position worldwide, #34 in Europe, and recognition as one of the Top 3 business schools in Portugal. 

IPBN Academic Partner Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto and Planetiers are pleased to invite you to the 5th “INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND REGENERATION” international Conference. "The event will take place on October 29th and 30th at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa’s Porto campus. You will find the full program here and you can register here. The aim of the conference is to mobilize both academia (students, researchers, professors) and organizations (professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders) related to businesses of different sizes, industry clusters and trade associations, municipalities, and other to discuss topics related to innovation and technology, circularity, with the aim to promote science based, and yet practical, sustainability and regeneration."

IPBN Media Production Partner Jose Nunes and RXL Studio posted, "Currently on a trip to the Canton Fair in China. The Canton Fair (also known as the China Import and Export Fair), first held in spring 1957 in Guangzhou, is China’s oldest, largest, and most comprehensive international trade expo. By the 126th session (pre-pandemic), the Canton Fair had achieved tremendous scale: USD 1.41 trillion in export turnover over its lifetime, attendance from nearly 9 million foreign buyers, and over 210 country/region participation. The Fair is hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce together with the Guangdong provincial government and organized by the China Foreign Trade Center." 

IPBN member Marinhal Luxury Resorts's Sagres Beach Family Resort believes that luxury and family life go hand in hand. "Our first film in the Martinhal Collection series celebrates the art of living well, where design, comfort, and nature meet to create experiences for all generations. From beach adventures to moments of relaxation at the Finisterra Spa, from delicious family meals to vibrant mornings by the pool, Martinhal Sagres embodies the essence of family-friendly luxury in the Algarve." 

IPBN member Kelly Harper from Algarve Care Services is delighted to introduce the winter awareness initiative, The Share Bear Campaign, a heartfelt community initiative dedicated to raising awareness about loneliness and the challenges faced by those living alone or living with dementia. "In preparation for the launch, we’re asking our wonderful community to join us in spreading kindness by donating clean, unwanted teddy bears. The bears need to be a minimum size of 15cm high up to apx 30cm. You can drop off your bears at any of our collection points, which are listed on our social media pages, Algarve Care Services on Facebook or Algarvecare247 on Instagram. For more information or to find your nearest drop-off location, please call us on 927 688 677. Bear collection deadline: 1st November 2025. We are also reaching out to local community groups, charities, and fundraising organisations who may wish to support this meaningful initiative. If your group is raising funds for community or wellbeing projects and would like to donate to the Share Bear Campaign, please contact me directly at kelly@algarvecare.com." 

IPBN member Croissant shared a massive thank you to the team at Innova for building us a brand new, stunning website! They couldn't be happier with the result. Check out the website here!

IPBN member Algarve STP posted, "Last week, October 7th, we hosted another edition of the Algarve Member Meet Member event, organized by the IPBN. The meeting brought together entrepreneurs from the region in an environment of sharing, new connections and strengthening the Algarve's business and technological ecosystem, and Algarve STP was present to give an introduction to the Nov 6/7 Algarve Tech Hub Summit 2025 - an event that celebrates innovation and regional talent." 

And FYI— The IPBN will be there on November 7 with a special IPBN event. Details will be announced next week!

IPBN member Overcast HQ is proud to share that they have reached a $20 million valuation, following a new $1.2M (€1M) investment round — backed by Google’s former Head of Start-Ups, Paddy Flynn, and a network of leading Irish investors. The story was featured exclusively in The Business Post here!

IPBN member Claire Mason asked, "Ever wonder how people actually land those TV interviews + prime-time radio spots? Spoiler alert: it’s not luck. It’s strategy. And there’s no bigger stage here in Ireland than RTÉ. But if you've ever wondered how people end up on TV or radio, it’s rarely by chance. Behind the scenes, there’s a clear formula. Read about it here!" 

IPBN Academic Partner UC Business posted, "The Universidade de Coimbra, and the bilateral network for the promotion of business and innovation Ireland Portugal Business Network formalized a collaboration agreement! The protocol aims to explore opportunities for research and development projects that bring together universities, technology centres and companies from Portugal and Ireland, as well as processes for valuing knowledge and innovation." Learn more here.

IPBN member Golf Concept GC says the countdown has begun! "The 3rd edition of the Golf Concept Trophy is set for November 22–23, and this year we’re heading to the breathtaking Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort! Get ready for a competition where passion meets prestige – and only the best will rise to the top. Golf Concept Trophy 2025 – Elevating the game, one edition at a time." Click the link here to find out more!

IPBN member Laura McMahon shared, "Great to be back in Bolton Street, TU Dublin today with my fellow CIBSE Ireland committee members Niamh O'Halloran, Debo Adeduntan, and Michael McDonald, meeting students and promoting Building Services Engineering! We had some fantastic conversations with engineering students about the opportunities within our industry and the benefits of joining CIBSE as student members, from free access to CIBSE guides and technical resources, to the supportive professional network that can really help shape their early careers." 

IPBN Board member Rachael Milne posted a testimonial: "Delighted to earn my Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) certification from Scrum.org! I've seen the power of Agile in action in cross-functional teams, and this certification has given me a great foundation in Scrum. A  big thanks to Rachael Milne PMP, DipPM, PSMI for her excellent guidance and to my colleagues at ICBF for creating a thriving Agile environment." 

IPBN member Barbara Monohan wrote, "Every decision is a brand decision. If you’ve ever wondered why some brands bounce back while others break, grab a cuppa and lean in. This isn’t outrage; it’s a blueprint. Read the full article and be ready to think differently." 

IPBN member Clear Strategy posted, "Kerbi, our Cutting-Edge Solution for Metadata-Driven Data Processing was built by our experts to scale. Kerbi, available on the Snowflake Marketplace is an AI-powered, cost-effective, Snowflake application designed to simplify and accelerate the building and maintenance of data platform implementations. Looking to learn how Kerbi can help YOUR business?"