This week on the roundup: solidarity, categories, infrastructure, development, attendance, resilience, access, art and culture, dedication, registrations, recycling, turnaround time, workflows, passion, job openings, high-end service, contributions, female founders, and more!

But first, here are the IPBN Highlights of the Week:

We welcomed everyone back! As we restart our operations, we have a few noteworthy announcements: First, our grant from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland under the ESP Grant programme was renewed and even increased! This will allow us to move forward with our exciting new program of Master Classes, MMMs, and the Tourism Conference in Lisbon on Oct 22 (save the date!); Not to mention the usual weekly round-ups, interviews, and podcasts. Check out our events calendar for more information. 

We also welcomed and introduced to the network two new members:

Go Open MRI, represented by COO Edgar Antunes, located in Faro, is the Algarve's only Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) clinic— a less intimidating alternative to traditional closed MRI scanners as it specializes in providing a comfortable experience for patients who suffer from claustrophobia, paediatrics, anxiety, and other limitations.

Redwell, represented by Roland Kern, CEO, provides a comfortable and healthy room climate in an exclusive, intelligent design that offers a great range of possibilities to match your needs for a new build, a renovation project, or just a supplementary heating system.

We shared a new Spotlight interview with Filipe Pereira of Oktogon Labs— Oktogon Labs is on a mission to make artificial intelligence work for everyone — especially small and medium-sized businesses ready to boost efficiency and open new opportunities. Read more about it here. 

We informed the network about our new Masterclasses on September 19 & 26. And there will be a new series of networking Members Meet Members. Oct 2 Coimbra and Oct 7 Algarve, You can register on the IPBN events page here if not already done. There will also be a new MMM in Lisbon on Tuesday, September 30— to be announced next week. Save the date!

And now...

IPBN Partner Joana Apolonio ABC shared, "Last week we informed you of the 4th Edition of the Solidarity Walk and Run 'Mama em Movimento' organised by the Algarve Biomedical Centre (ABC) to take place on October 25th, 2025, starting at MAR Shopping Algarve in Loulé. Registration is now open until October 21 here. For more information, you can contact us at: mamamovimento10@gmail.com. We count on your presence! Join us in promoting a future of innovation, discovery, and renewed hope."

IPBN member Lisbon Heritage Hotels, Voting for the Historic Hotels of Europe Awards 2025 is now open! This year, Lisbon Heritage Hotels is applying for some very special categories, and we need your support to get there! Follow the link here to vote.

IPBN member Stephanie Prenderville was thrilled to be speaking on a panel at the CIF Annual Conference on September 30th, at Croke Park, Dublin. She said, "The Summit will bring together senior sector leaders, policy-makers, and other stakeholders to address the urgent challenges Ireland faces in delivering housing, infrastructure, and supporting inward investment."

IPBN member Lawler Consulting shared an exciting project Announcement. "We are delighted to share that Lawler Consulting has once again been appointed as MEP Design Engineers on the latest Centre Parcs expansion project at Longford. This marks the second time we’ve collaborated with the Centre Parcs UK & Ireland project team and John Sisk & Son Ltd, following our successful delivery of sustainable design solutions on their previous development."

IPBN member Lee Bristow shared excellent insights from the Ibec AI launch event, “Work Just Got Smarter.” This comment from Blake Rizk, MBA of Laya Healthcare was spot on: “AI Governance should be seen as an enabler to innovation, not a hindrance.” It's a principle we champion at Saros Consulting. Thanks to Barry C. for attending and ensuring our voice was part of the discussion. Navigating the EU AI Act is going to be a learned experience for all.

IPBN member AMARNA Vida said business-as-usual is no longer enough. "Leaders today need adaptability, foresight, and purpose to thrive in complexity. That’s exactly what The Chameleon Edge is about and why we created it. This first conversation sets the stage for what’s ahead: bold, honest dialogues with leaders who are rethinking business for resilience, innovation, and impact. Join us Sep 10 for Episode 1." 

IPBN member Ocubo posted, "The Lumina Festival da Luz 2025 is preparing to transform the town of Cascais into the brightest in the country over three nights. LUMINA is a free, inclusive event designed for the whole family and a diverse audience that stands out for its emphasis on sharing and participation, promoting greater access to art and culture. Check the programme here. Cascais. Sep 12/13/14 from 8pm to midnight." 

IPBN member Filipe Pinho Pereira shared that he launched Oktogon Labs as the core that brings together our entire ecosystem. "In short, it’s a product studio that brings together everything we’ve built so far, with a dedicated service line focused on education and practical uses of AI."

IPBN member Techies Go Green shared Tech For Food. "We throw away edible food for not meeting beauty standards. Let’s talk solutions, join us for our upcoming webinar. Register here." 

IPBN member Mobiweb asked, "How do you get people to recycle more? Make it easy and rewarding. That's the secret behind the ECO app. Check it out here."

IPBN member Salmon Software Limited posted, "From 3 Days to 3 Hours: How Kingspan Group Achieved an Impressive 90% Netting Efficiency. In our latest success story, we share how Kingspan supercharged its treasury operations—cutting netting processing time from 3 days down to just 3 hours. That’s right, a 90% reduction in turnaround time!"

IPBN member Overcast HQ shared that ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE.1 is stepping into the future of media operations with Overcast HQ. "By uniting compliance and content delivery on one platform, they’ve turned complex, manual processes into a streamlined, cloud-native workflow. We’re proud to be their partner on this transformation. Read more here."

IPBN member Rebecca McHugh from Algarve Staff posted, "New Role Alert! High-Octane Bookings Specialist | Olhos de Água. Are you passionate about people, precision, and delivering unforgettable client experiences? Our client is seeking a dynamic Bookings Specialist to be the heartbeat of their high-end service business."

You can also check the IPBN Job Board here for more openings. 

IPBN Board member Sharon Dehmel posted, '“I’ll step up fully once the role is official.” That’s what one of my clients thought when she was appointed as an interim leader. The position was meant to become permanent, but 18 months later, it still hadn’t. This is what imposter syndrome looks like in action. Waiting for permission. Waiting for the official title. Waiting for someone else to validate your authority. Here is the shift: leadership isn’t proven by the title, it’s shown in how you contribute."

IPBN member Chitra Stern thanked Forbes Portugal for this honor! "In their sum up of the 50 most powerful female business women and CEOs in Portugal, they’ve kindly done a top 3 most powerful in business born abroad page! First of all, it’s fabulous to see how many women CEOs and female founders there are in Portugal! Secondly, I’m proud to be mentioned alongside them."