WILL Membership

If you currently work in education, and you are interested in leadership and career progression, join WILL Network today! Regardless of sector (early childhood, primary, post primary, higher education), we support all women by creating opportunities to meet (online or in-person) to share their passion for learning and leadership. Registration is free!

If you are a member, you will:

✓ Receive WILL Clicks directly to your email.

✓ Know about all our WILL events first, and get priority registration.

✓ Have the opportunity to contribute at WILL events by sharing your leadership story and current work e.g. initiatives, research, etc. 

What You’ll have access to

WILL Brunches

A large in-person national event that takes place three times a year on a Saturday morning (10am-12.30pm) in a central location in Ireland. Each event is attended by up to 150 members. Guest speakers (from both in and outside education) are invited to share their leadership experience and advice for aspiring female leaders. Attendees are actively encouraged to network; seek advice for their own career progression and/or share initiatives in education they are involved in. Conversations focus on a leadership theme, which have previously included creativity, authenticity, resilience and presence, not perfection. We aim to create a space where members can share their passion for education, feel a sense of empowerment, all with some fun and laughter. Tickets for WILL Brunch sell out very quickly. They are released via Eventbrite in WILL Clicks and on Linked In.

WILL Chats

A live online podcast style conversation with female leader guest speakers from a range of sectors, education, politics, business, etc. Previous topics have included role models, motivation, sustainable leadership and women’s health. WILL Chats is held once a month via Zoom. Members can register for free on link sent via WILL Clicks. Recordings are sent to WILL members only.

WILL Finds

The network’s newly formed research panel, consists of WILL members who had conducted research or have an interest in the area of female educational leadership and/or career progression. The aim for this panel is to conduct research on educational leadership and gender in Ireland to build awareness and to inform the development of future supports within the network.

WILL Cicks

A monthly e-newsletter, contributed to by WILL members, with relevant leadership finds (new resources or information), leadership book/podcast reviews and a spotlight on a members’ career and leadership journeys. Details of all upcoming WILL events are included to enable members to register for an event that interests them. We encourage WILL members to dip in and out of the network events, according to the time they have, and what inspires them for motivation for career progression and support.

  • "WILL embodies the kind of leadership I believe in generous, authentic, and rooted in shared purpose. The connections and encouragement I’ve received have strengthened both my voice and my vision."

    —Angela Cummins, M.Ed, St.Ultan’s Primary School

  • "The WILL Network is somewhere I feel authentically connected to purpose and people. It offers me green shoots of ideas and relationships that nurture me both personally and professionally."

    —Michelle Stowe, Founder & Director, Connect RP Ltd.

  • "WILL Network is invaluable to me on so many level - it is inspiring, motivating and empowering! Working for myself is wonderful, but can sometimes feel isolating, so being connected to a tribe of like-minded, ambitious, highly-motivated women in education is just incredible. I'm really grateful to be part of it!"

    —Fiona Forman, Speaker, Facilitator, Author of Weaving Wellbeing

  • "I found WILL to be a vibrant, warm, engaging and uplifting network comprising women from diverse backgrounds in education coming together to lift each other up in an encouraging and inspiring way! Attending this network always fills my cup, restores my soul and affirms me to keep moving forward. Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimíd."

    —Dr. Deirdre McGillicuddy, Associate Professor in Education in UCD School of Education

  • "Since its inception in 2022, I am proud to be part of this vibrant growing network that empowers women in education to lead with confidence and purpose in the spirit of true altruism and abundance. What makes this network so special is the balanced space it creates where serious and thoughtful conversations about leadership and learning sit comfortably alongside laughter, encouragement, and the reassuring sense that we have such remarkable individuals in our corner. So many women in Irish education are standing taller because of WILL."

    —Dr. Ciara O’ Donnell, Education Consultant, Researcher, Professional Speaker

  • "It has been a true privilege to witness the Women in Learning and Leadership Network grow from its very first event into the powerful, supportive community it is today- a space where authentic connection inspires real, lasting change. The energy, ambition, and heart in that room is unlike anything else, and the best is definitely yet to come!"

    —Niamh Fortune, Associate Dean, Maynooth University

Frequently Asked Questions

  • WILL was set up to support women in all education sectors (early childhood, primary, post-primary, higher education). If you are involved in education in any way, and you are interested in leadership and career progression, you are most welcome to join.

  • There is currently no cost to join WILL Network. When you join, you will receive our newsletter, WILL Clicks, which will contain details of all upcoming WILL Network events (online and in-person).

  • Tickets for WILL Brunch are available via an Eventbrite link, sent in WILL Clicks newsletter. We use Zoom for our online WILL Chats. Members can register free via link shared in WILL Clicks. A recording of all WILL Chats are sent to WILL members.