Zurich’s 2026 Employer Conference at Trinity College Dublin

Leading employers joined Zurich experts to explore the trends shaping today’s workplace - from recruitment and employee wellbeing to the growing impact of AI and the influence of global financial markets.

A strong start: leadership, economy and market context

We opened the morning with a welcome from Rose Leonard, Head of Corporate Distribution & Customer Relationship Management at Zurich.

Seamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, shared practical insights on the outlook for the Irish economy - setting an important context for employers planning for the months ahead.

We then moved into market perspectives with updates from David Warren, Chief Investment Officer and senior colleagues from the Zurich Dealing Room – Anthony Conroy, John McDermott, and Pat Cunningham. They discussed the current geopolitical and economic factors and how they might impact the markets and your pension.

AI adoption: opportunity, expectations and governance

The afternoon session began with Paul Donnelly, Global Head of Insurance at Version 1, who explored what effective AI adoption looks like in organisations. He focused on what employers should anticipate as AI use accelerates - and why governance matters to make sure adoption is responsible, secure, and aligned to business outcomes.

Recruitment and absence management: practical employer priorities

Joe Creegan, Zurich’s Head of Corporate Pensions, led a panel discussion on two topics consistently top of mind for employers: recruitment and absence management. He was joined by:

• Eric Ryan, Senior Sales Director at Indeed
• Kate McNamara, Senior Claims Specialist at Zurich
• Paul Donnelly, Global Head of Insurance at Version 1

Together, they shared perspectives on the talent market, evolving employee expectations, and the realities employers face when managing absence fairly and consistently. It was a pleasure to welcome two highly successful organisations who truly understand how to navigate change.

A pensions landscape update

To close the event, Fiona Donaghy, CRM Lead at Zurich, gave an update on pensions regulation highlighting key developments employers should keep on their radar.

Thank you to all our speakers for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. We look forward to welcoming you again at the next Zurich Employer Conference. If you’re interested in attending our next conference, simply contact: sharon.farrell@zurich.com.

As a trusted partner to thousands of businesses in Ireland, we provide a broad suite of employee benefits, including group risk solutions and retirement options for members. We deliver complete, clear solutions for any business size - small, medium or large. Visit Zurichcorporate.ie to find out more.