Simon Coveney Keynote Speaker

Deputy Prime Minister Ireland (Tanaiste) (2017-2020) and Member of the UN Security Council (2020-2022)
Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment (2017-2024) - was Minister for Defense, Foreign Affairs and Trade and Employment.
Member of EY's Geopolitical Strategy Team and Adviser to Firms including Reliance and Submit

Simon Coveney's Biography

Simon Coveney is an experienced and articulate political and business leader, known for professional relationship-building abilities and his in-depth understanding of public policy, legal practices and standards.

Today, he is an adviser to a number of firms including EY, Reliance and Submit.

During his 26 years in public service, Simon was known for fostering enterprise growth and to creating positive global change. He stepped down from political life in late 2024.

Simon was elected as a member of Ireland’s Parliament (Dáil Éireann) and served as a Government Minister in several key departments. He also acted as Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) during this time. His main ministerial roles included:

–Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment (2017-2024) – In this position, he oversaw the ‘New Enterprise Plan’, designed to help drive competitiveness, entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable jobs. He also brought in measures to support FDI growth across Tech, Pharma, Food and Financial Services. Other accomplishments included developing an industrial strategy for offshore wind and a plan for decarbonisation and digitalisation of the Irish Economy.

-Minister for Defence (2020 -2022) – He set up and published a Commission Report on the Future of the Defence Forces

–Minister for Foreign Affairs (2017 -2020) – Simon was the chief Brexit negotiator and spokesperson for the Government with responsibility for Northern Ireland, the Irish Peace Process and UK relations.

Simon was also Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) (2017-2020) and Deputy Leader of his political party -Fine Gael (2017-2024). He was a Member of UN Security Council for Ireland (2020-2022). During this time, he spoke out on the conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and the Middle East.

He was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) (2004-2007). While a MEP, he was a Member of Foreign Affairs Committee, the Internal Market Committee and the Fisheries Committee.

Throughout his distinguished career, Simon has shown leadership and demonstrated strategic planning capability in large and complex areas and organisations. He is known for his negotiation skills in difficult and divisive circumstances and for his ability to work in an inclusive and positive way with his internal teams and stakeholders and with external parties.

Simon has a B.Sc degree in Agriculture and Land Management – he played Rugby at College level in Ireland and in the UK.

Geopolitics and Impacts for Industry

Inward Investment Strategies

He brings 26 years of frontline public leadership in Ireland and Europe, translating the realities of governing, coalition-building and crisis management into practical lessons for senior decision-makers.
He led Ireland’s enterprise and industrial strategy as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, giving business audiences a clear view of how governments drive competitiveness, attract investment and deliver the green and digital transition.
He was Ireland’s chief Brexit negotiator and a central figure in UK–Ireland relations and the peace process, equipping leaders with hard-earned insight into negotiation under pressure and navigating politically divisive environments.
He served as Tánaiste and held senior foreign affairs and defence portfolios, offering boards and public leaders a rare perspective on how security, diplomacy and economic policy converge in an increasingly fragmented world.
He has operated at the heart of international decision-making, including Ireland’s term on the UN Security Council, helping audiences understand how geopolitical shocks translate into policy choices, commercial risk and strategic resilience.