Connections that count: Building your network

The President and committee of Queen's Graduates' Association (QGA) are delighted to invite you to a Networking Masterclass event.

Queen’s alumni are invited to join us at this interactive Networking Masterclass led by Leadership and Career Coach, Elaine Atkinson and Founder of the Early Careers Studio, Jennifer Schneider for an evening on how to build meaningful professional connections.

Open to all Queen's graduates, the event will also feature an expert panel discussion and a facilitated networking session.

1. Networking Masterclass - An engaging, practical session to help participants understand what networking really is and how to do it authentically and effectively, whether online or in person - so they can build meaningful professional connections that open doors to new opportunities with confidence.

1. Panel Discussion – with Ciaran Sheehan, Pragya Sharma and Elaine Atkinson, and Chaired by Phil Murray

1. Facilitated Speed Informal Networking

All participants will receive a short “Networking: Dos & Don’ts” guide with practical tips for both in-person and online networking, plus how to leverage these skills in mentoring and professional relationships.

Facilitator and Panel Bios:

Elaine Atkinson is a Leadership and Career Coach with over two decades of corporate experience in global people and talent leadership. Through her coaching practice, In Wonder Coaching, she helps professionals and leaders build confidence, navigate change, and create careers that fit. Her work focuses on practical, human approaches to growth - including how to network and build relationships that feel real, not forced.

Jennifer Schneider is an Early Careers strategist with nearly twenty years of global experience helping organisations attract, develop, and retain emerging talent. She focuses on making Early Careers programmes more inclusive, engaging, and impactful – creating opportunities that genuinely set people up for success. Jen is passionate about using her experience to connect people and show how effective networking can open doors and shape remarkable careers.

Phil Murray, People & Skills Lead at NI Chamber & QGA Vice President

Through consultation with members, Phil shapes policy development to reflect the views of the business community. He is particularly focused on advancing policies that support the creation of a skilled and inclusive workforce. Phil also leads the delivery of NI Chamber’s public affairs events and represents the organisation on the All-Party Group on Skills and the All-Party Group on Early Education and Childcare. He holds an BSc in Psychology from Queen's University Belfast and MSc in Business Development and Innovation from Ulster University.

Ciaran Sheehan, Managing Partner, Clarendon Executive

Ciaran Sheehan is Managing Partner of Clarendon Executive, Northern Ireland’s leading executive search firm. With over 30 years’ experience in senior executive recruitment, he has advised on many of the region’s most high-profile leadership appointments across business, public service, and the not-for-profit sector. At the heart of Clarendon Executive’s long-term success is the power of relationships and networks built over decades. Alongside Clarendon Executive, Ciaran had a range of other business interests, including ventures in private healthcare and, more recently, in hospitality. He has served on several boards, including Business in the Community, and is a former Chair of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland.

Dr Pragya Sharma, Founder & CEO of Granlab

Dr Pragya Sharma is a structural biochemist turned biotech entrepreneur, dedicated to transforming the future of skincare through science-led, steroid-free by-design solutions for chronic skin conditions. As the Founder and CEO of Granlab, she is on a journey combining her deep academic expertise with a bold entrepreneurial vision to develop steroid-free by design therapies that restore both skin health and confidence. Dr Sharma holds a PhD in Structural Biochemistry from Queen’s University Belfast, where her research into membrane protein structures and cellular mechanisms laid the foundation for her innovative approach to skincare. Her journey from the laboratory to launching a pioneering biotech start-up in the UK has earned her widespread recognition, including being named to Ireland's 30 Under 30 list, honoured at the House of Lords as a Young Indian British Entrepreneur, and selected as an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur. A TEDx speaker and recipient of the Young Business Woman of the Year award in 2023, she shares the behind-the-scenes realities of start-up life on TikTok, offering an unfiltered look at the challenges and triumphs of building a purpose-driven company. Backed by UKRI and Innovate UK funding, Pragya continues to work with dermatologists, researchers, investors, and industry leaders to deliver impactful, technology-enabled skincare solutions that are changing lives.

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