Please note that this event is taking place as part of the Young Professionals Network, a forum for young professionals and students between the ages of 18 and 35. There will be a reception taking place from 6.00p.m. 

Heather Humphreys will join the YPN for a fireside chat on how to make rural Ireland an attractive place for young people to live, work and build their futures. She will draw on her ministerial experience and will explore the challenges facing rural communities and how policy can support opportunities for the next generation. 

Heather Humphreys served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency from 2011 to 2024. Raised in rural County Monaghan, she began her professional career in banking before managing the Cootehill Credit Union for over a decade. Her background in finance provided a practical foundation for her subsequent political career, which began in local government in 2003. Throughout her tenure in Dáil Éireann, Ms Humphreys held several high-profile cabinet portfolios. She served as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and Minister for Justice. She was appointed Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development in 2020, roles she held until early 2025. She also briefly served as the deputy leader of Fine Gael in 2024.She has dedicated her career to strengthening rural communities, preserving Ireland's rich cultural heritage, and supporting balanced regional development