Joanne Sweeney MPRII named Network Ireland Established Businesswoman of the Year 2026

Galway-based Joanne Sweeney, CEO of Digital Training Institute and founder of startup GovComms.ai, has been named Established Businesswoman of the Year at the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026.

The award, sponsored by AIB, was presented by Adrian Moynihan at the Galmont Hotel, Galway, on 18 September. AIB is Network Ireland’s official partner, and Enterprise Ireland also supported the awards.

Joanne is a member of Network Ireland’s Galway branch. She spent 20 years working in communications, journalism, PR and digital. In 2022 she rebuilt her business around artificial intelligence. She now trains communications, marketing and public sector professionals across Ireland, the UK and EU institutions.

She is the author of the AI Playbook, host of the daily AI SIX podcast now boasting over 500 episodes.

“I made a choice to disrupt my own business before AI did it for me,” said Joanne. “This award belongs to every comms professional who sat in one of my sessions worried about being replaced and walked out knowing how to lead. Our profession doesn’t need to fear AI. It needs to own it.

“Thank you to AIB, Network Ireland and the Galway branch. Women backing women in business works, and I’m proof of it.”