Family Business Decades: Celebrating 10 Years of the NI Family Business Forum

The NI Family Business Forum is set to celebrate a remarkable milestone this autumn, a decade of connecting and championing family-run enterprises across Northern Ireland.

Its 10th anniversary event, “Family Business Decades,” will take place on Friday 17th October 2025 at W5 Belfast, bringing together family business leaders for a day of inspiration, reflection, and forward-thinking.

Hosted by Harbinson Mulholland and Ulster University, this exclusive event will honour the Forum’s journey so far and look ahead to the evolving future of family enterprise.

Family businesses are the beating heart of Northern Ireland’s economy and communities, rooted in resilience, shared values, and long-term vision. This 10-year celebration offers an opportunity to:

• Hear real, behind the scenes stories from respected family business leaders
• Connect across generations and industries
• Learn from shared challenges and successes
• Explore what’s next for family led enterprises in a rapidly changing world
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“This isn’t just another business conference, it’s a space for honest conversations among people who truly understand the pressures and pride of running a family firm,” says Darren McDowell, Chair of the NI Family Business Forum.

Speaker Line-Up

The event will feature a powerful line-up of speakers and contributors, including:

• Vicki O’Toole, former Managing Director of JJ O’Toole Ltd, Ireland’s oldest packaging company, sharing her personal and professional journey through succession and transition.
• Mark Hutchinson, CEO of Hutchinson Engineering, discussing his path from working alongside his father to taking the reins of the family business and setting a vision for the future.
• Ian Smyth, Ulster University’s Centre for Sustainable Family Enterprise, presenting a 10-Year Impact Report on succession planning, leadership, and sustainability in Northern Ireland’s family firms.
• Christian Majgaard, former global executive at LEGO and one of the key figures behind its brand transformation. Now advising family-led companies across Europe, Christian will deliver the keynote address, drawing from decades of leadership in a fourth-generation family business.

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There will also be opportunities throughout the day for peer networking, open discussion, and connection among family business peers, with no need to explain the challenges unique to running a business with those you love and trust most.

Who Should Attend?

• Founders and owners of family-run businesses
• Next-gen leaders and successors preparing to take the helm
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This event is exclusively for family businesses, creating a safe and relevant space for shared stories, deeper conversations, and meaningful support.

Booking Information
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🎟️ Individual Tickets: £95
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👥 Group Discount (4+ attendees from same firm): £75 per person
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> Book Your Ticket Here Now