UN Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about our commitment to nurturing a culture of sustainability and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This activity relates to the following SDGs:
Activities
InnovateHer 2025: Empowering Women Through Business
InnovateHer is a flagship programme from Queen’s Students’ Union Enterprise designed to empower women through entrepreneurship and leadership. Over several weeks, the twenty five students who made up this years cohort, took part in two introductory sessions, a two-day residential conference, and a final celebration and graduation event.
This year’s programme was restructured to include the residential conference which allowed for deeper engagement, quality time with peers and a more intensive learning environment - all while travel, accommodation, and meals were provided to ensure full participation.
The conference, held at the Rabbit Hotel and Retreat, featured high-energy workshops led by some of Northern Ireland’s most successful female entrepreneurs and business leaders. Topics included design thinking, marketing, finance, leadership and pitching.
The programme concluded with a celebratory graduation event featuring guest speakers, awards, and a chance to reflect on everything achieved. Awards were presented for standout contributions, including “Most Innovative Idea” and “Most Realistic for Integration into the Company.” Participants also became eligible for the Future-Ready Award, official recognition of their skills and development, which adds value to both their degree and CV.
InnovateHer 2025 was proudly supported by a growing group of partners and sponsors, including Baker McKenzie and Women in Business NI. Their support helped to make the programme accessible, impactful, and deeply inspiring for participants.
Programme lead Francesca Morelli shared her thoughts on this year’s refreshed approach:
“After 14 years of InnovateHer in it's previous format, I was delighted to lead the programme in a new way in 2025, welcoming 25 women students for a 2 day retreat at The Rabbit Hotel, where they benefitted from all of the same brilliant content in a condensed period of time. This allowed the cohort to spend better quality time getting to know one another and experience an intense 2 days of working and learning about business from local business leaders.”
Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed their gratitude for the opportunity, with comments such as:
“The retreat was incredible. I feel so much more confident in my abilities.”
“A rewarding experience from start to finish.”
“The best ideas come when we lift each other up.”
“So grateful the new format made it possible for me to join this year.”
The InnovateHer experience continues to shape futures, expand networks, and inspire the next generation of female leaders at Queen’s and beyond.
InnovateHer 2025: Empowering Women Through Business
