Just Connect Newry

Edwina Flynn

Chief Executive Officer of Wood Innovations

Independent Mum of 2 teenage children, Katie 20 & Aron 18. CEO of Wood Innovations Importer & Distributor employing 53 across Ireland and GB. Edwina is currently the President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade and is in to month 10 of her first year of a two year term. She is a NED to Best Property Services – where she worked previously for 16 years as an Operations Director. She is a mentor on the Career Ready Programme, and has also mentored on the Women in Business Programme. Edwina is an accredited executive coach and speaker. Having turned 50 at the start of the year, she is still celebrating and plans to continue celebrating for the remainder of the year doing what she enjoys most – dining with her family and friends and doing lots of travelling ( in her spare time).

Lorraine Harrison

Director of IT Services at GRAHAM Construction Group

Lorraine's IT career spans four decades, highlighted by her recent BCS Fellowship from the Chartered Institute for IT. Starting as an Accounts Clerk at Coca-Cola Bottlers, she quickly transitioned to IT, becoming Computer Manager by 24 and later the CIO for Coca-Cola Hellenic Group’s Russian operations. During her 30-month tenure in Russia and Siberia, she established IT operations across vast regions. After returning to Northern Ireland, she took on a role impacting multiple countries and was promoted to Group IT Security, Governance & Services Director in 2005, supporting 750 IT staff across 28 countries. In 2011, prioritizing family, she left Coca-Cola after 31 years to join Monaghan Mushrooms as IT Director, where she overhauled IT operations and led expansion efforts into Holland and Germany. Eight years ago, she became Director of IT Services at GRAHAM, developing a world-class IT function. Her BCS Fellowship recognises her as a leader who has adeptly navigated diverse cultures and technological challenges. While proud of her professional achievements, her greatest joy is being a mother and grandmother, and she remains committed to excellence in her ongoing journey.

Lata Sharma

Self Employed Broadcaster &Commentator

Locally born and reared Lata Sharma, has been fortunate to have always enjoyed having a career in the creative arts and media sector, first as a musician and actor, then pivoting to being a television and Radio presenter. In recent years Lata wrote her one woman show, “Sausage Sodas and Onion Bhajis”, about a young Indian girl having to navigate the sectarianism, racism as well as the cultural clashes she faced at home during the darkest days of the Troubles, taking it to the stage last year 6 nights. Lata recently returned to presenting on BBCs Sunday Morning Live and Radio Ulster after a lengthy break away due to family commitments. In 2007 and whilst juggling raising her 3 children, she became a social, culture and diversity commentator for Radio Ulster and more recently U105, wrote a column for a local paper, and in the last decade began her work as a diversity speaker in schools and community groups championing representation and inclusivity by drawing from her own ethnic cultural experiences and how as someone proud to be a new branch of the Green and Orange tree, she has learned to reap the benefits of both that of her place of birth and of her Indian heritage.