The IoD NI flagship Annual Dinner returns for 2026 featuring high calibre speakers & an audience of more than 400 senior business leaders.

We look forward to welcoming you and your guests to one of the most prestigious black tie events in the Northern Ireland Business event calendar for an evening of fine dining and entertainment, expertly hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick.

We are honoured to announce that Ireland’s first named astronaut, Dr Norah Patten will join us as special guest speaker.

Dr Norah Patten is set to become the first person from Ireland to go to space, as part of an international spaceflight mission.

Dr Patten will undertake a research mission with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), and the crew will introduce novel biomedical research to benefit humanity in space and on Earth, refine research operations for future IIAS-sponsored science missions and advance the research previously conducted during IIAS-01, a similar mission which took place last year.

This event is kindly supported by our headline sponsor Bank of Ireland and associate sponsor Arthur Cox NI.

This event welcomes all business leaders and is open to IoD members and non-members.

Description supplied by the event organiser.