Chris Holman speaks with Diallo Smith, CEO, Life Remodeled, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference.

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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2025 - Diallo Smith - #MPC25

Chris Holman speaks with J. D. Collins, CEO / Executive Director, SBDC (Michigan Small Business Development Center), from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference.

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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2025 - J. D. Collins - #MPC25

Chris Holman speaks with Bilal Hammoud, Executive Director, American Arab Chamber, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference.

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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2025 - Bilal Hammoud - #MPC25

Chris Holman speaks with Armen Hratchian, Executive Director, Teach for America Michigan, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference.

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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2025 - Armen Hratchian - #MPC25

Chris Holman speaks with David Egner, President and CEO, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference.

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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2025 - David Egner - #MPC25

Chris Holman speaks with Tony Stamas, President and CEO, Midland Business Alliance, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference.

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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2025 - Tony Stamas - #MPC25

Chris Holman speaks with Brian Calley, President and CEO, Small Business Association of Michigan, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference.

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Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2025 - Brian Calley - #MPC25

As Ireland advances towards its 2030 and 2050 climate goals, transforming how people and goods move will be essential. The final event in the 2025 ESB REthink Energy series explores the future of transport and the growing role of electric mobility in achieving a cleaner, smarter, and more connected system. The discussion examines the evolution of battery technologies, the electrification of public and private transport, and the development of the infrastructure required to support widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The panellists also consider how policy, innovation, and consumer behaviour can drive Ireland’s transition towards a sustainable and resilient transport network.

This event is part of the IIEA’s REthink Energy series, organised in partnership with ESB.


Panellists:

· Dr Euan McTurk, Consultant Battery Electrochemist, Plug Life Consulting Ltd (Keynote Address)

· Professor Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation at Trinity College Dublin

· Aoife O’Grady, Head of Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, Department of Transport

The Future of Transport: Powering Ireland’s e-Mobility Transition

'Ireland-US Relations in Crisis?'

The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency in January 2025 marked a dramatic change in America’s posture towards allies and adversaries alike. For Ireland, this has manifested in the unilateral imposition of tariffs, criticism of the scale of U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing taking place in Ireland, and the fining of US tech companies for breaches of EU rules. Separately, unprecedented salvoes of public criticism of Ireland from US lawmakers over the Occupied Territories Bill have taken place along with wider criticism of Ireland for free riding on U.S. security guarantees and acting as a tax haven for US corporations. Former special assistant to President Joe Biden, Tom Wright, joins IIEA Insights to discuss the current state of Ireland-US relations and how relations might play out over the remainder of the Trump presidency.

Thomas Wright, currently a senior fellow with the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Brookings Institution, served as special assistant to the president and senior director for strategic planning at the National Security Council in the Biden Administration. At the White House, Tom worked on a wide range of projects and issues, including the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy, the Russia-Ukraine war and European security, U.S.-China relations, the global south, foreign economic policy, and countering the growing alignment between U.S. adversaries and competitors (China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea). He is also an author and contributing writer to the Atlantic.

Thomas Wright - 26th of November 2025

This week, we are joined by Mehwaesh Islam, Head of Research Policy at Universities UK. UUK is a membership organisation, representing the views of 141 UK universities to influence policy and opinion, coordinate action, and provide insight into universities. Together, we explore the future of UK R&D, in particular the challenges faced by the University sector.

This week's host is Geena Goodwin, Science and Engineering Fast Streamer in the civil service and a volunteer with the Foundation.

Mehwaesh Islam - the future of UK Research and Development

The Home of Business in Michigan. Get on-demand access to audio programs, articles and resources presented by savvy business leaders and industry experts.

Sharing Ideas Shaping Policy. The Institute of International and European Affairs is an independent policy research think-tank based in Dublin.

The Foundation for Science and Technology podcast - exploring issues of science, technology and innovation with experts from government, parliament, industry and the research community.

New tracks tagged #policy