JAI Marks 30 Years of Partnership Between Education and Industry in Ireland

Dublin, 6 May 2026 – Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) celebrated 30 years of inspiring young minds in Ireland by bringing together senior leaders from its 15 longest-serving members to recognise three decades of sustained collaboration between education and industry.

The event paid tribute to the role that long-term partnerships have played in supporting generations of young people as they navigate education and prepare for their future. Since its foundation, JAI has worked alongside schools and businesses to connect classroom learning and real-world skills, with a focus on developing confidence, ambition and resilience.

Speaking at the event, JAI CEO, Helen Raftery, said that the milestone was both a moment to reflect on past achievements and an opportunity to reinforce the importance of partnerships between education and industry.

“Reaching 1.3 million students sends a powerful message about what can be achieved when education and business work together in a sustained, structured and well-managed process,” she said. “At a time when our education system is facing new pressures and young people are being asked to develop ever broader skills, the role of trusted, consistent partners has never been more important.”

The event brought together representatives from A&L Goodbody, AIB, Accenture, Baxter, Bausch + Lomb, Campbell Bewley Group, Citi, daa, Dell Technologies, Deloitte, Diageo, J&J, Lilly, Pfizer and PwC, who began their partnerships with JAI in the 90s.

Corporate leaders attending the event spoke of the value of staying connected to education over time, not only as supporters but as active participants.

“Being involved with Junior Achievement Ireland allows us to contribute directly to the development of young people, while also supporting and complementing the tremendous work being done by educators all over the country. We know that our colleagues gain a huge amount from their participation too - it is a genuine win-win-win situation.” said Colman O’Flynn, Dell’s Cork Site Lead and Vice President of Business Transformation.

As chairman of the board of Junior Achievement Ireland, James O’Connor welcomed guests to One Microsoft Place and underlined that while everyone was proud of reaching the 30 year milestone, JAI as an organisation has a forward‑focussed strategy in keeping with its determination to continue to align its programmes with the needs of students and as the demands of the workplace continue to evolve. In closing the celebrations, Helen Raftery signalled the organisation’s commitment to deepening collaboration with partners and educators to ensure young people are equipped to thrive in a changing economic and social landscape.