Supporting success beyond sport: Key insights from the Athlete Friendly Employer Network event

The importance of athletes developing their careers alongside their sporting endeavours was highlighted at the Athlete Friendly Employer Network Breakfast 2025 event hosted in the Sport Ireland Institute recently.   

The event, facilitated by the Institute’s Performance Life Skills team, heard from three such dual career athletes, that is those who combine a high-performance sporting career with education or work simultaneously. Speaking at the event were Irish Olympians and Paralympians, Kerrie Leonard (para archery), Hugo Lennox (rugby sevens) and Aifric Keogh (rowing).   

Hugo, who competed for Ireland at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 as part of the men's sevens team, spoke about “the importance of small building blocks over the course of an athlete’s career” and how they form “a very strong foundation for the next phase of their lives”. Hugo, who has studied and worked part time in the property sector, launched his own property business, Achara Properties, this year. 

Aifric, who won a bronze medal at the Toyko 2020 Summer Olympics in the women’s coxless four event, spoke of how the patience she learned in sport prepared her for the workplace.   

“Regardless of their other demands, athletes will get the job done,” she said. Since retiring Aifric has transitioned into the JP Morgan Athlete & Veterans programme in Dublin which complements her MBA qualification from Trinity College Dublin, which she completed while competing internationally.  

Kerrie, who made her second appearance at a Paralympic Games in Paris, spoke powerfully about accessibility, reminding the audience that “a company that will find a way is a company that is accessible”. Kerrie was a dual career athlete with work experience in global tech companies. After retiring in in August 2025 she is excited to explore new opportunities.  
Moderated  by sports broadcaster Darren Frehill, the event’s guest speakers also included Will Sparks, Managing Director of Sparks Wealth who, on the day, launched their new partnership with Sport Ireland Institute offering carded athletes a bespoke financial advisory service.  

Additionally, Bríd McNamee, Director of Operations and Financial Analyst of Key Patent Innovations, which invests in high-value patent-based opportunities, explained how they have benefited from hiring dual-career athlete Cillin Greene (Athletics Ireland) on a remote part-time contract.  

The morning also recognised Athlete Friendly Employer Network employers AIB, Key Patent Innovations, JP Morgan, Atlantic Projects Company, EY, and PBC Biomed for their commitment to Ireland's athletes.  

Dual career support, at the heart of the Athlete Friendly Employer Network, enriches both athletes’ journeys and employers’ workplaces, empowering athletes to succeed beyond the field of play while strengthening the workplaces they join.   

Events such as this are just one way in which the Sport Ireland Institute Performance Life Skills Team aids athletes embarking on a life after sport. The team hosts numerous educational and skills-based workshops such as ‘Speaking with Confidence’ and ‘Building your Brand’, and more. Furthermore, athletes who leave Sport Ireland’s International Carding Scheme can also access the Athlete Career Transition (ACT) Programme.   

The Sport Ireland Institute Lifeskills team supports ACT athletes in their career transition. As well as access to a range of services, athletes are provided with 50% of their last carding award for one year after retirement.   

In Olympic/Paralympic years, athletes receive the rest of their year’s funding, plus 50% for the following year. Across the Paris Cycle (2021–2024) the programme supported 53 athletes.