Women Are Shaping The Future of Sustainable Construction
At KORE, we often say that our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their expertise, passion, and commitment drive the work we deliver every day across insulation manufacturing, retrofit delivery, and sustainable construction innovation.
Women play a central role in fulfilling KORE’s mission to deliver sustainable construction solutions and high-performance retrofit projects across Ireland and beyond. From commercial leadership and sustainability strategy to project management and retrofit delivery, their expertise supports the continued growth and innovation of our organisation.
Diversity and inclusion are key aspects of KORE’s values and culture. Across the construction sector, female employment has nearly tripled since 2014, reflecting the growing opportunities for women within the industry. At KORE, we are proud to contribute to that progress, with talented women working across many areas of the business and helping drive meaningful change within the sector.
Meet Caroline Ashe Brady | Commercial and Sustainability Director
Caroline is KORE’s Commercial and Sustainability Director. For nearly two decades she has played an important role in developing KORE’s vision. She has driven significant company growth, developed innovative marketing strategies and forged key partnerships that have expanded KORE’s customer base.
Caroline is Chairperson of the Passive House Association of Ireland and a certified Passive House Consultant. Caroline has been involved in various initiatives that promote sustainability and innovation in construction. Including:
Supporting KORE Retrofit in securing government tenders, including SEAI’s Fully Funded Energy Upgrade Programme (formerly the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme).
Developing innovative solutions, including Ireland’s first NSAI-certified insulated foundation system and securing multiple NSAI and BBA certifications for KORE’s products.
Enhancing sustainable manufacturing by introducing the Biomass Balance Approach with REDcert2 certification and adopting voluntary CSRD reporting.
Contributing to industry success, with KORE receiving recognition at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards, SEAI Energy Awards, and Small Firms Association Awards, among others.
Driving industry-wide collaboration, engaging with government bodies and trade associations to improve policy and best practices for sustainable retrofits.
Her leadership style prioritises collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing.
Caroline remains committed to advancing KORE’s mission, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of sustainable construction. Whether through strategic decision-making, collaboration, or driving innovation, her contributions continue to shape the future of Ireland’s retrofit and insulation sectors.
Meet Aine Finlay | KORE Retrofit Project Manager
Aine is a Project Manager for KORE Retrofit. With over 22 years of experience in the architectural field, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the KORE Retrofit team.
Aine manages domestic retrofit projects across the northern and eastern regions, collaborating closely with contractors, homeowners, and stakeholders to ensure each project runs smoothly from design to completion.
Her approach to project management centres on clear communication, collaboration, and flexibility. Áine values transparency with contractors and homeowners alike, ensuring everyone feels supported and informed throughout the process. Her experience in both design and construction allows her to bridge the gap between technical requirements and real-world application delivering projects that meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
Áine’s passion for sustainable design and her commitment to preserving Ireland’s architectural heritage make her an invaluable member of the KORE Retrofit team.
Meet Leighanne Crowe | KORE Retrofit Sales Manager
Leighanne is KORE Retrofit’s Sales Manager. Leading sales and commercial activity across residential, commercial, and multi-unit retrofit projects. From supporting day-to-day administration to shaping commercial direction, Leighanne now oversees sales strategy, pipeline development, and market growth across multiple retrofit segments.
Leighanne has built and now leads a team of ten women working within the construction and retrofit sector. In an industry where female representation in commercial leadership roles remains limited, she has intentionally fostered a collaborative and supportive team culture. Her leadership focuses on professional development, structured processes, shared accountability, and building long-term confidence in a technically demanding environment.
A key achievement has been developing and embedding a phone-based sales engagement model capable of delivering high-value retrofit projects without reliance on traditional face-to-face selling. Given the complexity and scale of deep retrofit investments, this model required careful structuring of education, expectation-setting, and technical explanation. Under her leadership, customers now confidently proceed with projects based on trust in the process and the credibility of the team, rather than transactional persuasion.
Beyond her organisational role, Leighanne contributes to broader industry development:
• Speaker and panel participant at the National Retrofit Conference
• Participant in a lobbying group working with the Department of Housing on multi-unit development retrofit challenges
• Member of the Galway Net Zero Cities steering group
• Advisory group member for Empowering Communities for Climate Change across Cavan, Monaghan, and Fermanagh
Her work reflects a balance of commercial acumen, operational awareness, and genuine commitment to improving homes, communities, and industry standards for the long term.
Meet Shauna McConnell | Continuous Improvement & Strategic Excellence Manager.
Shauna is KORE’s Continuous Improvement & Strategic Excellence Manager. In her current role, she provides strategic leadership for Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety (QEHS) and continuous improvement for KORE. She is responsible for IS0 9001,14001 and 45001 certification, greenhouse gas inventory auditing and verification, and the development and delivery of a Net Zero Pathway to 2050.
A core achievement has been her leadership of KORE’s verified greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and Net Zero Pathway to 2050, aligned with ISO 14068-1 and Science-Based Targets principles. Under her direction, KORE achieved independently verified GHG inventories through EcoVerify, published Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and embedded carbon measurement into operational and production decision-making.
Her enthusiasm for sustainability leadership is evident in how she champions the subject beyond formal responsibilities. She actively promotes best practice, continuous learning, and transparency ensuring sustainability is visible, credible, and aligned with both commercial and environmental priorities. As a woman in a traditionally male dominated industry, she leads by example, demonstrating that strong leadership, technical credibility, and empathy can coexist to drive meaningful progress. Her approach has positioned sustainability as a shared mission across the organisation, inspiring others to engage, contribute, and lead change themselves.
The construction sector is evolving rapidly as Ireland works towards climate targets, improved housing quality, and large-scale retrofit programmes. Women across the industry are playing an increasingly important role in delivering these changes.
At KORE, we are proud of the talented women who contribute to our success every day and who continue to drive innovation, sustainability, and progress within the built environment.