Ger Bonner
At 29, Ger Bonner is already a standout leader within Ireland’s Local Sports Partnership network. Promoted to Programme Manager at Active Carlow in 2025, he is among the youngest in the country to hold such a senior role, leading the strategic delivery of sport and physical activity across the county.
A graduate of SETU with a degree in Management Practice and a Higher Diploma in Digital Marketing, he combines strong academic grounding with a proven ability to translate national policy into meaningful local impact. He played a central role in the development of Carlow’s Local Sports Plan, showing clear strengths in strategic thinking and stakeholder alignment.
Ger has led a number of high-impact collaborations, including an Integration Blitz with An Garda Síochána, SETU and the FAI, engaging over 150 participants and using sport to promote inclusion and community cohesion. He also leads a Transition Year programme in partnership with Athletics Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Carlow GAA, creating pathways for young people to engage and lead in sport.
He drove the rebrand to ‘Active Carlow’ and serves as Secretary to the County’s Outdoor Recreation Plan, supporting long-term development of local amenities. Managing a team of officers, he balances grassroots delivery with strategic oversight and is widely regarded as a confident, effective and forward-thinking leader.
Already Appearing on the 2026 List
Sarah Redmond, Connor Ellis, Garry Kehoe, Yvonne Hedigan Conor Keenan, Roman Uzun, Louise McCleery, Niamh O’Brien, Annie Smyth
Nominations for 2026
So, who do you work with that has shone over the past twelve months or more and is deserving of recognition as they rise through their career?
It could be someone you work alongside, or in another area that you have admired or been impressed by.
Now is your chance to do something special for them. Nominations wil remain open until we hit number 20 of our 30 in the listings, and will reopen again in February 2027.
Criteria
The criteria for submission is that the person should be working within the sports industry, or in a sponsorship or agency capacity that is bringing sport to life, and that they should be born in or after 1996.
You are invited to submit names and a short summary of why an individual deserves to be recognised below.
Our ambition from the start has been to create a network of people making a real difference within our industry.
Who should we be looking to for the next wave of excellence?
Over the coming weeks we will feature a run of interviews with those who have gone before, and we will continue to highlight some of those that have taken on a new role in the past year or two.
Then in June we will gather once more in the offices of PwC to meet in person, share experience and forge connections that will be of real value.
And we will also be looking at additional ways in which we can help those nominated to enhance their career and build strong friendships across the sector, particularly in this the tenth year of the list.
If you, like PwC, would like to be part of the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.
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ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies and public institutions through high-quality content, events and insight. Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practice and make better-informed decisions. Its work positions sport not just as entertainment, but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
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