Fit Out Conference 2026 Speaker Lynne O'Loughlin on What the Sector Stands to Gain from Convening in One Place

For Lynne O'Loughlin, the value of the Fit Out Conference 2026 is not just about what happens on stage. It is about what happens in the room.

"One of the greatest strengths of an event like this is the opportunity to bring together people who may not normally cross paths in their day-to-day work," she said in a pre-event interview. 

For O'Loughlin, who is based in the West of Ireland, that access carries particular weight. "For those of us based in the West of Ireland, opportunities to engage with such a broad cross-section of the industry are particularly valuable. Working in a more rural context can sometimes mean fewer opportunities for spontaneous collaboration or industry discussion."

The in-person dimension, she argues, is what makes those conversations possible in the first place. "Design is ultimately a people-centred profession. Relationships, trust, and collaboration are built through conversation, and there is something uniquely valuable about being in a room with peers who are equally passionate about shaping the future of our industry."

As both a lecturer in design at Atlantic Technological University and director of Lynne OLoughlin Design, O'Loughlin also brings a longer view to what events like this can achieve. "What I enjoy most is the exchange of ideas. Those conversations often inspire new ways of thinking, both within my practice and in the classroom." 

The connections made on days like this, she adds, matter well beyond the event itself. "They help us stay informed, share knowledge, champion innovation, and continue raising standards across the industry as a whole."

The conversation she most wants the day to spark is around making sustainability practical and achievable at project level, specifying local materials, supporting Irish makers, reducing waste, and designing for longevity rather than trend. A good outcome, she says, would leave attendees with new partnerships, fresh ideas, and actions they can bring back to their projects.

Hear more from O'Loughlin and other speakers at the Fit Out Conference 2026 on 11 June at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry. Visit the official event website to explore the full programme and book your place at fitoutawards.ie/conference/book-your-place.