

MC & Facilitator, TV Presenter, Documentary Maker, Writer & Entrepreneur
One of Ireland’s best known and well loved public figures, Brendan Courtney is a polished, highly engaging MC and an inspirational and authoritative speaker on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.
Biography
Brendan Courtney’s advocacy experience and personal story of living openly as a gay man make him a powerful voice on Equality, Diversion & Inclusion (EDI) and on the knowledge gap the commercial world faces around EDI issues. Having long campaigned for equality on issues including gender, LGBTQ, age and housing, today he is a trusted, entertaining and sought-after host and speaker who connects easily with audiences and inspires them to seek and make positive change.
As Ireland’s first openly gay TV presenter, Brendan was one of the key public faces of the successful ‘Yes’ campaign for the Marriage Equality Referendum in 2015. He has also made and presented a number of acclaimed documentaries advocating for change, some of which have even prompted legal reform. His passion for EDI inspired him to study for Europe’s first MBA on EDI, and he graduated in 2022. He also sits on the board of SláinteCare and on the advisory board of IFTA.
Brendan started his career as a TV researcher, and in 2001 sold his first TV format, ‘Wanderlust’, to 19 countries. His over two decades as a TV presenter have included high-profile series like Off the Rails, Keys to my Life and The Way We Were, and he has also made and presented a number of highly acclaimed documentaries on issues close to his heart, with ‘This Crowded House’ (2017) exploring the housing crisis, and both ‘We need to talk about Dad” (2017) and ‘We need to talk about Mam’ (2018) addressing issues of ageing, housing, health care and the family.
Together with creative and business partner Sonya Lennon, with whom he has co-written two best-selling books on confidence and style, Brendan also runs his own highly successful women’s wear fashion label, ‘Lennon Courtney’. They advocate and act for social change in the area of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Topics
REVERSE MENTORING
How to combat Ageism in the workplace by raising awareness of our blind spots and deepening our understanding of what different generations bring to the table.
ALLIES REQUIRED
How to build Allyships by demonstrating that our strength lies in our differences, not our similarities.
ACT for EQUALITY
How to actively cultivate Awareness, Care and Tolerance so that we can identify issues as they arise and are inspired to advocate and ACT for greater equality for all.
WAKE UP!
The way we interact and connect with each other has changed and continues to change. Learn how to embrace the new Rules of Engagement positively so you can connect with others with empathy and confidence.
CREATIVE THINKING
Unleash your inner creative and learn to think in new ways that help you make better decisions for your life and work.
Videos
Resources
Books


Testimonials
“Brendan was a fantastic MC at our Diversity & Inclusion event, effortlessly connecting speakers, themes and topics from start to finish. He had the right balance of empathy & humour to engage the audience and ensure they were included in the whole experience while also speaking openly about his own journey. Brendan spent a lot of time getting to know our values and our company and this all added to the great success of the event on the day.” VMWare
“He has been an ambassador for CRY for 6 years and during this time he has always been more than approachable and always goes above and beyond for CRY, be it a photocall or an event he is always enthusiastic and empathetic for our cause at CRY Ireland.” Cardiac Risk in the Young
“This is the seventh consecutive year that Brendan has hosted the ALFAPARF Milano Fantastic Hairdresser Awards on behalf of Xpert Professional Haircare. His wit, charm and rapport with our audience has contributed in no small part, to it growing to become Ireland’s premier hairdressing competition. Though ever the consummate professional, Brendan’s easy going nature has made him a firm favourite with both audiences and ALFAPARF Milano staff alike.” Alfaparf Milano
“Brendan Courtney has hosted, produced and conceived a number of client campaigns for HP, his razor sharp lateral thinking and charming way always delivers above and beyond.” Patricia Nolan, Marketing Lead, HP Ireland
“Brendan has hosted our Annual Awards for 5 years, he is a fantastic live host, witty, charming and engaging, he keeps the momentum of the show flowing with style and class , while making sure to hit all his marks, the crowd absolutely love him.” Gillian Day, Marketing and Events, Peter Mark
“Sonya & Brendan told their compelling story honestly and engagingly to a rapt audience. At the end of a long day, they gave us not only entertaining dialogue but impactful takeout about the value of trust, respect and tenacity which resonated with everyone in the room. The feedback said it all.” Geraldine King, Director, National Recruitment Federation
“Brendan has been the host for our annual fundraising event for 7 years now. He is warm and fantastically engaging and an absolute pleasure to work with and really shows a true passion for the event and the ultimate professional.