Chris Kissack joined the Isle of Man delegation at the Interceltic Business Forum 2025 in Lorient, France. The event ran alongside the Festival Interceltique de Lorient and brought together leaders from across the Celtic nations to share ideas, forge connections, and spark innovation.

Representing the Isle of Man

During the “Innovation from the Isle of Man” session, Chris shared the stage with Brendon Kenny, Tim Sayers, and Chris Lee. Moderated by Kirree Gooberman, the panel explored how the Island’s unique environment fosters innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth.

Chris spoke about AI, space technology, and the work Acclaim is doing in data asset foundations. His presentation generated strong interest, with delegates arranging future visits to the Isle of Man to explore collaboration opportunities.

Chris’s Takeaways

“It was an incredibly beneficial experience, both at the Interceltic Business Forum and seeing so much Manx talent at the festival. I was honoured to be on a panel discussing innovation on the Isle of Man, which was expertly moderated by Kirree, giving all panellists equal time to share their insights but also engage with each other to showcase collaboration and community, something which we were all very passionate about. The Isle of Man definitely got a lot of airtime at the conference, with the Islands achievements being showcased and discussed throughout the day. It was really great to be able to not only talk about the Isle of Man but also the work we do at Acclaim, something I am also very proud of. With some of the delegates already arranging their visit to the Island to meet with me to discuss data asset foundations, it really was a fantastic conference.

The pride did not end at the festival though, as I got to witness so many Manx singers, dancers and artists at the festival and also visit the Isle of Man pavilion, which was always packed out with people from around the world buying Manx products and learning about Island life. Listening to the Manx volunteers speaking in different languages about the Island with so much enthusiasm was actually a very emotional experience. Very proud to have attended and cannot wait to return next year.”

Showcasing Manx Talent

Beyond the panel, the Isle of Man pavilion was a hub of activity, attracting visitors eager to learn about the Island and buy local products. From performers to volunteers, the Manx presence at Lorient left a lasting impression.