Annette Houston

Annette Houston is the Managing Director of FM Services Group, one of Ireland’s leading commercial cleaning and FM companies, employing over 200 people across Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

With more than 30 years in the industry, Annette has led the company from a small local cleaning business to a multimillion-euro operation known for its innovation, quality and people-first culture. She is a board member of the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce and she is also a board member and Director of the Irish Contract Cleaning Association. 

Currently completing her Doctorate in Business Administration with Atlantic Technological University, Annette’s research explores resilient leadership and Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in the commercial cleaning sector. The research focuses on how to develop confident, capable supervisors and future leaders in an industry under increasing pressure to adapt and evolve. 

A passionate advocate for leadership development, Annette founded Bright Academy in 2018 to deliver accessible training and support for their cleaning teams. 

Drawing on her own journey from cleaner to CEO, Annette brings a refreshingly real perspective on leadership, resilience and the future of the cleaning industry in an age of automation and change.