Shortlisted – Image Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026

I’m the Founder & Casting Director of Ipanema Agency, a casting agency based in Ireland working across advertising, film and TV in Ireland and the UK.

Through Ipanema Agency we cast actors, models and real people — including real families, people with disabilities and individuals from diverse nationalities — helping brands and productions bring authentic representation and inclusion to screen.

Our clients include retailers, photographers, creative agencies and production companies looking for genuine and diverse talent for campaigns and storytelling.

I founded Ipanema Agency during the COVID period while pregnant. Around the same time my son was born with Down syndrome, and inclusion became not only the foundation of the agency but also a central part of my life.

I have been living in Ireland for 15 years, a country that has become home for my family and where I have built my professional journey.

Before founding Ipanema Agency, I ran an exchange agency, bringing Brazilian and other international students to learn English in Ireland, England, Malta and Canada.

Before moving to Ireland, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry in Brazil, managing projects and developing new products.

My academic background is in Physical Chemistry (PhD). Research has always been part of who I am. During my master’s and doctorate I published scientific articles and patents under my maiden name, Fernanda Simplicio.

Learning WordPress and building Ipanema Agency from scratch felt like a natural challenge — and one I truly enjoyed.

I hope to meet and speak with many inspiring people through this journey.

Fernanda Duffy