Anne Marie Conlon is Head of Economic Development with Donegal County Council. Anne Marie and her team lead out and deliver on a range of projects and initiatives prioritizing Green tech and the Green Economy as part of Donegal County Council’s key strategic objective of transitioning to a low carbon, climate resilient society.

Charlie was born in October 1977 and is from Gleneely in Co. Donegal. From a farming background, he was educated at Carndonagh Community School before going on to study at UCD where he studied Economics, Politics & History. It was at UCD where he first became involved in politics.

After working in Fianna Fail Headquarters for a number of years, as well as working abroad in Australia, Charlie returned home to work on the family farm before officially running for political office in 2009, where he was elected as a Donegal County Councillor. In 2011, Charlie was elected a TD for Donegal North East at the first time of asking.Charlie’s key priorities include the development of infrastructure in Co. Donegal with regard to roads, broadband & a sustainable health service for the people of the county.

Mr Walsh is Chief Executive and founder of Crescent Capital NI Limited and has been an active venture capital investor in Northern Ireland companies for over thirty years.

An International MBA by background, Colin spent six years with Top Technology, part of Hambros plc, between 1988 and 1994. Top Technology was a London based fund manager responsible for the management of the successful Hambro Advanced Technology Trust family of venture capital funds including HATT plc, HATT II LP and HATT II (1993) LP.

In 1995 Colin, sponsored by Hambros, established Hambro Northern Ireland Venture Managers Limited, now known as Crescent.  Between 2004 and 2009 Colin was Chairman of Trafficmaster plc, a company which he was instrumental in floating on the London Stock Exchange in 1994.

To date Crescent has raised four separate venture capital funds totalling £92m and has completed investments in over thirty-five companies based in Northern Ireland.

Colin was also instrumental in Andor Technology plc’s IPO on London’s Alternative Investment Market in 2004 and was Chairman until its sale for £176m in early 2014.  He is currently chairman of Acheson Holdings Limited and also holds directorships at NiSoft Limited, Fusion Antibodies plc, Replify Limited, Acheson Glover Holdings Limited, Lynns Country Foods Limited, Regen Waste Holdings Limited, Analytics Engines Limited and Right Revenue Limited.

Colin previously served a two year term as CBI Chair for Northern Ireland and also four years as trustee for NI on the UK board of Barnardos.  He currently serves as a member of the Committee for Ulster Garden Villages.

Denise has lived and worked in Europe, Asia, and the US, accruing multi-sector exposure, helping early-stage technology organisations to scale and grow. She has over 15 years’ experience of developing and creating innovative new businesses and products. Denise is Director of Innovation Scouting at Co-Cubed working with FSTE 100 clients to navigate startup ecosystems globally to identify the most promising and disruptive innovations within their industries, scouting for the most impactful companies relevant to their strategy or investment thesis. Denise has an in-depth knowledge of European early-stage investment and start-up ecosystems. Denise is also a mentor at Imperial Venture Mentoring Service, a Global Expert Member at Consilience Ventures, a Deal Leader at GoBeyond Investing and a board member of BITA.

Adrian Johnston joined Catalyst NI as Director of Strategic Business Development in January 2022 to develop and strengthen strategic partnerships across industry, academia and government. His most recent role prior to this was as Director of Operations with Digital Catapult NI from December 2018 accelerating adoption of emerging digital technologies across industry and the public sector. He has 20 years technology leadership experience having previously worked for Seagate Technology in their Springtown facility heading the Data Science and Analytics team. With a PhD in Informatics and AI, Adrian has continued to drive research in advanced manufacturing and the adoption of AI, IOT and automation in complex data environments with both Ulster University and Queens University Belfast. His academic and industrial experience is enabling NI SME, Tech innovators, corporates and public sector adoption of emerging tech to enhance productivity, growth and the NI economy. Adrian was awarded the 2020 Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the year for his work in this field. He continues to engage with the research community and contributes to a few initiatives on future Northern Ireland AI strategy, funding and policy including as a member of the NI Matrix Science Panel, the UKRI AI Review panel and the UK RD Place Strategy Advisory group.

Andrew founded CATAGEN in 2010, successfully spinning it out of Queen’s University Belfast with Professor Roy Douglas CTO.  He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Automotive Catalysis.

Andrew has built an award winning team whose purpose is to clean and decarbonise the air.  From initially providing world-class emissions testing to the automotive sector, the company is now developing advanced testing for heavy duty diesel and industrial catalysts.  

This expertise in emissions data and simulation, the development of energy efficient chemical reactor technologies, IP and knowledge has given CATAGEN a vantage point for new net zero technologies.  This has led to the development of ClimaHtech – an acceleration system towards decarbonisation using advanced climate technologies.  In 2022, CATAGEN successfully received five funding awards from the UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to develop 5 new technologies in green hydrogen, bio-hydrogen, e-fuels, carbon capture and compression technologies.  

www.catagen.com/climahtech 

Dr Ciarán Richardson is Research and Development Manager at Randox Teoranta, a healthcare diagnostics company based in Dungloe, County Donegal.

Luis Alonso is a research scientist in the City Science group and Principal Investigator of the Andorra Living Lab Project. He has a PhD in architecture and coordinates the Andorra Living Lab project. He oversees the integration of the group’s diverse research topics (energy consumption, city simulation, urban mobility, innovation district, and smart housing) in the City Science Network of Collaborative Cities, to provide comprehensive solutions for urban and country challenges, in order to transform cities into more diverse and vibrant “human scale ecosystems.”

Since he is focused on very different lines of research and work, his antidisciplinary approach fits on the Media Lab philosophy: City Science, urban indicators, big data analysis, urban planning, architectural robotics, building design and construction, new and smart materials (free-form transparent energy efficient envelopes and biomedical uses), energy simulation and building efficiency and sustainability, eco-innovation, e-learning and its impact on social networks, new technologies, IoT, etc.

Dr Orla Flynn was appointed inaugural President of Atlantic Technological University in April 2022, having served two years as President of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. Prior to this Dr Flynn was Vice President for External Affairs at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) for six years, and previous academic leadership roles in CIT included Head of CIT Crawford College of Art & Design and Head of School of Humanities. 

Dr Flynn commenced her academic career as a Lecturer in Computer Science, holding undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Mathematical Physics and Computer Science from University College Cork, an MA in Management in Education from WIT, and a PhD from the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick. She is a Director on the Boards of HEANet and Galway Chamber of Commerce.

Dr Officer’s primary responsibility is to deliver on ATU’s ambitions to scale research activity and embed innovation throughout the University. Dr Officer’s role involves the planning, development, and implementation of research and innovation initiatives in support of ATU’s vision, mission, and strategic direction. He plays a crucial role in promoting ATU research locally, nationally, and internationally, and liaises with Government Departments and Agencies on research and innovation matters.

Dr Officer joined GMIT in 2008 as a Senior Lecturer. He subsequently led GMIT’s Marine and Freshwater Research Centre and was appointed as GMIT’s VP for Research and Innovation in 2016.

Dr Officer’s professional experience was gained as Science Leader for the Queensland Government’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, with responsibility for the coordinated management of the State’s Research, Development and Extension Programme, and as leader of research and assessment teams for Ireland’s Marine Institute and Australian government agencies in Tasmania and Victoria. Dr Officer’s research has focussed on enabling sustainability and improving productivity of harvested natural resources. He has extensive experience as Co-ordinator, Principal Investigator and Co-investigator on competitively funded national and international research projects and programmes.

Dr Officer’s philosophy is that excellent, innovative, and high impact research is best delivered when the beneficiaries of project outcomes partner in the research and innovation activity. Personal external collaborations include periods as a Company Director (Galway Chamber of Commerce & Industry CLG; Galway Technology Centre DAC; and Galway Rural Development Company CLG) and his current involvement as a Director, Marine Innovation & Development Centre at Páirc na Mara DAC.

Dr Officer’s qualifications include BSc and PhD degrees (University of Melbourne), a Postgraduate Certificate in Third Level Learning & Teaching (Dublin Institute of Technology), and an MBA in Higher Education Management (University College London).

Elaine Smyth is the Director of the Innovation Community at Catalyst. Catalyst is a technology hub providing workspace to over 170 innovation companies, from startups to multi-nationals together with research institutes across several campuses. As a not for profit organisation Catalyst invests the surplus from rental income to support the growth of entrepreneurship and startups through a range of programmes and initiatives. Over 900 entrepreneurs and startups avail of this support each year.

Before joining Catalyst, Elaine has held roles as HR Director, Chief Operating Officer and Global Consultancy Services Director for several technology companies and Investment Director roles with local venture capital firms.

Fergus Begley is the Start Up Manager for Research & Innovation at Ulster University, Fergus has a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, an MSc in Polymer Science and Engineering, an MSc in Energy Management and Renewable Technology and Executive MBA . Additionally, Fergus had over twenty years’ industrial experience in senior positions across design, business development and process engineering roles in the manufacturing, nanotech and healthcare industries before joining Ulster.

With 14 years’ experience at Ulster, Fergus has held a number of technology commercialisation roles and now is Ulster’s Start Up Manager. Fergus manages a range of technologies from Ulster’s research and is tasked to maintain the flow of high quality sustainable spinouts. Responsible also for enhancing the growth and value of Innovation Ulster Limited’s existing portfolio companies, Fergus seeks to generate a financial return to the University and to demonstrate the University’s economic impact by exiting from portfolio investments at an appropriate opportunity, thus emphasising the commercial relevance and value of the University’s research base. 

The Start Up role also provides mentoring to the university’s potential entrepreneurs, ensuring access to start-up capital through Innovation Ulster Ltd and facilitating effective professional and business advice from the University and the wider community.

Garvan is CEO of Garvan O’Doherty Group (GODG) which operates in the hospitality and property sectors with business interests in Ireland and UK.  GODG is a material contributor to the economy in the North West of Ireland employing circa 250 people and contributing in the region of £10M annually to the local & national supply chain.  Garvan has circa 35 years’ experience as owner/operator of GODG. 

GODG hospitality trading interests include two hotels, public houses and a chain of five off licences. 

Future investment plans estimated at £40M including additional city centre 34-bedroom boutique hotel and refurbishment of St Columb’s Hall to create an 860-seater theatre, 100-seater cinema and 200-seater restaurant.  He is also championing the development of an £80M Maritime and Emigration Museum which he believes will form a fourth pillar of Tourism in North of Ireland, alongside Titanic, Giants causeway and Wild Atlantic way.

GODG has a substantial commercial rental portfolio, in Ireland and London, all of which are managed within the Group. 

Garvan served as Chairman of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commission for eight years and during his final term, the Port announced record profits and secured £80million renewable energy investment scheme. Garvan is Chairman of the Board of one of the most successful neighbourhood renewal companies in the UK – Creggan Enterprises Limited.  

Garvan joint chaired talks between the Residents Groups and Loyal Orders, including ABOD, Black Preceptory and Orange Order at different stages over the last 16 years that devised solutions to the contentious marching issue in Derry, now known as ‘The Derry Model’.

He was a member of U4D, the lobby group set up to establish a University in Derry City and for many years has played a role in matters pertaining to the social, political and economic regeneration of Derry and North West.

Garvan lives in Derry and has three daughters.

In his spare time, Garvan enjoys boating, ski-ing, football and current affairs. 

George Nounesis is the Director & Chairman of the Board of the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” since 2017. Dr. Nounesis studied Physics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He obtained his PhD at the School of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Minnesota. He completed a three-year Postdoctoral training at the Chemistry Department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Executive Education Program on “Innovation for Economic Development” at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is currently the Director of the Biomolecular Physics Laboratory at Demokritos. Prior to returning to Greece he held Research Staff appointments at the Center for Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and at the Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory. He has spent sabbatical leaves at the Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal at CNRS and the Chemistry Department of the University of Bordeaux I as an Invited Professor. His research is mainly focused on structural and thermodynamic studies of nano-structured soft materials as well as biomolecules, primarily proteins. For his work he has received awards and distinctions from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, the Empirikion Foundation, the United States Department of the Navy and the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota. He serves as an Expert Reviewer of several National and International Research Funding Organizations in the European Commission, the USA (NSF), Poland, Turkey, Belgium and Greece.

Giancarlo Di Vece is the CEO of Unosquare, a growing 800 person global software consultancy that operates in 8 countries and 3 continents. During his time as CEO, Giancarlo has exponentially transformed the organization to scale – doubling in size in the last two years. With a fierce purpose of democratizing opportunity across the globe, Giancarlo and his leadership team work endlessly not only to find and attract the best talent anywhere in the world, but also guiding and facilitating the careers of those who decide to become part of Unosquare.

By caring about the community, its people, and the future of inclusive business, Unosquare has achieved the rarified status of being on the Inc 5000 Fastest growing companies 7 years in a row – a feat achieved by the likes of companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Patagonia to name a few. In addition to this, Unosquare has received awards in multiple countries for Innovation, Life-Work Balance, and Employee Satisfaction.

Giancarlo’s enthusiasm and contributions have been sought out as inspiration for others, he is often invited to write for Entrepreneur, Forbes, CIO.com as well as to speak at different events that influence the industry.

Gillian Buckley is the Investment Manager with the Western Development Commission. She has over 25 years’ experience in investing, managing and advising SMEs across a broad range of sectors. She brought the WDC Investment Fund from concept to reality, negotiating both the original exchequer allocation with the Irish Government, and the legislative framework for its operation. Gillian devised the Evergreen Strategy which has allowed the Fund to be self-financing and all returns are reinvested back into the companies in the Western Region.  She has overseen the investment of over €80m in over 300 SME, community and social enterprises, and strategic initiatives. She has served or still serves on a number of portfolio companies, including Loci Orthopaedics, HookeBio, Stamford Devices t/a Aerogen, Selc Ireland, Cambus Medical and Neuravi.  She is co-founder and director of CREW (Creative Enterprises West), a strategic initiative focused on the digital creative sector, the WRAP Fund, a dedicated fund for the AV sector and the WDC’s Micro-Loan Fund for Creative Enterprises.  Notable exits and realisations include Neuravi by J&J, Embo Medical by Bard, Altocloud by Genesys, Aran Biomedical by Interger, Aerogen by Temasek.

I have been working as Communications and Marketing Manager for Údarás na Gaeltachta for the last 10 months, following 23 years as a journalist in RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta, the national Irish language radio station. I spent the last 11 years in Raidió na Gaeltachta presenting Adhmhaidin, the Irish language radio station’s flagship news and current affairs programme, with a particular emphasis on in-depth coverage of stories relating to the Gaeltacht and the Irish language. My years as a broadcaster highlighted for me the importance of communicating more clearly the message of the Gaeltacht – a region with a priceless cultural and linguistic heritage and incredible untapped potential. I am now endeavouring to apply the skills I acquired as a journalist, to communicate the message of Údarás na Gaeltachta, an organisation which is committed to the development of the Gaeltacht as a modern, creative region, where ambition and innovation are supported.

James Brown is the London born, Franco-American, Managing Director for Ireland & the UK of Hexicon AB, a publicly listed Swedish technology & floating offshore wind developer. James has been supporting Hexicon since 2015. James also sits on Hexicon’s management board and supports Hexicon’s North America team.

James spent the last 15 years in renewable energy, including the conversion of a 3GW coal power station to biomass, developing subsidy free utility scale onshore solar & wind, and smart gird ventures. James is also active in impact initiatives including the Conduit Impact Fund (advisory board member), and the TT Environmental Solutions Fund (advisory board member).

James has a BA in Marine Affairs from the University of Miami, and a MSC in Sea Use & Marine Policy from the London School of Economy. James spent his formative years developing educational programs for marine aquariums and as an offshore sailboat skipper. He also spent five years in Asia developed ports, including establishing the first majority foreign owned port in China. Upon his return to Europe in 1999, James was a founding team member of a dedicated supply chain venture capital fund for TPG/TNT, before focusing on renewable energy, technology and infrastructure.

John spent his early career coding for a healthcare tech company in Pittsburgh before a 15 year stint in media. A journalist and editor at the North Belfast News, John also ran Ireland’s most successful independent food website, Forked.
In 2013 John launched a wifi software technology startup, which was used in restaurants, cafés, hotels, stadia and vehicles around the world.
John joined Entrepreneurial Spark in 2015 to help support ambitious startups throughout Ireland. The social enterprise was bought over by NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank in 2018. Since joining the team John has worked to support 7000+ startups across the country. Those businesses have raised £35m+ in investment and created more than 1000 jobs.
Since 2019, John sits as a member of Ulster Bank’s Regional Board and leads on climate and the drive to support a more diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northern Ireland.

John G. McLaughlin grew up in Redcastle, Co. Donegal and was educated at Carndonagh Community School and the Regional Technical College in Letterkenny. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from University College Galway in 1986. He spent a short time working for University College Galway and Westmeath County Council before taking up an appointment in California, USA where he spent 13 years working in engineering and construction. He joined Donegal County Council in 1999 where he worked in the National Roads Office in Donegal Town at Executive Engineer and Senior Executive Engineer level. In 2001, he was appointed Director of Roads and Transportation and held that role until July 2020, when he took up the position of Chief Executive of Donegal County Council. 

John Kelpie is the Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council.  Established in April 2015 as a result of a programme of local government reform in Northern Ireland, the Council area comprises the vibrant and youthful City of Derry/Londonderry, the busy market town of Strabane and a diverse and attractive rural area of designated outstanding natural beauty.

Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland/fourth largest city on the island of Ireland and is the principal sub-regional economic driver of a cross border City region of over 350,000 people.

John led on the creation of the new organisation designing an innovative, flexible and responsive staffing structure with a clear vision and purpose to develop a thriving, prosperous and sustainable City and Region with equality of opportunity for all. 

The Council is leading and delivering on this vision with its many civic, statutory, community and business partners through its Strategic Growth Plan 2017-2032 driving economic, environmental and social well-being and regeneration and by addressing and targeting poverty, social exclusion and disadvantage.

As Chief Executive, John leads a talented and dedicated senior management team and staff with an outcomes-driven focus on successfully implementing the key objectives of the plan which will see over £3.2 bn of investment and opportunity in the City and region over the next decade, significant physical regeneration and environmental projects delivered, increased community engagement and participation and improved citizen health and well-being. 

Julia is a founding partner of Interface Fund, an early stage deep tech venture capital supporting innovation at the intersection of physics and biology. Prior to Interface Fund, Julia co-founded healthcare startup Igantia Therapeutics (UCSF spin-off, acquired in 2019 and was a partner at Mindrock Capital, a grow stage venture fund from San Francisco

Cllr Liam Blaney has been a member of Donegal County Council since 2003 and has been successfully re-elected at each subsequent local election. A prominent member of the farming community, he represents the Letterkenny/Milford Municipal District and as such has a considerable insight into the needs and challenges facing the people who live in these communities.

He was elected vice-chair of Donegal County Council in 2005. He serves on several Council committees including the Agriculture and Fisheries committees and has over the years represented his fellow members on the Association of Irish and Local Government and the Local Authority Members Representative Association.
He has also represented Donegal County Council on the North West Region Cross Border Committee.
In June 2022, he was unanimously elected as the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council.

Marga Hoek is a member of Thinkers50, she is that rare combination: a true visionary on sustainable business and capital and a successful, innovative business leader who understands and applies the commercial realities of business. Operating at the highest level with ministers and presidents, Marga is a global voice for G20, G7 Climat Change and if Cop 23; an award winning author and a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and other prestigious media.

She is a non executive director for various, international companies after a successful CEO, executive career as well an appreciated and sought after boardroom advisor. As the most appreciated speaker on sustainable business and capital and a multiple awarded author, she is considered one of the most influential thought leaders leading the way in the transition towards a sustainable world.

She is the unique in demonstrating in how today’s ICT’s and technological innovations can be a huge force for good and has a strong trackrecord in the financial sector.

Mary McKenna is a Donegal based serial technology entrepreneur and angel investor. She was one of the co-founders of successful Irish online learning company Learning Pool which is based in Derry in the North West of Ireland.

The Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht appointed Mary Uí Chadhain to the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2018 for a five-year term from 16 January 2018 to 15 January 2023.

Mary Uí Chadhain lives in Gabhla, Caiseal, Co. Galway. She is Director of Finance and Business Affairs in TG4. She is also company secretary of TG4.

As outlined in paragraph 12 of the First Schedule of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act, 1979, Údarás board members are paid fees and allowances from Údarás funds, which are determined from time to time by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. These fees and rates are in accordance with those laid down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for State Bodies of Category C of that Department.

As directed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (2011) regarding the payment of fees to public servants who sit on state boards, this member of the Údarás Board is not paid an annual fee.

Is Feidhmeannach Forbartha Mara le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta í Máire Ní Éinniú. Is í aidhm Údarás na Gaeltachta na pobail Ghaeltachta a neartú, caighdeán saoil na bpobal a fheabhsú agus an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú agus a bhuanú mar phríomhtheanga an réigiúin. 

Is Cuntasóir Cairte í Máire chomh maith le bheith ina Eacnamaí Comhshaoil, agus tá saineolas ar leith aici ar bhforbairt acmhainní nádúrtha. Tá Máire ag stiúradh péire de phríomhthograí straitéiseacha an Údaráis, an, pháirc nuálaíochta mara eiseamláireach atá beartaithe i gCill Chiaráin i gCo. na Gaillimhe agus togra Ros an Mhíl, mol straitéiseach do earnáil an fhuinnimh inathnuaite eischósta.
Anuas ar sin, bíonn Máire ag tacú le comhlachtaí túschéime le hardphoitéinseal, chomh maith le bheith ag cabhrú le comhlachtaí beaga agus meánmhéide lena gcuid pleananna fáis. Cuimsíonn sé seo teagmháil go leor leis an bpobal i dtaobh cúrsaí mara – creideann sí má bhíonn an tionscal agus áisíneachtaí stáit ag obair as lámh a chéile, gur féidir leis an earnáil mhara sa tír seo bláthú. 

Máire Ní Einniú is a Marine Development Executive with Údarás na Gaeltachta. Údarás na Gaeltachta’s stated purpose is to strengthen the Gaeltacht communities, to increase the quality of life of its community members and facilitate the preservation and extension of the Irish language as the principal language of the region.

By profession, a Chartered Accountant and an Environmental economist specialising in Natural Resource Development, Máire leads two of Údarás na Gaeltachta most strategic projects, Páirc na Mara, a state-of-the-art low-carbon marine innovation park in Cill Chiaráin, Co. Galway and Ros a Mhil- a Strategic hub for the offshore renewable energy sector. In her daily role, Máire supports high potential start-ups along with assisting SMEs with their growth plans. This includes extensive community engagement of marine related activities and she believes through working collaboratively with industry and state agencies that the Irish marine sector can flourish. 

Nicklas Bergman is a Swedish entrepreneur and deep-tech investor. For more than 30 years he’s built companies in a variety of industries, regions, and economic climates. He’s seen his companies go out of business, awake from the dead, conquer the world, be sold to major industry players, or listed on the stock exchange. Since mid-2020, Nicklas is also an advisor to the EIC Fund, an EUR 4 billion deep tech VC fund investing in more than 100 European startups per year.

Paul is a member of the Optum Ireland Senior Leadership team and Letterkenny Site Director with accountability and responsibility for creating, planning, implementing, and integrating the strategic direction of the Letterkenny site. In addition to business operations accountability, Paul has accountability for the Corporate Affairs function which includes oversight for Corporate Social Responsibility and all External Relationships including 2nd and 3rd level programs. Leadership of the Ireland strategy and integration of new business into Ireland is also part of Paul’s portfolio.

Paul is a Culture Ambassador and is passionate about Our United Culture and sees this as a real competitive advantage for attracting and retaining talent in Ireland.

Prior to joining the company, Paul held various senior positions in the tech industry at Apple and Intel Corp. Paul has a hybrid of experience and expertise in Operations Management and in Corporate Affairs, Communications and Government Affairs.

Paul holds a degree in Business Administration and a Diploma in Public Relations.

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh is President of NUI Galway. Trained as a Chartered Accountant, he has a PhD in Accounting and has published widely in the accounting field. He is a board member of the National Library of Ireland and a member of the Council of the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Kristel Miller is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development at Ulster University. Her expertise intersects the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship and strategy. Her research explores topics such as technology commercialisation, new venture creation, business model innovation, SME capability development and regional competitiveness. She has published in internationally renowned journals and is a regular speaker at international conferences and events. Kristel is the co-editor in chief of the Irish Journal of Management. She is also a director of Innovation Ulster Limited, which is a university technology commercialisation spin-out vehicle. Kristel is a member of the UK innovation expert group, Innovation Caucus and is an expert reviewer for the European Commission. She also engages in ad hoc consultancy to aid SMEs to grow their business.

Professor Paul Seawright OBE is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ulster University.

Paul was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences for five years and was previously Head of Belfast School of Art. Before joining Ulster he was Dean of Art, Media and Design at the University of Wales, Newport. He held the position of Director of research at Newport and is widely recognised as a subject expert in Art & Design research, participating on panels in RAE 08 and REF14 and specialist advisor in REF21.

As a former member of the HEFCE expert advisory group on the development of the REF, he has advised numerous universities worldwide on research strategy. He has sat on the advisory boards of the Imperial War Museum and British Council in London, having previously served for eight years as a Board member of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Paul has an international profile as an artist and researcher. His work is held in many museum collections including the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Tate, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, International Centre of Photography New York, Arts Councils of Ireland, England and Northern Ireland, the UK Government Collection and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome.

In 2002 he was commissioned by the Imperial War Museum London as War Artist for Afghanistan and was awarded the Irish Museum of Modern Art/Glen Dimplex award for a major contribution to Irish Art.

Paul has a first class honours degree in Photography, Film and Television and was awarded a PhD by the University of Wales in 2007. He was awarded an OBE for services to Education and the arts in 2021.

He is a Fellow of the RSA and the RPS, Honorary fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University and former Vice President of the Royal Ulster Academy of Art. He currently holds Visiting Professorships at Sheffield Hallam, Shenyang University and Luxun Academy of Fine Arts.

Pól Ó Dochartaigh is Deputy President and Registrar at Ollscoile na Gaillimhe – University of Galway. He hails from Belfast, where he was educated at St. Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School. Having abandoned a degree in Pure Maths and Computer Science at Queen’s and subsequently spending a year working in Munich and another studying in Kiel, he graduated in German from University College Cardiff in 1987. After two years teaching English at Rostock University in the GDR he undertook a PhD in German cultural history at Nottingham University under the supervision of Prof. Hamish Reid, graduating in 1995 with a thesis on “The Portrayal of Jews in GDR Prose Fiction”. He took a Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching at the University of Ulster in 1996-97. From 1995 he re-engaged with the Irish language, taking an A Level in 1999 and, after five years of part-time study, he graduated BA in Irish Language and Literature with first-class honours at Ulster. In 2019 he was conferred with a DLitt by the University of Nottingham.

Rachel is an Associate with TaylorWessing in Dublin where she advises companies and investors on raising investment, private equity financing, mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganisations. Rachel has a particular interest in disruptive technologies (blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, fintech, AI, virtual reality and digital health) and has advised several companies on the legislative landscape and registration requirements for disruptive technology companies seeking to establish themselves and trade in Ireland. Rachel also advises fashion and design houses ranging from FashTech start-ups to global brands on their e-commerce operations, white label arrangements, SaaS offerings and cloud services.

Elected to Council for the Ballyarnett Ward in 2014 and is the party Group Leader. Sandra is an ardent campaigner on social issues including ‘period poverty’ and made history in 2018 by ensuring Derry City and Strabane district Council became the first in Ireland to provide free period products in as many sporting grounds and public buildings as possible to combat this ever-growing issue.

Sandra is passionate about tackling homelessness and has been involved in this sector for over 20 years, she now leads and has developed outreach services addressing homelessness among young people and those with complex needs that require an intense service to meet their needs, including issues around addiction and mental health.

Within council, Sandra has taken a lead role in establishing the North West City region as a good place to live, work and socialise, she has chaired the North West Regional development group, which drives economic cooperation within the region and has led a shop local campaign. She has also taken on the chair of the PCSP and has a history of campaigning on road safety issues.

With a strong working relationships within the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. Sandra has been a board member of Advice North West for over ten years and works with the western trust in relation to wider health and social services for the City and District.

She is heavily involved in St. Joseph’s Amateur Boxing Club, sits on Greater Shantallow Area Partnership Board, the Culmore Community Partnership and has a keen interest in all community groups and infrastructure in the local area.

Sean Flood is an experienced entrepreneur with a passion for companies in the mobility, sustainability, advertising and health & wellness space.

For 12 years prior to overseeing the sale of the company to Last Mile Holdings (MILE on TSX), Sean was Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Gotcha Mobility (ridegotcha.com), an e-mobility company dedicated to providing innovative shared mobility products and technologies that get people out of single-occupancy cars and safely onto accessible, sustainable electric mobility products. The company operates e-bikes, e-scooters, and etrikes as transportation solutions tailored to cities and universities across the US. Gotcha was recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing companies in 2018 and 2019 on the Inc. 5000 list and was a finalist on Fast Company’s 2019 World Changing Ideas Awards in the Health and Wellness category for providing students with sustainable micro-transit products that encourage healthy lifestyles. In 2019, Sean received Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award for his entrepreneurship in launching Gotcha and community involvement. Sean was also CEO of Rivet Campus Media (rivetcampusmedia.com) (Owned by Private Equity firm MSouth), the largest on campus collegiate advertising platform. He oversaw growth of 125% in two years and partnerships with 148 universities around the country. Currently, Sean is a Founding Partner at EFO Ventures, an early stage investment firm focused on investing in founders in the mobility, cleantech & health and wellness sectors. Sean is a graduate of Florida State University’s Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship with an additional degree in Marketing.

Sian Farrell is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of StimOxyGen, a spin-out company that has developed a game-changing technology to vastly improve the quality of life and outcomes for cancer patients across the globe.

Sian initially studied pharmacy at Ulster University and received several awards as an undergraduate including, The Randox Award for Biomolecular Immunology and Therapeutics, The Sir Allen McClay Award for Best Final Year Science Project, and The Royal Pharmaceutical Award for the Best Student on the MPharm Degree programme. Upon graduating from Ulster University in 2015, Sian moved to Bristol (United Kingdom) to complete her pre-registration training in the Bristol Royal Infirmary. During her time there Sian gained extensive clinical experience in several specialist fields, including oncology, and was awarded Regional Pre-Registration Winner for the South West of England for her clinical research and presentation skills. After gaining further experience as a hospital pharmacist at Bristol Royal Infirmary, Sian decided to follow her passion and embarked on a PhD Programme at Ulster University in 2017 which focused on the development of nanoparticle formulations for enhanced sonodynamic therapy against pancreatic cancer.   

In the final stages of her PhD, Sian began investigating the commercial value of StimOxyGen technology and established a spin-out company along with Professor Anthony McHale, Professor John Callan, and Dr Leslie Russell in 2021. Sian led the StimOxyGen team to success at the INVENT 2021 awards, hosted by Catalyst NI, where she won all three categories including Health and Wellbeing, One-Minute Elevator Pitch and Winner of Overall Competition, taking home a total cash prize of £26,000. Sian’s efforts have been recognised at a local level where she has been included in the Belfast Telegraph’s 30 under 30 of the best and brightest entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland 2022 and also internationally due to being selected as an awardee for the MIT Technology Review’s Under 35 Europe 2022 listing.

With experience in both clinical and academic research settings, Sian has developed a passion for technology transfer from bench to bedside and is determined to improve the lives of cancer patients on a global scale.

Sonia Nic Giolla Easbuig is the Managing Director of LIGID Léiriúcháin, an award winning Independent Television Production company based in Ireland.
She has worked across the globe for many broadcasters making award winning documentaries in the Irish language on subjects as diverse as the ‘Donegal Hiring Fairs’, ‘The Hunger Strikes 1980 – 1981’, ‘The story of Bád Eddie’, the Middle East conflicts effect on the ‘Children of Palestine’ and a six-part series called ‘Bhí mé Ann’. LIGID has recently Produced a feature documentary about the late ‘Martin McGuinness’ for TG4, ILBF & BAI that was screened at the Belfast, Cork & Foyle Film Festivals and was nominated for Programme of the year at the Ghradaim Chumarsáide an Oireachtais 2021. It was also selected for the ‘Capital Irish Film Festival’ in Washington.
A winner of the Prix Circom international documentary section twice, she has been awarded an Amnesty International Human Rights Worldwide TV Award for ‘I gCillín an Bhais’, and also a Celtic Film Festival nomination for ‘Bhí mé Ann’. LIGID has received a ‘ Top 50 Business as Gaeilge award’ and in 2018 was awarded one of the first ‘Q-Mharc Gnó le Gaeilge’ award from Foras na Gaeilge.
Sonia has a MA in media Management and Policy from the University of Ulster. She is from Bunbeg in the Donegal Gaeltacht and has an office in both Gteic and Derry.

Steve Orr is Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst and serves on the Board of Directors. He also serves as an advisor to NI’s Department for Economy Minister on the Economic Advisory Group and represents Catalyst as a co-creator and partner on Innovation City Belfast.

Before being named CEO in November 2018, Steve was Director and Co-founder of Connect, Catalyst’s not-for-profit network of experienced entrepreneurs, business professionals and top research talent dedicated to the creation and scaling of innovation companies in Northern Ireland. Connect helped over 900 local entrepreneurs to aim higher and succeed faster each year. Prior to Connect, Steve co-founded Kineticom, Inc a San Diego, California based technical talent firm in 2000. In 2006 Kineticom was ranked #33 on the Inc 500, the list of the fastest growing privately held companies in the US. Previous to Kineticom, Steve worked in Buckinghamshire, UK and San Diego and San Francisco, California for S.Com Ltd and S.Com Inc. Steve earned a BSc in Business Information Technology from University of Northumbria.

Ted Hu has been with MIT Technology Review for four years and oversees and works with all the international partners and editions of the magazine. During this time, he has also helped facilitate the international editions of Innovators Under 35 and helped organise the events while also being a presenter and moderator for several conferences. Innovators Under 35 is one of his favourite communities of Technology Review and he is delighted to be a part of this event as the bridge between the regional competitions.

Tomás Ó Síocháin is Príomhfheidhmeannach | CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta [udaras.ie], the state agency that supports and develops Irish as the spoken language in the Gaeltacht region across seven counties of Ireland. Údarás supports communities and enterprise to sustain the region, language and its unique global heritage.

Tomás was, until 2022, CEO of the Western Development Commission, an Irish state agency supporting the development of Ireland’s Western Region along the Atlantic coast. Prior to that he held a number of senior roles in Ollscoil na hÉireann | University of Galway and was a broadcast journalist, producer and editor with Irish national broadcasters RTÉ and TG4 between 1998 and 2013. A law graduate, he holds an MBA, a Higher Diploma in Applied Communications and is a non-executive director of GrowRemote and Future Mobility Campus Ireland.

He is Chair of the Advisory Board for the University of Galway Cairnes School of Business and Economics, a member of the National Hubs Network Steering Group and the National Remote Work Strategy Implementation Group. Formerly, he was the inaugural Chair of the Regional Skills Forum West, Chair of the WDC Whitaker Institute Remote Work Expert Group and an External Assessor for the Broadcast Authority of Ireland’s Sound and Vision Fund.