Dr Nicola Stokes is IDA’s Chief Technologist for International Financial Services where she has responsible for identifying and winning FDI financial technology investments. Nicola is an AI Tech expert with 15 years’ experience managing AI R&D projects in diverse domains such as life sciences, health informatics, smart cities, and media analytics. She has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, has published over 50+ peer reviewed publications in AI, and has won awards for her research. Nicola is also a member of the Government’s Expert Groups for Future Skills Needs in Artificial Intelligence and AI Regulation, and is also on their Fintech Steering Committee. In 2021, she was awarded IT Leader of the Year at the Women in Tech Excellence Awards.

Gillian Harford is a senior HR Executive who works directly with client organisations focusing on diversity and workplace change. Sponsored by EY she also operates as the Country Executive for the 30% Club, a global campaign supported by Chairs and CEOs driving gender balance on Boards and at cSuite. Gillian is the former Head of HR Strategy & Planning with AIB where, with a career spanning almost 40 years, she has been responsible for significant people change with particular focus on Culture, Career, Diversity and Agile Work.

Gillian holds a BA, an MBA from Michael Smurfit Business School UCD, and the Professional Diploma in Corporate Governance, UCD. She is a member of the Institute of Directors, fellow of CIPD, and a fellow of the Institute of Bankers. Gillian is a member of the Board for the Central Remedial Clinic and an Advisory Group member for the government-based initiatives Balance for Better Business and the Women in Finance Charter.

Jean O’Donnell is Chair of Women in Technology & Science Ireland. She is also an award winning Technology Employee Engagement and Talent Development Leader with significant experience designing and implementing Employee Experience & Capability Development Strategies. She has over 15 years tech sector experience with a deep understanding of the importance of technology in driving and supporting business. 

Jean is passionate about equity, inclusion and diversity. Holding a Masters in Coaching from UCC, she has supported many women on their journey back to the workplace after a career break.

Peter Clifford is a leader and strategist with deep knowledge of the Irish research and innovation system. He engages with and mobilises key stakeholders using clear evidence-based communication.

Peter was appointed Head of Performance Improvement in Science Foundation Ireland in 2014 and became Head of Strategy in 2018.

Previously, Dr Clifford held a series of positions at SFI, overseeing large-scale funding programmes such as the Investigators Programme and managing funded awards such as the ADAPT, Lero, and Insight Research Centres. Dr Clifford joined SFI in 2008.

Prior to joining SFI, Dr Clifford researched telecommunications networks and applied mathematics in Maynooth University. His PhD in Mathematics is from MIT.

Jennifer Cox has over 18 years of experience in tech and in the Cyber Security industry. She supports her team who work with techies across all of EMEA in enabling best practices and cyber exposure prevention. Jennifer is the Head of Communications for Cyber Women Ireland, an Ambassador for Wentors global mentorship programme, an active member of WITS Ireland (Women in Technology and Science Ireland), WomenTech Community and WiCyS Global (Women in Cyber Security) and works hard to insure diversity and inclusion within her industry by partaking in roles such as Judging at the Coolest Projects event for kids in the RDS, launching a mentoring project in Tenable, speaking at events such as BSides Dublin, WomenTech Global, BBWIC, CWiCS (Cisco Women in Cyber Security), CBF Fest (Coding Black Females Fest) HexCon, UK CyberWeek, WiCyS Global and more.

Martin Curley is Professor of Innovation at Maynooth University and Director of the Digital Health Ecosystem at the Innovation Value Institute at Maynooth University, Ireland. Most recently Martin was Chief Information Officer and Director of Digital Transformation for Ireland’s National Health Service (HSE) and previously was Senior Vice President at Mastercard and head of Global Digital Practice. Martin is chair of the UNGA Digital Health Symposium and has previously been Vice President, Senior Principal Engineer and Director of Intel Labs Europe as well as Global Director of IT Innovation at Intel Corporation. He has held engineering management positions at Philips and General Electronic also. Martin has been identified as a top 10 global influential, inspiring and impactful health leader/educator by a number of international publications and was awarded European Chief Technology Officer of the year in 2015. He is author of eight books on Innovation, Digital and Entrepreneurship and has keynoted and led executive education across the world. 

Emma joined Enterprise Ireland in January 2023, as Director of Manufacturing Technology with responsibility for developing Enterprise Ireland’s Manufacturing Technology strategy and driving early engagement and support. In October 2023, she became the Director of Commercialisation. She is now responsible for Enterprise Ireland’s strategic commercialisation fund and the team of commercialisation specialists, who engage with Ireland’s researchers, by funding and supporting their research from lab to market, delivering High Potential Start-Ups into the Irish Economy. Emma came to Enterprise Ireland with over 15 years international industrial operations experience, primarily in Life Sciences, having worked most recently with FIRE1, a med tech start-up based in Dublin, for nearly 6 years, as Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain, responsible for the design, development, and implementation of a manufacturing and supply chain strategy from foundation to early scaling. Previous industry experience includes working with Boston Scientific, Abbott, Cadburys and Cochlear across Ireland, Australia, and US sites in various operational management roles. Consequently, she has well exercised technical expertise and practice in researching, assessing, and implementing operationally transformative projects along with a deep understanding of the softer skills required to implement such changes across cultures. Additionally, she has contributed to other industrial bodies through the IBEC MTE Leadership Development task force and IBEC “Women’s Relaunch Program”, as well as volunteering as a mentor in the European STRADA’s “Women In Manufacturing”. Emma has also been recognised as a female leader in the Digital Health sector as part of IBEC’s Recognition of Women in Technology program.

Una Fitzpatrick is a Dublin City University STEM graduate with a master’s in management from Smurfit Business School.  She has spent the last 17 years working in the knowledge economy, specifically the last eight years being spent with Technology Ireland.   Una was appointed Director of Technology Ireland in June 2018.  Technology Ireland, a trade association within Ibec, is the largest and most influential tech sector representative group in Ireland. Una is an executive board member of Digital Europe and is on the Board of Directors of FIT Ltd (Fastrack into Technology).  Una has extensive lobbying experience both at National and European levels.

Andrea Dermody, Diversity and Inclusion Expert  and Programme Director, Balance for Better BusinessAndrea Dermody has over twenty years’ experience working across the Global Financial Services marketplace. With experience in Talent Management, Learning & Development and Diversity & Inclusion, most recently Andrea led inclusion and diversity for State Street in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with responsibility for fourteen European locations, 12,000 employees and 50+ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). She is now managing director of her own consulting practice, Dermody, working with clients across healthcare, technology, engineering, financial services, aviation and semi-state environments. Andrea holds a BA in History and Economics and a PgD in Business Studies from UCD and a MSc in Human Resource Development from Sheffield Hallam University. She has also completed a course in Black Studies with the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies.

Carol Andrews is is a graduate of the Women’s Leadership Forum, a Harvard Business School leadership development programme, a Certified Investment Fund Director (CIFD), MIT Sloan Blockchain Technologies Business Innovation and application certificate and holds a Masters (MSC) in Business Practice from the Irish Management Institute. Most recently qualified as International Director from INSEAD Paris. Carol is a founder, previous Country Lead and a current Advisory committee member of the 30% Club Ireland, an organization aimed at achieving better gender balance at all levels in leading businesses. She is currently the co-chair for Balance for Better Business (a government led initiative to increase gender balance in business). Carol is currently a member of the Advisory Council for Irish Management Institute, and a board member of the Bank of Ireland Gold Sovereign Programme Committee.

Colin has significant experience of selling and making technology markets across all of EMEA. He is an expert in building and leading multi-national, culturally attuned sales teams deployed across EMEA. He has experience of selling into the Health, Life Sciences, Education, Government, Enterprise, Telco, Financial Services and SME verticals. He is a trained and experienced spokesperson and influencer to and for the industry to the media, government and industry bodies. He is as comfortable asking for an order to hit a sale, as he is in presenting to an audience of hundreds at industry events. Colin is Accelerating Digital Health with Santegic’s Partners and Customers.

A research and scientific leader in Artificial Intelligence, Alessandra is the Sr. Director of AI and Data Science at Shutterstock. Alessandra has over 18 years’ experience in research and innovation gained whilst working in academic and commercial environments. Alessandra is passionate in advanced analytics, machine learning, and computational models with the focus of transferring innovation from research to products.

Alessandra chairs the AI and Multimedia Authenticity Collaboration, which brings together IEC, ISO, ITU and other standards organizations to foster a unified response to deepfake technology, addressing risks while harnessing the benefits of generative AI.

As Co-chair of the UNESCO Women for Ethical AI Platform, Alessandra is working with a strong community of women to foster diversity, inclusion and equality for women and minorities while encouraging a global ethical approach in AI. As Global President of Women in AI (a non-profit do-tank working towards gender-inclusive AI that benefits global society)  Alessandra leads a community of women from 171 countries that empowers women and minorities to become AI & Data experts, innovators and leaders.

Emma joined Enterprise Ireland in January 2023, as Director of Manufacturing Technology with responsibility for developing Enterprise Ireland’s Manufacturing Technology strategy and driving early engagement and support. In October 2023, she became the Director of Commercialisation. She is now responsible for Enterprise Ireland’s strategic commercialisation fund and the team of commercialisation specialists, who engage with Ireland’s researchers, by funding and supporting their research from lab to market, delivering High Potential Start-Ups into the Irish Economy. Emma came to Enterprise Ireland with over 15 years international industrial operations experience, primarily in Life Sciences, having worked most recently with FIRE1, a med tech start-up based in Dublin, for nearly 6 years, as Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain, responsible for the design, development, and implementation of a manufacturing and supply chain strategy from foundation to early scaling. Previous industry experience includes working with Boston Scientific, Abbott, Cadburys and Cochlear across Ireland, Australia, and US sites in various operational management roles.

Laura Burke is the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), appointed in 2011 and served as a Director within the EPA since 2004. As Director General she has the responsibility to lead and strategically manage the EPA. Laura was the Chair of the European Environment Agency (EEA) Management Board from 2017 to 2023.  Laura is a member of the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) and a member of the High Level Implementation Committee of ‘Food Vision 2030’, the Irish Agri-Food Sector Strategy.  Prior to joining the EPA, she worked in the private sector. Laura is a graduate chemical engineer of University College Dublin (UCD), holds an MSc from Trinity College, Dublin, is a Fellow and is President of Engineers Ireland and is a Chartered Director. She is a member of the Board of Genio a non-profit European organisation. In 2016 Laura was awarded the UCD Engineering Graduates Association (EGA) Distinguished Graduate Award.

Lucy took up the role of CEO of Children’s Health Ireland on January 20^th this having previously been the CEO of  Tallaght University Hospital since 2019 having previously held the roles of COO and DCEO in the Hospital. Prior to joining TUH she worked in the HSE in the Acute Hospitals Division as Head of Quality Assurance & Risk Management and Clinical & Patient Services Manager in the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street. Prior to that she worked in a number of nursing roles as a registered general and children’s nurse and holds a BSc, MSc, RCPI Diploma in QI & Leadership and is a graduate of the IESE Business School Advanced Management Programme, Barcelona. She is a Past President of the Health Management Institute of Ireland and is currently the President of the European Association of Hospital Managers and is the first female to hold this role since it was founded in 1970.

Sinead co-founded RED C Research in 2003 prior to which she was a director in Lansdowne Market Research. An award winning researcher, Sinead incorporates the latest techniques and statistical analysis to provide the greatest level of insight and clarity on each project. A graduate of the College of Marketing and Design, Sinead is a member of the Marketing Institute and is a regular guest lecturer at The Smurfit Business School and has guest lectured at DIT.owne Market Research. An award winning researcher, Sinead incorporates the latest techniques and statistical analysis to provide the greatest level of insight and clarity on each project. A graduate of the College of Marketing and Design, Sinead is a member of the Marketing Institute and is a regular guest lecturer at The Smurfit Business School and has guest lectured at DIT.