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.

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.

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. In an advisory capacity, Alessandra also serves as the Governance Committee Chair at the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Research Training in Machine Learning.

Among several awards, Alessandra won the 2024 Grace Hopper and the 2021 XV International Prize “Le Tecno-visionarie” in the AI – Industrial Research category. In her previous role Alessandra was Head of Analytics Research at Nokia Bell Labs where she was leading research teams in several locations while driving changes across different activities like her contributions to the Nokia AI Ethics Advisory Board.

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.

aura 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 Nugent was appointed as CEO of Children’s Health Ireland in January 2025. Lucy was the CEO of Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) from 2019, having joined TUH as Chief Operations Officer in 2014 and moved to the role of Deputy CEO in 2016. Prior to joining TUH, Lucy worked for a short time in the Acute Hospitals Division of the HSE as Head of Quality Assurance and Risk Management. Lucy also has extensive clinical and management experience in paediatrics, having worked in Children’s University Hospital Temple Street for over 10 years as Clinical and Patient Services Manager. Prior to that she held a number of Nursing roles as both a Registered Children’s Nurse and General Nurse. Lucy is a Past President of the Health Management Institute of Ireland and has represented it on several committees of the European Association of Hospital Managers and the International Hospital Federation.  She is President of the European Association of Hospital Managers and is the first woman to hold this position in its 53-year history. Lucy is a Director of South Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Operation Smile Ireland. 

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.