Welcome to the Local Government Tourism Conference 2024
‘Tourism – Leading the Change’
Thursday 18th & Friday 19th April
Killashee House Hotel, Naas, County Kildare
We are delighted that the Local Government Tourism Conference 2024 will take place on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th April in Killashee House Hotel, Naas, County Kildare with the theme ‘Tourism – Leading the Change’.
The conference provides us with a wonderful opportunity to bring the sector and key stakeholders together to hear from a range of engaging speakers, to share knowledge and ideas and to look to the future of Tourism in Ireland.
Our Speakers look forward to Sharing their Knowledge and Expertise with You at this Exciting Event
Jonathan Healy
M.C.
Tourism Conference 2024
Jonathan Healy
Conference M.C.
Jonathan Healy has spent a quarter of a century working at the highest levels of Irish broadcasting, having worked extensively with Newstalk, Sky News, RTE and Cork’s RedFM. He established Healy Communications in 2017 with the express goal of helping businesses and improve their storytelling.
A graduate of law from University College Cork, Jonathan has conducted thousands of interviews with people from all walks of Irish life. A skilled inquisitor and proven cross-platform content creator, he has cultivated extensive contacts across politics, business and public relations throughout the country.
Paul Kelly
Chief Executive
Fáilte Ireland
Paul Kelly
Chief Executive, Fáilte Ireland
Paul Kelly has been the Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland since 2017. Paul has led Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, through the deepest crisis ever for our country’s tourism industry. His work now is focused on driving the sustained and sustainable recovery of the industry to ensure tourism contributes even more to the economic, social, cultural and environmental future of Ireland. This future will build on Fáilte Ireland's previous successes including the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, the Dublin brand refresh and The Gathering.
Paul’s leadership has led Fáilte Ireland to be listed in the top 20 best large organisations to work in for three consecutive years and listed in the top 5 most trusted organisations in the country. In 2020 Paul was named as Ireland's Most Trusted Leader by Great Places to Work. Before his appointment as CEO of Fáilte Ireland, Paul held several management and marketing leadership roles. Raised in a small retail family business, he began his career with Procter & Gamble UK. Paul then went on to senior executive positions with Diageo Ireland, Aviva and the UCD Smurfit Business School. Paul Kelly is a native of Co. Wexford and a Commerce graduate from University College Dublin. He is married and has four children.
Joanne Grehan
Director of Services
Mayo County Council
Joanne Grehan
Director of Services, Mayo County Council
As Chief Executive Officer of the County Enterprise Board Joanne led its transition into the Local Enterprise Office in Mayo County Council in 2014. She was appointed Director of Services in 2015.
Joanne has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors having previously worked with the Western Development Commission, Stena Line, UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business and Dublin Institute of Technology (TU Dublin).
A graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology (TU Dublin), she holds a Master’s Degree in Tourism, Management & Marketing and has studied Economic Development, Leadership & Negotiation at Hibernia College, Boston College and Harvard University. Joanne holds a number of Board positions and is a qualified Executive and Leadership Coach and a member of the Association for Coaching.
Dr. Matt Kennedy
Director
Arup
Dr Matt Kennedy
Director, Sustainable Development Leader, Arup
Dr. Matt Kennedy is a Director and Sustainable Development Leader in Arup. He has over 25 years of sustainable energy, climate resilience and innovation experience working across government, industry and academia. As Global Leader Matt directs climate strategy, manages stakeholder relations with key clients, and shapes climate offerings for cities and businesses. Matt has been the EU lead negotiator at COP21 and has delivered mitigation adaptation initiatives for the UN and World Bank in Africa, Asia and Middle East. Matt holds a PhD in Engineering from Trinity College Dublin and is a fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. Matt is Board member of Fáilte Ireland and An Post.
Conference Programme
A Time of Change
Welcome
Moira Murrell, Chair
County & City Management Association (CCMA)
Chief Executive, Kerry County Council
10:15am
Official Conference Opening
Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts
Gaeltacht, Sport & Media (DTCAGSM).
10:30am
Tourism & Change – The Department’s Perspective
Cian Ó Lionáin, Assistant Secretary
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media (DTCAGSM)
Sustainable Development of Tourism for the Future
Paul Kelly, Chief Executive Officer
Fáilte Ireland
Tourism Ireland – Marketing Plans
Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive Designate
Tourism Ireland
Tea/Coffee Break
Sustainable Tourism & Destination Development
11:30am
Destination Development Plans
Brian O'Flynn
Head of Ireland’s Ancient East
Fáilte Ireland
11:45pm
Thoroughbred Country’s Journey
Laura Magee
Chief Executive
Thoroughbred Country
12:00pm
Embedding Sustainability within our Sustainable Tourism Industry
Dr Matt Kennedy
Director
ARUP
12:15pm
Local Government’s Role in Sustainable Tourism: Opportunities & Challenges
Nigel Russell
General Manager – Consulting
Earthcheck
12:30pm
Great Western Greenway Mayo – A Sustainable Destination
Joanne Grehan
Director of Services Economic Development & Community Engagement
Mayo County Council
12:45pm
Tourism & Climate Action Measures
Jenny De Saulles
Director of Sector Development
Fáilte Ireland
1:00pm
Lunch
Innovation in Tourism
2:00pm
Driving Sustainable, Inclusive and Innovative Tourism development. Dublin as the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024
Mary Mac Sweeney Executive Manager (Director of Service) Culture, Recreation & Economic Services Department
Dublin City Council (DCC)
2:15pm
Case Study: Clare Tourism Strategy 2030
Leonard Cleary
Director of Tourism
Clare County Council
2:30pm
Development of Iconic Tourism Attraction at Sliabh Liag, County Donegal
Liam Ward
Director of Services - Community Development & Planning Services
Donegal County Council
2:45pm
Responding to COVID-19 & Maintaining Momentum
Fearghal Reidy
Director of Services - Strategic & Economic Development
Cork City Council
International Benchmarking / What Makes a Great Destination
Terry Stevens
Founder, Stevens & Associates
Panel Discussion Q&A
3:30pm
Tea/Coffee Break
Re-imagining Local Tourism – Importance of Place
3:45pm
Brigid 1500
Kildare County Council & Louth County Council
Paula O’Brien
Senior Executive Officer
Kildare County Council
Colette Moss
Senior Executive Officer
Louth County Council
4:15pm
Center Parcs Longford Story
David Robinson
Leisure Services Manager
Center Parcs Longford Forest
Connecting People Place & Opportunity
Michael Nevin
Acting Director of Services – Economic Development/Tourism
Longford County Council
4:45pm
Graiguenamanagh Camper Park and Hub
Martin O’Brien
Voluntary Chairperson of Barrow Valley Community Development
(Tourism Hub)
5:00pm
Panel Discussion
5:15pm
EU Just Transition for Tourism
09:30am
EU Just Transition
Orla Carroll
Director Product Development
Fáilte Ireland
09:45am
Strategic Alliance for Just Transition
Lisa Kealey
Recreation Manager in Land & Habitats
Bord Na Móna
10:00am
EU Just Transition and Tourism
Andrew Murray
Acting Director of Services – Planning, Economic Development, Regeneration, Tourism, Heritage
Offaly County Council
10:15am
Regenerative Tourism
Tina O’Dwyer
Managing Director
The Tourism Space
10:30am
Panel Discussion
11:00am
Tea/Coffee
Global Irish & The Power of Networks
11:15am
Global Ireland Strategy
John Concannon
Director General Global Irish Division
Department of Foreign Affairs
11:30am
Bringing the Ryder Cup 2027 to Adare, Limerick
Elaine O’Connor
Ryder Cup Co-Ordinator
Limerick City & County Council
11:45pm
Global Irish Festivals & Festival Strategy
Ciara Sugrue
Head of Festivals and Events
Fáilte Ireland
12:00pm
Halloween Festival Derry
Aeidin McCarter
Head of Culture, Derry City & Strabane District Council
Tourism Northern Ireland
12:15pm
Puca Festival Trim/Athboy
Des Foley
Director of Services – Planning & Development, Economic, Enterprise & Tourism Development
Meath County Council
12:30pm
Unlocking Belfast’s Worldclass Waterfront – A Story of Collaboration
Kerrie Sweeney
Chief Executive
Belfast Maritime Trust
12:45pm
The Shackleton Experience
Annette Aspell
Director of Services Housing and Regeneration
Kildare County Council
1:00pm
Panel Discussion
1:20pm
Conference Close
Sonya Kavanagh
Chair, CCMA BETIUER Committee
Chief Executive Kildare County Council
1:50pm
Lunch
Register Now
Registration is available for the full conference (€220), Thursday 18th April 2024 only (€150) and half-day Friday 19th April 2024 only (€70).
