Speakers

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 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.

Catherine Martin

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Originally from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, Catherine is the Green Party’s Deputy Leader and TD for the constituency of Dublin Rathdown since February 2016. After founding the Oireachtas Women's Parliamentary Caucus, she was elected as its inaugural Chair in November 2017.

A graduate from NUI Maynooth and a classical singer, Catherine taught English and Music in St Tiernan’s Community School in Dundrum, Dublin, for 16 years prior to being elected to the Dáil. She was a Councillor on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council from 2014 to 2016, and she served on the boards of the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education Training Board, Dundrum and Stillorgan Colleges of Further Education and St. Tiernan’s Community School.

She lives in Dublin with her husband and three children.

Sonya Kavanagh

Chair of the CCMA Business Committee & Chief Executive of Kildare County Council.

Sonya Kavanagh is a Kildare native with 30 years of Local Government experience. She became Chief Executive of Kildare County Council in July 2022. Sonya has previously worked in key delivery roles in Economic, Community & Cultural Development, Roads, Transportation & Public Safety, Housing and Corporate Services.

She has represented the CCMA on working groups and forums with a focus on the Leader Programme, the LECP (Local Economic and Community Plan) and the SICAP Programme. Sonya is currently the Chair of the CCMA’s Business, Enterprise, Tourism, Innovation, Urban/Town Economic Renewal Committee (BETIUER)

Alice Mansergh

Chief Executive Designate, Tourism Ireland

Alice Mansergh is Chief Executive Designate at Tourism Ireland, with leadership responsibility for marketing the island of Ireland to overseas visitors.  Collaborating with industry and government partners, Alice and the Tourism Ireland team are proud to support and grow the contribution overseas tourism makes to economies and communities across the island of Ireland.  Previously, Alice spent 19 years leading large scale commercial organisations at Google. 

As Managing Director, UK & Ireland Customer Solutions, she helped hundreds of thousands of businesses to digitise and succeed online.   During a period based in London, Alice led Google’s own consumer marketing, growing iconic brands like Google Chrome, Maps and Gmail to market leading positions.  Alice is passionate about tourism and has not let a year of her life go by without holidaying around the island of Ireland. 

From 2018 to 2023, she served on the Board of Fáilte Ireland – the Irish national tourism development authority – with oversight of investments to strengthen tourism offerings and support industry through the Covid period. She is honoured to serve as Chief Executive Designate with Tourism Ireland since September 2023.

Orla Carroll

Director of Product Development, Fáilte Ireland

Orla Carroll is Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland. She joined Fáilte Ireland in 2008 after working for over 10 years in the Telecommunications Industry.

As Director of Product Development, Orla has responsibility for leading the development and implementation of strategies which support the sustainable development of tourism to Ireland. Orla has responsibility for the development and implementation of Irelands Tourism Development Investment strategy which strives to stimulate and support innovation in the development of tourism experiences in Ireland that will deliver greater regional and seasonal spread of tourism, while maintaining the competitiveness we already have in mature destinations.

In the development of tourism visitor experiences, it is imperative that we take into full account their current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.

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.

Nigel Russell

General Manager, Earthcheck

Nigel Russell is EarthCheck’s General Manager, Consulting – he has over 25 years of experience in destination management and sustainable tourism. Prior to joining EarthCheck, Nigel held a range of senior regional tourism positions in England’s West Midlands.
Nigel has led EarthCheck’s recent work, supporting Fáilte Ireland deliver its sustainability and climate change programme.

EarthCheck is the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for sustainable travel and tourism. Since 1987, it has helped businesses, communities and governments to deliver sustainable, clean, safe and prosperous destinations for travellers to visit, live, work and play. Based in Brisbane, EarthCheck works with private and public sector clients in over 70 countries.

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.

Mary Mac Sweeney

Executive Manager Acting, Culture Recreation and Economic Services Department, Dublin City Council

Mary Mac Sweeney has worked in a variety of roles since joining Dublin City Council in 1986. In her role as Executive Manager Acting, Culture, Recreation and Economic Services (CRES) Department she works with Councillors and a dedicated team of staff to deliver positive impact for locals and visitors to Dublin. Through policy, strategy and programming we work to make Dublin an attractive place for events, cultural engagement, physical activity and social connection which enhances quality of life. Mary contributes to building a strong cultural, social and circular economic and enterprise eco system in Dublin city, in partnership with internal and external stakeholders. A strong evidence base is being developed to support and inform this work, designed to better measure impacts and progress on strategic objectives.

Mary enjoys working on innovative and collaborative projects designed to promote Dublin as a great city to live, work, study, visit and invest and supports work on the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor, the Dublin Place Brand, the Dublin Economic Monitor, the Dublin Regional Enterprise Plan and the Your Dublin Your Voice survey panel. Working with the Tourism Team Mary is looking forward to supporting an active programme of events, as part of Dublin’s successful bid to become the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024, while also delivering on the key objectives of the Tourism Strategy to 2028.

Leonard Cleary

Director of Services, Tourism Development, Clare County Council

This includes the Tourism strategic function and management of Council-owned tourism sites (Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle & Gardens, Craggaunowen Bronze Age Park, Inis Cealtra, Loop Head Lighthouse, Vandeleur Walled Gardens). He also has responsibility for Digital/Broadband and Kilrush Electoral Area, West Clare MD. Previously, he has held portfolios including Rural Development, Housing, Ennis Town Council, H.R., Community & Enterprise and Kilrush Town Council. He is a graduate of DCU, UCC, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway and the IPA.

Fearghal Reidy

Director of Strategic and Economic Development, Cork City Council

Fearghal Reidy is Director of Strategic and Economic Development with Cork City Council, where he is responsible for forward planning, heritage, climate action, economic development and tourism. Fearghal has 30 years public and private sector experience in economic development and regeneration. Fearghal has an MBS from the University of Galway and an MEconSc (Policy Analysis) from UCD.

Kerrie Sweeney

Chief Executive, Maritime Belfast Trust

Kerrie joined Maritime Belfast in March 2013 and has over 20 years’ experience working in the tourism sector including 10 years between Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, where she was a member of the team that put together the plans for the Titanic Signature Project. Kerrie’s experience is in product and destination development, capital projects and partnership initiatives.

Since joining Maritime Belfast, Kerrie has led a series of key successes: the award of a £5million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Enterprise Programme towards the former Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices, to restore them and develop the building into a four-star boutique hotel; the acquisition of Titanic’s little sister the SS Nomadic; and the relocation and restoration of the Great Light. Maritime Belfast’s current focus is the development of the Maritime Mile - an award-winning initiative that aims to connect the waterfront physically, recognising that the sum of its parts is much greater than the individual components, and influencing the development the public realm as a seamless, vibrant, connected experience.

Annette Aspell

Director of Services for Housing and Regeneration and Deputy Chief Executive, Kildare County Council

Annette Aspell is Director of Services for Housing and Regeneration and Deputy Chief Executive with Kildare County Council. All of Annette’s career in local government has been with Kildare County Council and she has been Director of Services since 2019. Prior to that she worked in senior positions in the Housing, Corporate Services and Planning Departments. Part of Annette’s brief as Director of Services is to work with the council’s Special Projects and Public Realm Team to develop and deliver transformative Public Ream/Urban Design solutions to create more vibrant town and village centres from concept right through to construction. The Shackleton Experience is one such project which will see the regeneration of a prominent building in the town centre of Athy developed as a museum celebrating the life and legacy of Ernest Shackleton.

Elaine O’Connor

Ryder Cup Coordinator, Limerick City & County Council

Elaine O’Connor was recently appointed to the role of Ryder Cup Coordinator for Limerick City & County Council with a view to Limerick embracing the opportunity that the world renowned Ryder Cup golf event offers the city, county and the region. Ryder Cup 2027 Adare, Limerick is the centenary event that will put Adare and Limerick on the map. It is the second time the event will have been held in Ireland following the K Club in Kildare in 2006.

The Coordinator role encompasses working as part of an all government collaboration with Ryder Cup Europe and the Adare Manor Hotel towards the successful execution of the event alongside ensuring positive legacy outcomes. An attendance in excess of 271,000 and a global broadcasting reach of 220 countries is anticipated.

Elaine’s career to date has spanned the public and not for profit sector in sports management, event management, change management and regeneration projects both in Ireland and the UK. Her experience includes management positions in programmes funded by Sport England (Olympic lottery funding), Sport Ireland (Local Sports Partnership), UL Sport and Limerick National City of Culture 2014 amongst others.

Elaine holds a BA degree from UCD and a MSc degree in Leisure Management from Loughborough University in the UK.

Brian O’Flynn

Head of Ireland’s Ancient East, Fáilte Ireland

Brian O’Flynn has been the Head of Ireland’s Ancient East at Fáilte Ireland since March 2020. He has spent much of his career working overseas, primarily in North America and Australia in commercial and business development roles. Prior to joining Fáilte Ireland, Brian was based in Melbourne where worked with The Belgravia Group in a business development capacity across its leisure and tourism portfolio. He also has extensive FMCG experience having worked in a variety of international roles with Ornua. Brian is a graduate of University College Cork.

Aeidin McCarter

Head of Culture, Derry City & Strabane District Council

Aeidin McCarter is Head of Culture at Derry City and Strabane District Council with responsibility for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Festival & Events, Museum and Visitor Services and Marketing. She has led on the development of the Tourism and Arts and Culture strategies for the City and District and delivers an extensive programme of Festival and Events and Cultural Programming throughout the City and District.

Aeidin returned to Ireland in 2007 after several years in international investment in Britain and Hong Kong to lead a project at Donegal County Council engaging with the region’s Diaspora and has since been involved in numerous cross border and transnational European projects in economic development, tourism, arts and culture.

Des Foley

Director of Services – Planning, Economic, Enterprise, Tourism Development & European Affairs, Meath County Council

Des Foley currently holds the position of Director for Planning, Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development, and European Affairs at Meath County Council.

As part of the Tourism brief, Des has been involved in the delivery of several key tourism projects, including the proposed Boyne Greenway and Navigation Restoration, the Trim Destination Town Project, the newly opened Swift Cultural Centre in Trim and the Púca Festival.

Des works in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the hospitality and tourism sector on the implementation of the Meath and Louth Destination Experience Development Plan and has sat on a number of CCMA Committees at national level including the Business, Enterprise, Tourism, Innovation, Urban/Town Economic Renewal Committee.

Des has also served as deputy Chief Executive of Meath County Council at regular intervals.

Martin O’Brien

Voluntary Chairperson of Barrow Valley Community Development ( Tourism Hub). Company Director in Day job.

Martin O'Brien is the Voluntary Chairperson of Barrow Valley Community Development ( Tourism Hub). Company Director in Day job. My main goals are to help improve our local economy by using Tourism ( Domestic and foreign).

I am proud to have help establish various community projects, ie, Graiguenamanagh Rowing Club / Town Of Books festival/ Waterways College/ Tourism Hub.

Personal fact: I love the waterways.

Laura Magee

Chief Executive Officer, Thoroughbred Country

I am extremely lucky and grateful to work in an industry that excites me. The Thoroughbred industry in Ireland is something to be very proud of, which I am. I began in more practical, hands on roles with some of the leading Stud Farms in the country and spent a wonderful 7 years as Sales & Hospitality Manager at Punchestown Racecourse. I have been heading up Thoroughbred Country since its inception in July 2021 and am excited to share our five-year plan progress with you today.

Terry Stevens

Founder Stevens & Associates

Terry Stevens is the Founder of the multi-award winning Tourism Consultancy - Stevens and Associates. He has worked on all aspects of Tourism Development in 55 countries including extensive work in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Liam Ward

Acting Director of Services for Planning, Heritage, Economic Development, Tourism, Just Transition and Edenderry Municipal District in Offaly County Council

Andrew is currently Acting Director of Services for Planning, Heritage, Economic Development, Tourism, Just Transition and Edenderry Municipal District in Offaly County Council. He was the Senior Planner for the council since 2009 and a Senior Executive Planner since 2003. He has also worked in Laois and Wicklow County Councils.

In recent years, Andrew has worked with various sections of the council, communities and semi-state companies to plan, seek funding for and deliver a number of greenways and other amenity projects including the Grand Canal Greenway, Lough Boora Discovery Park & Derryounce Lakes and Trails, in addition leading the Councils current applications to the Just Transition Fund.

Liam Ward

Director of Community Development & Planning Services, Donegal County Council

Liam Ward is Director of Community Development & Planning Services with Donegal County Council. Liam is also the designated Director of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, one of five Municipal Districts in Donegal. Liam has over 39 years of Public Service, and previously served as Director of Housing and Corporate Services, including Human Resources from 2010 before taking up his current role in 2017.

Liam serves on many committees at local, regional and national level, including the Housing Building & Land Use Committee under the CCMA structures. Liam is currently Vice-Chairperson of the Children & Young People’s Services Committee in Donegal, and also serves the Local Community & Development Committee, and the Age Friendly Alliance in Donegal.

In his current role, Liam leads the teams tasked with the Regeneration and Development of the Town & Villages throughout the County, through the opportunities arising in the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan – Ireland 2040. The role also includes the development of the Tourism Product in Donegal, working closely with Fáilte Ireland.

Jenny De Saulles

Director of Sector Development, Fáilte Ireland

Jenny De Saulles is Director of Sector Development of Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority. Fáilte Ireland’s strategic objective is to secure the economic well being of the tourism sector through the development of an innovative, sustainable and resilient industry.

The focus of the Sector Development directorate is to support the tourism sector through a range of national initiatives informed by economic and industry analysis. These include the development and implementation of programmes around climate action, labour supply and skills, business competitiveness and financial resilience, accommodation development and quality assurance.

Previously Head of Ireland’s Ancient East, Jenny has worked with Fáilte Ireland for over 15 years in both national and regional roles working on Destination, Product, Industry and Commercial Development. Jenny has extensive FMCG experience, previously working with Nestlé across the globe in a variety of commercial roles as well as in private consultancy.

Colette Moss

Senior Executive Officer, Louth County Council

Colette Moss is a Senior Executive Officer with Louth County Council with 40 years’ experience across multiple disciplines and with current responsibility for the Economic Development & Tourism Department.

Colette has worked on a number of projects in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland & other State Agencies including Destination Towns, Night Time Economy, Carlingford Vision 31, Shared Island Development Fund, Urban Animation and has most recently overseen & delivered the Lú Festival of Light Drogheda and the Brigid 1500: Louth Birthplace of Brigid Festival.

David Robinson

Leisure Services Manager Center Parcs Longford Forest

David Robinson is part of the senior leadership team at Center Parcs Longford Forest holding the position of Leisure Services Manager.

He rejoined Center Parcs in August 2017 as Duty Village Manager at Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. He was then appointed to the role of Deputy Leisure Services Manager taking the opportunity in 2019 to support the Leisure team with the opening of the Center Parcs Longford Forest in Ireland. In 2020 he joined Center Parcs Ireland permanently as Leisure Services Manager and relocated to Ireland in 2020. David is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the Leisure Division at Center Parcs in Ireland; this includes The Subtropical Swimming Paradise, Irelands Largest Waterpark, Aqua Sana Spa, Irelands Award Winning, Largest Stand Alone Spa as well as all 100 Indoor and Outdoor Activities. David drives operational excellence across his area of responsibility as well as the wider village and is an advocate for people development within the business.

Cian Ó Lionáin

Assistant Secretary General for Tourism and Sport

Cian Ó Lionáin is the Assistant Secretary General for Tourism and Sport with responsibility for tourism policy, marketing, industry and product development and sports policy, capital investment, and major sporting events.

Paula O’Brien

Senior Executive Officer, Kildare County Council

Paula O’Brien is a Senior Executive Officer in Kildare County Council within the Community Department. Paula is spearheading the Brigid1500 programme in Kildare. Paula is a board member of Into Kildare (Kildare Tourism) and is involved in several tourism initiatives in the county including the Shackleton Experience and the roll out of the Just Transition Tourism initiative.

Tina O’Dwyer

Managing Director/Founder, The Tourism Space

Tina O’Dwyer has been at the forefront of sustainable and regenerative approaches to tourism development in Ireland for more than a decade. Her award-winning work with the Burren Ecotourism Network and the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark 2011-2018, saw her emerge as a pragmatic and motivational change-maker in the field. She went on to set up The Tourism Space, a platform for inspiring leadership and change in tourism. The business partners with public sector agencies, industry governing bodies and other development groups in Ireland and the UK, creating bespoke solutions that are regenerative, collaborative and place-centred.

John Concannon

Director General of “Global Ireland Strategy", Department of Foreign Affairs

John is the Director General of “Global Ireland” strategy in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Global Ireland Strategy is an initiative designed to double Ireland’s international footprint by 2025. This role includes responsibility for the coordination of the Global Ireland policy, Cultural Diplomacy, Public & Digital Diplomacy, and the Communications function for Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs.

John has held numerous leadership roles across both public and private sectors, including with Unilever PLC, Dubarry, Fáilte Ireland, the Taoiseach’s Office, the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and has served as Vice President of the University of Galway.

Ciara Sugrue

Head of Festivals and Events, Fáilte Ireland

Ciara has worked in tourism for over 25 years in the areas of marketing, development, international publicity and event management. She is Head of Festivals and Events at Fáilte Ireland leading the investment, creation and development of festivals to deliver compelling visitor experiences that support strategic tourism objectives focussing on regionality and seasonality.

Previously, Ciara served as Head of Marketing & Development for Dublin Tourism for 15 years travelling extensively internationally before joining Fáilte Ireland as Head of International Trade and Publicity. She has held several directorships including St Patrick’s Festival Dublin and is a member of the International Festival and Events Association.

Michael Nevin

Acting Director of Services Economic Development & Tourism, Longford County Council

Michael Nevin has worked in Local Enterprise Development for 28 years. He joined Longford County Enterprise Board in 1996 and took over as Chief Executive in 1999. Since the integration of the Enterprise Board function into the Local Government Sector in 2014 he has worked as Head of Enterprise with Longford County Council. He has additional responsibilities in the areas of Tourism , Economic Development and the Ukrainian Crisis Humanitarian Response. Michael is vice chair of the County Longford Tourism Committee and led the development of the Tourism Strategy for County Longford 2023-2027.

Lisa Kealey

Recreation Manager - Bord na Móna

Lisa Kealey is Recreation Manager at Bord na Móna, with specific responsibility for the planning, co-ordinating and overall delivery of trails projects on the Bord na Móna landbank. Lisa has over 25 years’ experience in the development and delivery of projects, with extensive knowledge of construction in peatlands and Bord na Móna’s estate. She is a chartered member of Engineers Ireland and holds an honours degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering.