Micheál Martin TD, An Taoiseach

Micheál Martin was born in Turners Cross, Cork. He attended University College Cork where he qualified with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
He became Taoiseach on 27 June 2020.
Previously, he has served as Lord Mayor of Cork in 1992-93, and on the Fianna Fáil front bench and in four cabinet posts:
• Minister for Foreign Affairs (2008-2011)
• Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (2004-2008)
• Minister for Health (2000-04)
• Minister for Education (1997-2000)

Dave Walsh, Chairperson, An Bord Pleanála

Dave was appointed in October 2018, having previously served as Assistant Secretary in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in a civil service career spanning 23 years in the Custom House. As Assistant Secretary over the Planning and Housing Policy Division, Dave had primary responsibility for planning policy (including development and delivery of the National Planning Framework) and housing market and rental policy, with a key focus on coordinated implementation of the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

Prior to this, Dave headed up the Department’s Environment and Climate Division, leading the negotiations for Ireland and the EU on climate change during Ireland’s 2013 EU Presidency and has also previously worked on national waste policy, environmental legislation and compliance with EU environmental law, spatial planning policy, franchise, and local government.

P J Rudden, Managing Director, Aengus Consulting Ltd and Chair, Innovation and Digital Adoption, Construction Sector Group (CSG), Dept. of Public Expenditure & Reform

PJ is also a member of the Institute of Directors. He is also a former UCD Lecturer, a former President of Engineers Ireland (2011 – 2012) representing some 26,000 members and former President of UCD Engineering Graduates Association (2012 – 2016) with some 10,000 members globally. PJ was elected a member of the Engineering and Computer Science Committee of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and is the current RIA Chair of the Climate Action Conference Working Group. Up to July 2019, he was a Director of RPS Group Ltd from 2002 to 2019 in various roles including Director Strategy/Business Development/Marketing and Director Waste, Energy and Environment and prior to that he was Director of MCOS Consulting Engineers from 1999 until acquired by RPS in 2002. From 2014 to 2019, PJ was Chairman of the RPS Gas and Utilities Group across the UK and Ireland. He has lectured widely in several policy and infrastructure sectors in Ireland, UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. He holds many national and international awards for planning and development of infrastructure, innovation and media communications. He has been interviewed extensively by national radio and TV including Morning Ireland and Prime Time over the past 20 years. PJ has also chaired several national bodies including Engineers Ireland.

Deborah Smyth, Country Partner, Tempohousing UK & Ireland

Deborah has been in the land and property business for over 15 years with extensive experience in real estate development in the UK and Ireland.
She owns Tempohousing UK & Ireland partnering with Tempohousing Netherlands who specialise in social value modular schemes globally.
Deborah has risen to the challenge of providing modular homes that deliver on comfort, space, cost and quality, and net zero carbon emissions in use. She has embraced digital technology that allows for accountability and quality control that manufacturing provides, to build defect-free homes that will complement the housing stock.
Tempohousing’s latest scheme in Ireland will set new levels of environmental excellence.

Dean Kimpton, Transformation Director, Construction Sector Accord, New Zealand

Dean leads the Transformation Delivery Group (TDG) in New Zeland’s Construction Sector Accord – a joint commitment from government and industry to work together to create a high performing construction sector for a better New Zealand. He is responsible for leading the design and delivery of the initiatives in New Zealands Construction Sector Transformation Plan. The Group brings together leaders with specific sector expertise in each workstream. Dean has served as the COO for Auckland Council and the President of Engineering New Zealand. Finishing both roles in May 2019 he founded the wonderfully named Tūhura (te reo ) for “investigate, discover, explore”) Consulting.
Prior to his time at Auckland Council, Dean was managing director of AECOM NZ.
He has also held numerous governance roles including chair of QuakeCoRE, board member of Infrastructure New Zealand and member of MBIE’s Building Advisory Panel.
Dean is rich in governance experience, organisational understanding, industry knowledge and leadership experience and through Tūhura, provides advice to infrastructure and utility owners and operators, and the construction sector in NZ.

John O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer, the Housing Agency and Chair designate, Commission on Housing

John O’Connor is the Chief Executive Officer of the Housing Agency. The agency supports and provides services to, among others, local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in the delivery of housing and housing services; in addition to a range of other services.
John was recently appointed by Minister Darragh O’Brien as the Chair designate for the Commission on Housing.
John was previously CEO of the Affordable Homes Partnership and Executive Manager in the Housing and Communities Department of Dublin City Council.
John is a structural engineer with a wide range of experience in both the public and private sectors. He has extensive experience in the development, provision and direct delivery of housing, particularly in the areas of social housing, affordable housing and regeneration projects.

Phil Kane, Country Manager for Eaton in Ireland

Eaton is a diversified power management company operating for over 100 years. The company operates through various segments, including electrical products, electrical systems and services, aerospace, vehicle, and most recently, e-mobility.

In this role, Phil is responsible for implementing Eaton’s commercial strategy and managing relationships with Eaton’s key customers and distribution channels in the region. She has over 11 years’ experience in business-to-business sales and project management and has comprehensive knowledge of technology solutions having specialised in this area since 2008.

Phil was previously country manager for Cooper Industries plc and director of Cooper Industries Trading ltd. Eaton acquired Cooper Industries in 2012. Prior to this, Phil worked for Ingram Micro, provider of technology and supply chain services, for 12 years.

Ivan Yates, former broadcaster, entrepreneur and government minister

Ivan has had unique life experience in politics, business and media. A former government minister and Wexford TD for more than 20 years; an entrepreneur who founded and developed Celtic Bookmakers to employ 400 people, with €200 million turnover.
He bounced back from bankruptcy in Wales in 2012 to become a highly successful national broadcaster presenting The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk and co-presenting The Tonight Show with Matt Cooper on Virgin Media1.
In 2014 he published his best-selling autobiography,Full On  with acclaimed reviews.

His original forthright style of entertaining punditry and analysis on the full range of current affairs and sport has made him a much sought after motivational public speaker at corporate and formal events. He also acts as a versatile conference facilitator/moderator, MC with a flair for asking the questions that need answering.

Paul Nicholls, Director, Jones Engineering

Paul joined Jones Engineering as a Project Engineer in 2000 and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2020. He holds a Building Services degree, together with a diploma in Project Management and is a member of CIBSE and Engineers Ireland.

Paul has delivered some of the most advanced and complex projects in the company’s history, particularly in the building services and healthcare sectors including St Vincent’s Private Hospital and Microsoft’s EMEA campus in Dublin, One Microsoft Place. Paul is responsible for the delivery of Mission Critical Colo Data Centres in Ireland, UK and Europe along with the Building Services and Maintenance Divisions.

Marie Hunt, Executive Director and Head of Research, CBRE Ireland

25 years ago, Marie established the research department at CBRE Ireland, which is now regarded as one of the most authoritative sources of property information in the Irish market. A regular commentator in the Irish media on property matters, Marie produces a range of publications on all sectors of the market and carries out specialist consultancy work on behalf of a broad range of institutional, private and public sector clients of CBRE’s Irish business, helping occupiers, developers and investors make location and investment decisions.

Marie is an Executive Director of CBRE in Ireland and a member of CBRE Ireland’s Executive Committee. Qualified as a Chartered Surveyor, she is a Fellow of the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland. In 2018, she was awarded Businesswoman of the Year by Image Magazine in Ireland.

Martin Searson, CEO, Quality Positive Ltd

Martin’s company specialises in providing support services and technical advice to the engineering and construction sector in the areas of operational excellence, sustainable construction, modularisation and process automation. He has over 20 years’ M&E industry knowledge, with a qualification and background in the biopharma industry. Previously Martin was Group M&E Quality & Lean Manager for a large M&E engineering and civil construction firm for 8 years. He has extensive quality management experience following work on key projects across a range of sectors including Semiconductor, Data Centres, Biopharmaceutical, Windfarms, Substations up to 400kV, Industrial Manufacturing, Commercial fit-outs and Residential projects, across Ireland, UK and Mainland Europe. He has won six National Quality Awards and a Lean Business Ireland Award in 2019, for his approach and implementation of quality management and lean principles across a company, operating in Ireland, UK & Europe. Martin currently holds a Masters in Quantity Surveying and an Honours Degree in Applied Science from Trinity College Dublin.

Michael O’Flynn, Chairman and CEO, O’Flynn Group

O’Flynn Group was established in 1978 as a house building company and which progressed into one of the largest property development companies in Ireland. The group has extensive investment, development and asset management capability in the core property sectors (especially residential, offices, industrial and retail). The Group has an established and strong reputation overseas particularly in the UK but also across Europe. It also has expertise in property backed operating businesses such as student accommodation and senior living.

Michael is a leading figure in the Irish and UK property sectors and is widely recognised for his experience and expertise. His insights on the Irish property market and construction sector are often sought by print and broadcast media. Michael is actively involved in representing the policy objectives of the property sector in Ireland. He is a founding member of Property Industry Ireland and is a former Chairman of the Cork branch of the Construction Industry Federation.

Tom Parlon, Director General, Construction Industry Federation

Before joining the CIF, Tom served as a TD for Laois – Offaly and as Minister for State at the Department of Finance from 2002 until 2007. As Minister he was responsible for the Office for Public Works (OPW).

From 1997 to 2001, Tom was President of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), having previously held several other positions with the association.

Simon is a native of County Wicklow and has been involved in the community all his life.
Simon first became involved in politics through his work as a disability advocate. Before entering politics, Simon established the Wicklow Triple A Alliance, a charity to support children and families affected by Autism. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2011 General Election and was the youngest member of the 31st Dáil. During that Dáil term, Simon served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee, Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Secretary of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party and Co-Convenor of the Oireachtas Cross Party Group on Mental Health, before being appointed in July 2014 as Minister of State in the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of the Taoiseach with Special Responsibility for OPW, Public Procurement and International Banking (including IFSC).
Simon was re-elected as TD for Wicklow and East Carlow in the February 2016 General Election and subsequently appointed Minister for Health.

Greystar is a global vertically integrated residential platform specialising in private rented residential accommodation.
Prior to joining Greystar in 2019, Claire was Head of Property at Aviva Ireland where she managed property funds of over €600m in Ireland and the UK.
She was previously Head of Estates Management at ESB Ireland, which is the largest landowner in the country, and prior to that was Development Director in Bennett Construction.
Claire is an active Fellow of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and was the youngest person to be elected to the role of President in 2016. She is currently Chair of the Practice and Policy Committee within SCSI and a Fellow of RICS. Previously she has lectured extensively in valuations and feasibility analysis in Technological University Dublin degree and master’s courses.
Claire serves as a non-executive board member of state-owned Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) and also on the board of Clúid, a not-for-profit housing charity providing homes for those in need.

Willie White, Managing Director, Walls Developments

Willie is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Fellow of the Society of Chartered Surveyors. During his extensive career with Walls he has led commercial teams in the roles of Managing QS, Chief Surveyor and Commercial Director, prior to his appointment as Managing Director of Walls Developments in 2006. From 2012 onwards Willie’s focus has been on the construction company and he was a driving force behind the successful investor backed management buy-out in 2015. Since then his exceptional insight and commercial know-how have contributed to the sustained and progressive growth of the business.

Stephen Garvey, Co-Founder, CEO & Executive Director of Glenveagh Properties PLC

Stephen Garvey has over 20 years’ experience in the construction and property industry in Ireland. Under his guidance, Glenveagh has scaled its operations to deliver more than 2,000 homes in Ireland since an IPO in 2017 and the business is on track to reach it’s target of 3,000 homes per year by 2024. Prior to founding Glenveagh, Stephen founded Bridgedale, which built residential developments in the GDA from 2003 and managed Oaktree’s residential projects in Ireland. His substantial experience also includes working with many of the large Irish property developers, including Menolly Homes, Schelester Properties, Glenman Corporation and McCabe Builders.

Ewelina Wozniak-Szpakiewicz, CEO, DMDmodular, Speaker, Educator & Academic, Vice-Chair, European Modular Building Council

DMDmodular, an award winning company that offers unique volumetric modular solutions with a focus on the housing, student living and hospitality industries and has completed various projects in the USA, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland and Poland.

With over 12 years of international experience in offsite and volumetric modular systems, Ewelina is involved in a wide variety of modular projects from inception to completion in multiple markets, DF&A, delivery methods are combined with cost efficiencies and sustainable designs to produce superior results.

Ewelina is a member of the US based Modular Building Institute and the Co-Chairman of the European Chapter of this institution. She was awarded “Person of the Year 2019” in the Technology Company category by 4Buildings Awards and became a finalist of the Top Woman in Real Estates 2021 in the Technology and Innovation category.

Shauna Dunlop, Director of Research, Data and Strategic Engagement, SOLAS

In this role Shauna has strategic responsibility for implementation of the national 5 year Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020 – 2024. She leads the national Skills and Labour Market and Research unit, which develops and authors national labour market and information bulletins, skills forecasts and publications. Shauna also heads up the Data Analytics unit in SOLAS. Shauna was previously the Director of Apprenticeship and Work Based Learning in SOLAS with responsibility for the national craft apprenticeships, as well as supporting the development of new apprenticeship programmes and traineeships across the Country. Previously she has led in areas across the UK in skills, apprenticeship, further education, community development, information rights and the General Data Protection Regulation. mShe has significant strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement experience and expertise as well as a track record of successfully developing and implementing sector strategies to drive and influence positive change across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK.Shauna is a graduate of Queens University Belfast, is a Chartered Marketer and is a qualified coach.

Since her stewardship at DMDmodular, the company has gained many industry accolades, including “Top Builder Awards 2021”, “Property Award 2019” , and first place prize in the MBI Award of Distinction competition in Las Vegas. Additionally in 2021 DMDmodular has been selected for the European R&D grant ‘Energy and Process Efficient Modular Buildings’, in the area of ​​Modular Social Housing which seeks to bring innovative solutions to the housing market.

Stephen Creaner, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland

Stephen joined Enterprise Ireland as Executive Director in September 2018 and leads a new directorate incorporating the Food, Industrial, Life Sciences, Consumer, Research, Innovation and Operational Excellence Divisions.

Prior to joining Enterprise Ireland, he held a wide range of leadership roles across the multinational and SME sectors including the pharmaceutical, semi-conductor, life sciences, construction and facilities services industries. His most recent role was as COO with Grosvenor Services Ltd, preceded by positions as General Manager and Senior Director of Operations with Waters Technologies (Ire) Ltd and EMEA Director of Corporate Services with Intel Ireland.

Stephen is a graduate of University College Dublin with a BEng in Chemical Engineering.

Michael McGrath, TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Michael is currently a TD for Cork South Central.

Michael grew up in the harbour town of Passage West in County Cork. Before entering national politics, Michael served in local government as a member of Passage West Town Council and Cork County Council (Carrigaline electoral area). He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the first attempt in 2007 and has been re-elected in everyelection since (2011, 2016 and 2020).

Michael secured a first-class honours Commerce degree in UCC and went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in Cork City.

Before going into politics full time, Michael held senior positions in both the private sector (Financial Controller, RedFM) and public sector (Head of MIS, UCC).

He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has served on that body’s Audit, Risk and Finance Committee. Michael has also undertaken studies with the London School of Economics and Political Science.

In his time in the Dáil, Michael has served on a number of Oireachtascommittees including the Finance Committee, the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry, the European Affairs Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.

As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael is responsible for delivering well-managed and well-targeted public spending, through modernised, effective and accountable public services. The department oversees the implementation of the National Development Plan, drives the programme of public service reform, and has a key role in decisions made across government.

Chris Collins, Country President Ireland, Schneider Electric

Chris leads Schneider Electric’s business in Ireland. He plays a vital role in directing the next phase of growth and strategy in the country.

Chris began his career working in engineering and operations roles with field services teams in Siemens and TFC Automation. He joined Schneider Electric as a Business Development Manager in 2003 and was responsible for building automation and security products in the North-East region of the US. Over the past 17 years, he has held several roles, including senior board-level positions at Schneider Electric. Chris is a seasoned business leader, having overseen Schneider’s smart buildings business, covering both the commercial and residential sectors in the US. Prior to taking on his current role in April 2021, he was Vice President of Systems Transformation, Digital Energy in the US.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Management Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and an MBA, Business Administration, Management and Operations from Loyola University Maryland. Chris is a Director of the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce Council and sits on the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland Infrastructure Taskforce.

John Downey BA, MRUP, MBA,Dip.Law (kings Inns) MRTPI MIPI, Director, Downey Planning

John Downey is the COO of Downey, a leading, multi-disciplinary practice of Chartered Town Planners; RIAI Architects, Landscape Architects; Urban Designers; and, Project Managers. Downey’s in effect provide all services under one roof making itself unique in the current market with its procurement and delivery of planning applications under both S.34 and under SHD. They are currently working on several thousand units in the system from Stage 1 to on-site delivery throughout the country.

John himself is a chartered town planner with over 24 years’ experience in planning & development within both the private and public sectors having worked previously inFingal County Council as a Senior Executive Planner. In academia, he was a lecturer in the School of Planning in DIT (2010-2012) to both undergraduate and masters level.

John is a specialist in planning and overall development procedures, inter alia, the procurement of all planning applications through the various planning processes including EIARs, SIDs, SHDs (Strategic Housing Development), oral hearings, and public consultations.

Moreover he has been heavily involved within key advisory roles including the first research papers on planning changes for the Oireachtas (Issue and context – government reform of planning legislation, 2014); The Department of Finance (2015); and was part of the Advisory Group for the new National Planning Framework (2016) and the new Guidelines for Apartments (2018).

He is currently the RTPI (Ireland) Representative on the ECTP-CEU (European Council of Spatial Planners) and was a former Chair of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Ireland and a General Assembly Board member in London serving on several elite committees including the International Committee and the Policy & Research Committee. John has also served on the advisory boards of both UCD School of Planning and also the School of Architecture. Finally, he has being awarded the Irish President’s Award for planning research (2011, DHP) and also received an award from the Irish Planning Institute for the work he did with Fingal County Council in Lesotho in 2015.

Shashwat Khare, Head of Digital Consulting and BIM Software, Schneider Electric UK & Ireland

With 17 years’ experience in the energy management and industrial automation domain, Shashwat has worked in multiple geographies and a wide range of functions. His focus is the use of latest technology for improving the efficiency and sustainability across the projects life cycle from Design & Build to Operation & Maintenance. At Schneider Electric, we believe that Building Information Management will shape the future of the construction industry. During his session, Shashwat will cover the some of the innovations around BIM tools that would be essential for the digital transformation of the construction sector.

David Purdon, Technical Director at The Diatec Group

David has been providing training and consultancy services for Design and 3D software since 1994. 
He transitioned to the Autodesk Channel in 2000 as a Technical Specialist while expanding into IT, Cloud and Virtualisation.
David is a qualified & accredited Autodesk technical specialist for Revit, 3DS Max, Autodesk Cloud/BIM 360 platform and is certified in BIM through RICS. 
Now as Technical Director at The Diatec Group, David’s primary focus is helping clients across the AEC sector with their technology implementation to enable BIM & Digital Project Delivery Requirements.

Aled Williams, Executive Director, Research, Innovation and Partnerships, University College of Estate Management (UCEM) / Construction Industry Council (CIC) Champion, Education, UK

Aled’s role focuses on developing UCEM research capacity, output and excellence, as well as commitment to working through partnerships, aligning and coordinating education for sustainability across the institution. He is developing deeper and more substantial partnerships to have a wider impact on education, industry and society. External roles include: CIC Champion, Education and Co-ordinator, CIC Climate Change Action Plan (Education & Qualification Workstream); Chair, Council of the Heads of Built Environment (CHOBE); Member of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), People & Skills Network which has led to him Chairing the CLC Education Sprint Group; Member of the Construction Skills Delivery Group which contributes to the UK Government’s ‘Project Speed’ initiative.

Aebhric Mc Gibney, Director of Public and International Affairs, Dublin Chamber

Aebhric’s career is devoted to working as an economist and professional advocate for business. He has served on many Government taskforces and advisory bodies and appeared in the media. He is a board member of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and was previously on the board of CIE.
Previously, Aebhric has worked as a lecturer, economic consultant and as Senior Economist with IBEC. He is a Chartered Director (C.Dir), holds a M. Litt. (Economics) from TCD and was awarded the Dean’s List Award from UCD for his first-class honours MBA.  He is a graduate of Belvedere College. He attempts to go to the gym, and is an avid fan of movies, music, graphic novels and science fiction!

Stephen Prendiville, Head of Sustainability, EY Ireland 

Stephen leads EY Ireland’s sustainability business, driving forward both EY Ireland’s own carbon negative and net zero strategy internally, while also ensuring our clients gain the maximum value from EY’s expertise in sustainability and related services. Originally from Limerick, Stephen moved to Canada in 2011 where he worked with large cities (including Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and Ottawa) to deliver sustainable mobility solutions as well as climate resilience advisory services. Passionate about the provision of higher order electrified public transport and compact urban design, and its role in tackling poverty and homelessness, Stephen has dedicated his professional career to network system thinking – considering the implications of multiple trends and disruptions for planning and strategy development for clients. Notably, he has also undertaken significant infrastructure development and related policy development initiatives for the advance of the circular economy. Stephen returned to Ireland in the summer of 2020 to lead EY Ireland’s ambitious climate action agenda and the growth of its sustainability services for EY’s clients.

David Bennett , UK & Ireland Regional Director ,Topcon Europe Positioning

David Bennett is Topcon Positioning’s UK & Ireland Regional Director, overseeing Great Britain and Ireland’s Geopositioning, Construction and Agriculture divisions. He has over 20 years’ experience in the construction and surveying field, including his prior role as Key Accounts and Marketing Director for Trimble’s largest UK and Ireland distributor.

Dave is all too familiar with the challenges that the industry faces with digital adoption, and he is particularly passionate about opening up routes into the industry and supporting young people as they begin careers within the built environment. He joined Topcon eight years ago as the Business Manager for Topcon Positioning GB with responsibility for expanding the business and increasing Topcon’s market share in Great Britain. Following successful business growth, Dave was promoted to the role of Managing Director. During his time at Topcon, he has helped develop a strong team who have raised the profile of Topcon in Great Britain and Ireland.

Dave studied Agriculture with Honours in Crop Science, which led to starting his career in Agribusiness. Dave then pursued a career in marketing which led to over 15 years in senior roles for companies as diverse as Mamas & Papas and Kawneer before joining Topcon.

Dominic Doheny, Joint Managing Director, John Flanagan Developments Ltd. & past President, Construction Industry Federation

Dominic joined JFD in 1978 and was appointed to his current role in 1990. His primary responsibilities, together with John Flanagan, are to develop, plan and deliver future projects and to track trends and identify new development opportunities. He holds a bachelor of Science (Surveying) Degree, Trinity College Dublin and a Diploma in Construction Economics, College of Technology Bolton Street. He is a past President of Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and Chairman National Construction Industry Council, Board Member Offaly County Development Board, Executive Member Tullamore Chamber of Commerce and Executive Board Member of Midlands Gateway Chamber, CIF representative on the planning & economic Development committee Offaly county council. Offaly County Council Local Community Development Committee board member. He is former Midlands Chairman Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and former President Midlands Gateway Chamber.

Niall Gleeson, Managing Director, Irish Water

Niall has been Managing Director of Irish Water since August 2019. He joined the company from Shanahan Engineering where he held the role of Senior Director based in Hong Kong. Prior to this, Niall was Managing Director of Veolia Ireland, which built and currently operates 30 water and wastewater treatment plants on behalf of Irish Water and other clients. Previous to that, he was Managing Director of Alstom Ltd where he was responsible for maintenance on the Dublin Luas light rail system. Niall holds a degree in engineering from DIT Bolton St, Dublin

Andrew Brownlee, CEO, SOLAS

Andrew Brownlee was appointed SOLAS CEO in August 2019 following an open competition. Andrew was Executive Director for Strategy and Knowledge at SOLAS since January 2018, where he played a key role in putting in place a strategic performance framework for the further education and training (FET) system, in implementing reforms to support a more integrated system and in developing an ambitious, new five year strategy for the further education and training sector. Andrew joined SOLAS from the Higher Education Authority. Prior to joining the public sector, Andrew had a long and distinguished career in management consultancy.

John G. Murphy, Managing Director, and President, Civil Engineering Contractors Association(CECA)

John G. Murphy has been Managing Director of Murphy Ireland since 2016. A civil engineer by profession – John is the current President of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) – and worked with a number of contractors before joining the Murphy Group. His previous roles include Operations Director and supervisory board member on the €1bn Optimise Amp5 contract for Thames Water.

Murphy Ireland is a leading multi-disciplinary Engineering and Construction company that directly employs over 530 Engineers, Designers, Technicians, Managers, and Operatives. An integral part of the wider Murphy Group, Murphy’s Irish operations have been headquartered in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1968.

Over fifty years on, Murphy Ireland has built a reputation for quality and excellence, offering industry-leading services in civil engineering, transport infrastructure, piling, tunnelling, structural steel, pipe fabrication and weld testing services, as well as fully integrated turnkey solutions to both the municipal and industrial water sectors, encompassing all aspects of design, construction and operation and maintenance.