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Steering Group and Speakers

 

ECONOMIC FORUM STEERING GROUP

Professor Sir Ian Greer KB

Co-Chair

Professor Sir Ian Greer KB

Co-Chair

Professor Sir Ian Greer has been President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast since August 2018. He has extensive experience of university innovation driving regional economic growth, including cross-sector developments such as the Northern Health Science Alliance, a collaboration of eight Universities and NHS partners, and is the cofounder of the Health Innovation Research Alliance for NI.

He is a strong advocate for University social responsibility, including widening participation. He leads the innovation pillar of the Belfast Region City Deal, driving innovation in key sectors for the local economy - creative industries, health innovation, data science & analytics, and advanced manufacturing. He is the past president of Universities Ireland, promoting collaboration across the island, and a member of the Research England Council and the British Council’s Education Advisory Group (EAG).

By way of background, he is a medical graduate of the University of Glasgow, with his research and clinical career in obstetrics and gynaecology. He has held senior leadership positions in several UK Universities, and was Vice President of the University of Manchester, immediately before moving to Queen’s.

Dermot Desmond

Co-Chair

Dermot Desmond

Co-Chair

Dermot Desmond was born in Cork in 1950 but has lived most of his life in Dublin. Dermot is the Chairman of IIU which he founded in 1994.

In his early career, Dermot worked for Citibank and the Investment Bank of Ireland. He then worked for the World Bank in Afghanistan on a United Nations Development Program. In 1981 he returned to Ireland and founded National & City Brokers (NCB). He sold NCB in 1994 and founded IIU, which operates today from the Financial Services Centre in Dublin. IIU holds a substantial number of investments in a variety of industries worldwide. 

In addition to his business ventures, he has collaborated with Universities, across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, supporting a range of initiatives. Notably he established a fellowship in memory of the late Patrick G. Johnston, former Vice Chancellor of Queen’s University.  

In 2018 he founded Uversity, a scholarship program designed to support adult learners, across the island of Ireland, providing them with the opportunity to pursue university degrees and transform their lives.

He has also contributed to educational development programs at several institutions : University College Dublin (Stepping Up To The Future Campaign), Trinity College Dublin (School of Business & TAP Program), DCU (Annual Teacher’s Inspire Awards + a Chair in Early Childhood Education), UCC (Lord David Puttnam Lecture Series) and the National College of Ireland (Early Learning Initiative). 

Dermot Desmond was honoured for services to business and commerce at Queen's in 2014.

Dr Ryan Feeney

Steering Group Member

Dr Ryan Feeney

Steering Group Member

Dr Ryan Feeney is Vice President (Governance and External Affairs) and Registrar at Queen's University.

Prior to this, he was Director of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility at Queen’s and before that Director of Strategic Communication and Engagement at the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He was previously Head of Public Engagement at Queen’s University and was a Visiting Professor at Ulster University in Governance and Public Policy.

Dr Feeney also served as an independent member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board from 2011-2018, where he was the lead member for Human Rights and Professional Standards.

He has organised and curated six major international conferences, including the 20th and 25th Anniversary events at Queen’s marking the anniversaries of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and a major three-day international seminar in partnership with both the University of Chicago and the United Nations focused on International Human Rights and Refugees.

Ryan was the Executive Producer for the RTE/BBC documentary, “The Agreement,” a two-part series on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement negotiations and is also an Executive Producer on a major international documentary chronicling the life of Senator George J. Mitchell.

He is also a Trustee of Politics in Action, a charity focused on enhancing the participation of young people in politics and civic leadership, a member of the CBI regional Council and a member of the Board of the Centre for Cross Border Studies.

Dr Garrett Curran

Steering Group Member

Dr Garrett Curran

Steering Group Member

Garrett is currently the Chair of The Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation, an independent charity set up to receive and steward philanthropic donations and corporate sponsorships on behalf of the University in the UK.

He is an investor and a member of a number of Boards in different countries specialising in financial services, technology and real estate.

Garrett spent more than two decades in finance in London and New York and finished off that period of his career as CEO of Credit Suisse in the UK and the bank’s Chief Client Officer in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Originally from Belfast, Garrett attended St Malachy's College. He holds an MA in Law from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge University where he is a Fellow Commoner. Garrett and his wife Natalia, both directly and through the Curran Family Foundation, support a number of charities spanning education (with a focus on social mobility) and medical research (with a focus on cancer and paediatrics). Natalia is a patron of the CRIS Cancer Foundation in Madrid. Garrett has walked the last degree to both the North and South Poles to raise money for the charities HopeHIV and CRIS Cancer Foundation.

Garrett was awarded an Honorary Degree by Queen’s University Belfast in December 2023, in recognition of his services to business, commerce and education.

SPEAKERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Donna Traynor

MC

Donna Traynor

MC
Donna Traynor is one of Ireland’s most recognised and respected broadcasters with a journalism career spanning more than three decades. 
She has fronted live television coverage of some of the biggest landmark events in our political and societal history including the state visit to Ireland of Queen Elizabeth II, the Easter Rising centenary in Dublin and The Open golf championship in Portrush. Recognised by her peers, she was nominated for Royal Television Society presenter awards.
Donna has also reached a global audience with her cameo roles in the highly successful Channel 4/Netflix series “Derry Girls”. 

Dr Joseph Patrick Kennedy III

Speaker

Dr Joseph Patrick Kennedy III

Speaker

Joe Kennedy III is an Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast and a committed public servant who has dedicated his career to advancing social and economic justice. A former U.S. Congressman, Special Envoy, legal aid volunteer, and assistant district attorney, he brings a wealth of experience across public service, diplomacy, law, and advocacy.

Joe currently serves as President of Citizens Energy; a diversified renewable energy non-profit organisation committed to making clean energy more accessible and affordable. Since its founding in 1979, Citizens Energy has provided over $600 million in charitable benefits, helping low-income families and disadvantaged communities meet essential needs, including assistance with utility bills.

He is also the founder of the Groundwork Project; a political advocacy organisation focused on supporting community organising in historically under-resourced and disenfranchised regions of the United States.

From 2022 to 2024, Joe was appointed by President Joe Biden as the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, a diplomatic role aimed at promoting economic opportunity and sustaining the U.S. commitment to peace, prosperity, and stability in the region.

Joe represented Massachusetts’ 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021, where he was a strong advocate for civil rights and economic equity. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as an Assistant District Attorney and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic.

Born in Boston, Joe earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He is married to Lauren Birchfield Kennedy, and together they have two young children, Eleanor and James.

Dr Joe Kennedy III was named an Honorary Professor of Practice in International Relations and Global Leadership at Queen's in 2025.

Dr Len O'Hagan

Speaker

Dr Len O'Hagan

Speaker

Chair of Queen’s University Senate and a Pro Chancellor of the University.

Dr O'Hagan is a leading business figure in Ireland, with extensive national and international governance and directorial experience in both the private and public sectors.

Len graduated in Economics from Queen's University and is a Director of Mediahuis Group Ireland, a member of the Global Advisory Board of the private equity group, VentureWave Capital and a Director of QUBIS.

He is a Board Member of Hillsborough Castle and is also a Patron of Horatio’s Garden. A Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Dr O'Hagan's previous appointments include Chair of Northern Ireland Water; Chair of the All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network; Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners; Chair of the Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC); CEO of the Royal College of Physicians, Director of the College of Anaesthesiologists and a member of the marketing committee of The Ireland Funds.

He has held senior positions in a number of international public companies and continues to be a Director in a number of private companies.

In 2024 Len was awarded an Honorary Degree from Trinity College Dublin and in 2013, was awarded an Honorary Degree by Queen's University Belfast for exceptional services to Business and Commerce, and in 2011 was awarded an Honorary Degree in Economics from Ulster University. In 2014, Dr O’Hagan was awarded a CBE for his services to tourism and the economy in Northern Ireland.

Dr Peter Gilleece

Contributor

Dr Peter Gilleece

Contributor

Peter is the Assistant Director and Head of Strategic Policy and Analysis within the Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Directorate at Queen’s. Peter is developing formal structures for the extensive activity we already undertake in providing education, training and research in public policy. He is working to ensure connectivity, complementarity and co-ordination in developing further opportunities for collaboration with leading policy experts to provide ministers, the civil service and public services with high quality evidence and independent advice that helps them to improve policy decisions.

Peter originally worked as a civil engineer after graduating with a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast before joining the newly formed Northern Ireland Assembly as a Senior Researcher. Peter was subsequently appointed Director of Policy with the Northern Ireland Policing Board, following the devolution of Justice. Prior to joining Queen’s in June 2024, Peter worked with the Strategic Investment Board as a Strategic Advisor, supporting government on a range of projects including preparing strategies for forensic services, asset management and infrastructure investment.

Pippa Malgrem

Keynote Speaker

KEYNOTE PANEL

  • Dr John Healy OBE

    Chair, Invest NI 

    John is the current Chair of Invest NI and was the Vice-President and Managing Director at Allstate NI until December 2022. He has 25 years' experience in technology, predominantly in the financial services domain. He graduated from Queen's in 1991 with a BEng in Manufacturing Engineering and an MSc in Computer Science in 1992. John is currently a member of the Progressive Building Society board, QUMS International University Advisory Board and Ulster University Council. In 2024, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Queen's.  

    Find out more about John here.

  • Richard Lenane

    Managing Partner, Exponent 

    Richard joined Exponent in January 2005 and is the Managing Partner of the firm. Richard previously worked for Apax Partners and The Boston Consulting Group. Born and raised in Belfast, he has an MEng from Cambridge University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  

    Find out more about Richard here.

  • Cat McCusker

    Regional Market Leader, Northern Ireland and Customer Led Transformation Lead, PwC 

    In addition to her role as Regional Market Leader, Northern Ireland and Customer Led Transformation Lead for PwC in the United Kingdom, Cat is also PwC's Education Consulting Leader, working at a global and local level to help universities to reimagine their student and staff experience. Cat graduated from Ulster University in 1997 with a BA in Business and Law followed by an MA in European Administration and Law in 1998.  

    PwC has supported projects at Queen's for over 20 years including the Clinton Scholarship Fund, the Great Hall and The McClay Library.  

    Find out more about Cat here.

AI, CYBERSECURITY AND FINANCE: COLLABORATING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH

  • Professor Máire O'Neill

    Máire is a leading cybersecurity expert. Named UK Female Inventor of the Year, she was the youngest Irish Academy fellow and youngest-ever engineering professor at Queen’s. Máire is widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading cryptography experts and the inventor of a high-speed silicon security chip that is used in more than 100 million TV set-top boxes. Her current work focuses on the design of novel security solutions for communications applications. She is a Professor in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and is also Director of the Research Institute in Secure Hardware and Embedded Systems (RISE) at CSIT. Her expertise is concerned with cybersecurity, cryptography, hardware security, data security and the internet of things. 

    Find out more about Máire here.

  • Professor Jesús Martínez del Rincón

    Academic Lead

    Jesús is a Professor at Queen’s within the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Jesús has worked as a researcher at the University of Zaragoza, Kingston University, and as a Lecturer at Queen’s since 2012. He graduated from the University of Zaragoza with a degree in Electrical and Electronical Engineering in 2003 and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Human Motion Analysis and Biometrics in 2008, and from Kingston University with a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education in 2012. His expertise is concerned with Security of AI, AI for Security, Human motion analysis, Pose estimation, Activity recognition, Tracking algorithms, multi-target tracking in real time, and Malware Analysis.  

    Find out more about Jesús here.

  • Dr Libby Duane Adams

    Co-founder, Alteryx 

    Libby is the co-founder of Alteryx, having served as its Chief Advocacy Officer until May 2024. Before co-founding Alteryx, Libby held senior commercial roles at Strategic Mapping and Donnelley Marketing Information Services, where she specialised in spatial analytics and data-driven solutions for clients in media, telecommunications, automotive and advertising. Libby serves as a Strategic Advisor to the Impact Africa Network in Nairobi, Kenya and to Have a Heart, Save a Heart, a non-profit organisation focused on raising awareness of women’s heart disease. Since January 2023, she has also been a board member of Clozd. Alteryx has supported Queen’s through initially providing 3,000 licences to support Queen’s students and staff to access free software, training and accreditation in data analytics, making it the University’s largest ever gift-in-kind. She graduated from Castleton University with a BA in Marketing in 1984.  In recognition of her contributions to innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital education, Libby was awarded an honorary degree by Queen’s University in March 2025, during the first US trip of the year. 

  • Gillian Colan-O'Leary

    Director, NI Cyber – Head of Marketing, Compyfirst – Founder, Hackily Ltd. 

    Gillian is the Director for NI Cyber, Head of Marketing for Compyfirst, and the Founder of Hackily Limited. She previously worked as Programme Manager for the Digital Surge Programme, and as Head of Marketing for Vertical Structure. Gillian began her career with Pinnacle Computing in 1998, going on to further marketing roles at GEM, Aepona, Intel and Adoreboard. She graduated from Queen’s with a BA in English in 1994, and went on to gain an MSc in Communications, Advertising and Marketing from Ulster University in 1995. 

  • James Donovan

    Head of Cognitive Outcomes Research, OpenAI 

    James is the Head of Cognitive Outcomes Research at OpenAI, having joined the company in 2024 originally as Technical Staff. He is an advisor for Prima Mente, which looks at the capabilities of AI in improving precision neuroscience, and 181 Angles, which supports technology focused startups. He has previously worked for Deloitte and Meta on their digital improvements and products. James was a director and part of the leadership team at Founders Intelligence, a startup that was later sold to Accenture in 2022. He began his career as the co-founder of Create Collaborate, which aimed to create a new distribution model for artists, scientists, and creators, helping with proof of IP ownership. James graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MA in 2014, later gaining an MSc from LSE in 2015. 

  • Kate O'Loughlin

    Vice President, Information Security Engineering, Mastercard 

    Kate is Vice President, Information Security Engineering at Mastercard. She previously worked as a Business Applications Consultant for Version 1 and as a Quality Assurance Engineer for Munich Re Automation Solutions. Kate joined Mastercard in 2017 as a Senior Analyst before working her way up to Vice President. She graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a BSc in Physics and Astrophysics in 2012, later going on to a Higher Diploma in Data Analytics at the National College of Ireland, and a master's degree from University College Dublin in Digital Investigation and Forensic Computing in 2018.  

FRAMING THE FUTURE: AI, BUSINESS, AND STANDARDISATION 

  • Professor Karen Rafferty

    Academic Lead

    Karen is the Head of School for Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Prior to taking up the role, she was the Deputy Head of School for two years before. She graduated from Queen’s with an MEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 1998 and a PhD in Computer Vision in 2003.  

  • Mick Costigan

    Mick leads the Salesforce Futures team, helping Salesforce leaders and customers anticipate, imagine and shape the future, with a focus on AI, sustainability, customer experience and work. He has a decade of experience leading innovation, foresight and strategy teams at Salesforce. Prior to this he worked in strategy consulting with Monitor Group and Global Business Network. He also spent a year as a fellow in the AI Policy team at the World Economic Forum. Mick graduated from Trinity in 2004 with a First-class Honours in Economic and Social Science, and from ESCP in Paris with a Diplôme de Grande Ecole and master’s degree in Management. He was named a Scholar in 2001.   

  • David Crozier CBE

    Expert Facilitator

    David is the Director of the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre, led by Ulster University in partnership with Queen’s. Appointed Chief Executive of the Software Alliance in August 2023, David has over 20 years' experience in global cyber security technology, policy and domain expertise. Previously, he was Head of Strategic Partnerships & Engagement at Queen's Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) where he led the development of strategic relationships with public sector partners. David was appointed by the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) College of Experts in 2021 and previously served as Deputy Director of the University's NCSC recognised Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE) programme. He graduated from Ulster University with a BSc in Computer Science in 2000 and a MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 2007.   

  • Declan McGarry

    Declan is Associate Director of Baker McKenzie’s Applied AI Practice. Before joining Baker McKenzie, he trained at A&L Goodbody. He graduated from Queen’s with a BSW in Social Work in 2010 and an LLM in Legal Science in 2013.   

  • Ruth McGuinness

    Ruth is Head of Data and AI at Kainos. She graduated from Ulster University with a degree in Information and Communication Technologies, and from The Open University with a Business Management qualification. Ruth is the primary industry partner of the AI Research Centre (AIRC) at Ulster University, supporting over 100 AI researchers in trusted AI applications. She was the recipient of the Microsoft Power Women Award 2024 in Ireland.  

  • Ronan Carey

    Ronan is the Senior Director for Dell’s Operations in EMEA. Ronan leads the AI Solutions business for Dell Technologies in EMEA, helping enterprises adopt and scale AI to drive real business impact. He has over 20 years’ experience in the IT industry. Ronan has helped to build Dell’s go-to-market strategy for AI Solutions, integrating product, marketing, sales strategy and the wider ecosystem to deliver enterprise-ready AI offerings. He graduated from Ulster University with a BA in Business and Finance. 

AI AT THE CROSSROADS OF ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY: POWERING THE FUTURE OF HEALTH, BIOTECH AND DIAGNOSTICS

  • Dan West

    Expert Facilitator

    Dan is the Northern Ireland Lead at Accenture Belfast, having joined the company in 1998 as an Analyst. Previously he has worked as a Director for the NHS Digital from 2018 to 2019, and as the Chief Digital Information Officer for the Department of Health in NI. He graduated from Newcastle University with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering in 1998.  

     

  • Professor Ian Bruce

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Medicine Health and Life Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast – NIHR Senior Investigator Emeritus – Professor of Rheumatology, University of Manchester 

    Ian is Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Medicine Health and Life Sciences at Queen’s, an NIHR Senior Investigator Emeritus and Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Manchester. Ian qualified in Medicine from Queen's in 1988 and carried out his clinical training in medicine and rheumatology in Northern Ireland, completing his MD in 1995. From 1996 to 1998 he was the Geoff Carr Lupus Fellow at the University of Toronto. From 1998 to 2024 he worked at the University of Manchester and Manchester Foundation Trust, where he was appointed Professor of Rheumatology in 2010 and an NIHR Senior Investigator in 2013. From 2017 to 2024 he was Director of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. He also served as Academic Director of Health Innovation Manchester (2019-2022) and Vice-Dean for Health and Care partnerships at the University of Manchester (2022-2024). Ian also works with several pharma partners who are developing new SLE therapies, and he serves on several advisory boards and trial steering committees.  

  • Dr Brian Murphy

    Brian is the founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Cumulus Neuroscience. He has previously worked as a software developer for several companies including MEX Multimedia and Reuters China, before co-founding Qingniao (a Reuters Company) in 1999. Brian has also previously worked as a Lecturer in Computing at Queen’s, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Trento and Carnegie Mellon University. He graduated from Queen’s with a BEng in Aeronautical Engineering in 1995, and from Trinity College Dublin with an MPhil in Speech and Language Processing in 2001 and a PhD in Cognitive Science in 2007. He returned to Queen’s to obtain a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education in 2016. 

  • Dr Hugh Comican

    Hugh is the CEO of Cirdan Imaging. Hugh completed a bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate diploma in Physics, graduating in 1984 and 1991 respectively, before completing a PhD in Laser Physics at Queen’s. In addition, he was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Science by Queen’s in 2003 for his services to business and commerce. Hugh is also linked to Queen’s through his previous involvement with Andor, a QUBIS established company. 

  • Professor Joann Rhodes

    Joann is the CEO and co-founder of the Health Innovation Research Alliance of Northern Ireland, a Professor of Practice at Queen’s, and a Visiting Professor at Ulster University. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BSc in Pharmacology in 1999, from the University of Edinburgh with an MSc in Translational Medicine in 2014, and from Imperial Business School with an MBA in Strategy and Innovation in 2020.  

TOWARDS NET-ZERO: HOW AI, ACADEMIC INNOVATION, AND POLICY SHAPE GREEN BUSINESS 

  • Roisin Finnegan

    Expert Facilitator

    Roisin is a Senior Technology and Strategy Consultant. Until August 2024, Roisin spent 17 years with Deloitte and led Deloitte’s Regional Ventures in Northern Ireland, driving innovation across climate, FinTech and RegTech. Roisin is a board member of the Forward South Partnership.  She graduated from Ulster University with a BSc in Communications, Advertising and Marketing.

     

  • Professor David Rooney

    Academic Lead

    David is the Dean for Internationalisation and Reputation within the faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s. He is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Queen’s and Academic Director of the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy. He has over 10,000 citations and a grant portfolio of over £10m.  He is a consultant for an energy company and since 2024 has been an advisor to the Department for the Economy on decarbonisation. He has also developed a range of educational courses in Hydrogen energy systems and Net Zero Engineering and has a significant background in international partnerships where he previously led the University’s Transnational Education programme as Vice-Dean for the China Queen’s College in Shenyang, China. 

  • Kevin Devlin

    Kevin is a Senior Advisor for Encavis AG. Kevin is a 35-year veteran of the energy industry. Prior to Encavis, he was CEO of Renewable Power Capital (RPC) from 2023 until 2025. He moved to the power sector with Scottish Power during a period of significant deregulation in the UK market and has been active in the renewable sector for the past 20 years. He graduated from Queen’s with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering in 1987 and from the Kellogg Business School with an Executive Development qualification in 2001.  

  • Conall Laverty

    Conall is the Founder and CEO of Wia. Wia is one of the world’s leading IoT cloud platforms with users in over 100 countries. Conall has raised multiple rounds of investment and scaled Wia into an internationally recognised IoT company. Conall was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list 2018 for Technology. Conall graduated from Queen’s with an MEng in Computer Games Design and Development in 2012.  

  • Sam McCloskey

    Sam joined Simply Blue Group in January 2023 as its Country Director for Northern Ireland. She has over 25 years’ experience in environmental and sustainability. She is a Fellow of the Energy Institute and is a member of the Northern Ireland branch committee. Sam is currently Vice-Chair of Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore. She holds a BSc in Environmental Studies from Ulster University and an MSc in Agricultural & Food Chain Systems from the University of Reading.  

  • Dr Dave McGowan

    Dave is the Head of Future Power Systems at SONI (Systems Operator for Northern Ireland). He has over 20 years’ experience in the electricity industry and academia and was previously Head of Power System Insights & Research with SONI. He holds a BEng in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a PhD in Engineering from Queen’s.