Dr Emer Ahern is current President of the Irish Gerontological Society, National Clinical Advisor for Older Persons and Consultant Orthogeriatrician in Cork University hospital. She qualified from UCC and completed her postgraduate and specialist training in Ireland and Merseyside respectively. She developed & led the Irish Hip Fracture Database and is co-sponsor of the rehabilitation workstream in NOTS. She is focused on the delivery of exceptional healthcare to older adults, in age friendly systems that is informed by evidence & improved by data. Dr. Emer Ahern, Consultant, Trauma and Orthogeriatrician, Cork University Hospital; National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Older Persons, Health Service Executive; President of the Irish Gerontological Society.

Gary Boyle was born in Dublin, Ireland, in May 1965. He is married to Joan and has two children, Daire (29) and Bronwyn (24). With a BSc in Management (European Law), he built a career spanning over 20 years in human resources within the semiconductor industry. However, in 2009, at the age of 44, Gary was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s, and by 2015, the progression of the condition forced him to stop working. Shocked by the lack of resources available, he became a dedicated Patient Advocate, championing the importance of exercise in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s. He firmly believes in a multi-disciplinary team approach to tackling the disease and has taken an active role in the Parkinson’s community. Gary now serves as a Board Member and Vice President of Parkinson’s Europe (formerly EPDA). Staying fit has become an integral part of his life, guided by his personal motto: "I’m not cured, but I am better."

Maureen Browne is a health analyst, journalist and communications consultant. She is Managing Editor of The Consultant, Editor of The Clinical Care Journal, and Editor of Health Manager. She was previously Editor of Irish Medical Times, a senior reporter with the Irish Press Group of Newspapers and reported on Irish affairs for a number of UK newspapers. She is a former National Communications Director with the HSE. She is a Trustee of the world famous Worth Library, was appointed by the Government to the Second Commission on the Status of Women, is a short story writer and co-author of Cleared for Disaster, the critically acclaimed story of Ireland’s most horrific and mysterious air disasters.

Ian Carter holds the position of CEO Mid West Acute and Older People Services. Ian was previously the CEO of RCSI Hospital Group, CEO of Beaumont Hospital, CEO of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), Head of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), CEO St James' Hospital and General Manager Acute Hospitals Mid-Western Health Board. Ian has held positions in the UK: Director of Contracts and Business Administration, Regional Surgical Specialties Manager and Saudi Arabia: Assistant Hospital Manager and Director of Operations. Ian is also Chairperson of the Charity Ruhama Ian was previously Adjunct Assistant Professor in Health Policy and Management at Trinity College. Ian is an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science.

Angela Clayton-Lea was appointed CEO of Cancer Trials Ireland (the national cancer clinical trials network) in June 2025, having previously held the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) since 2023. Angela has 21 years of experience in healthcare. Prior to joining Cancer Trials Ireland, she worked with Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), where she managed the Peri-Operative Directorate before becoming TUH’s COO in 2022. Prior to TUH, Angela’s career was radiotherapy based. She initially worked as a Research Radiation Therapist with the St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON), before moving within SLRON to a Senior Management position in Radiotherapy in 2011, and on to Operations Management in 2014. During her years with SLRON, Angela was seconded to work with the NCCP as a Project Manager to develop national guidelines on the diagnosis, staging and treatment of patients with colon cancer (NCCP National Clinical Guideline No. 24).

Angela is passionate about bringing new cancer clinical trials to Ireland, working with investigators, international collaborative groups, and pharmaceutical companies to open more trials and increase patient access to the newest treatments available. She has represented Cancer Trials Ireland at national and international conferences. She has a BSc Hons from Trinity College, is an MBA graduate from the University of Cumbria, and has a Diploma in Finance from University College Dublin. Angela is an author on six international publications including the British Journal of Cancer, and 18 conference abstracts. She has presented on radiotherapy research at 15 international / national conferences. Angela was involved in the concept and development of two cancer clinical trials (ICORG 05-03 and ICORG 07-11). In 2014, ICORG 05-03 became the first Irish study to be presented at the plenary session of ASTRO.

Sheelah Connolly is an Associate Research Professor and joint Research Area Coordinator for Health and Quality of life research at the ESRI. She is also an adjunct associate professor at the Department of Economics at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), where she lectures on Health Economics. Sheelah manages the Department of Health/ESRI Research Programme on healthcare reform as well as working on a range of other projects and programmes. Much of her recent research has addressed issues of healthcare financing and access in the Irish context, and she is currently leading a capacity review of the Irish health and social care system. Sheelah has authored over 70 outputs in a range of outlets including academic journals, book chapters and reports.

Tadhg Daly is Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), the representative organization for the private and voluntary nursing homes sector. Tadhg was formerly CEO of the Irish Nursing Homes Organisation (INHO) and was one of the key figures that led to the establishment of Nursing Homes Ireland in January 2008. Prior to joining INHO in 2005 Tadhg worked with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in a number of senior management positions. NHI is a lead representative organisation within the Irish health sector and its Members play a key role in healthcare provision. Over 400 private and voluntary nursing homes deliver specialist healthcare to 25,000+ persons and account for 90% of all long term care beds in the country, employing more than 35,000 staff. A strong and sustainable nursing home sector is a vital part of Ireland’s health and social care system. To sustain this, NHI will continue to advocate on behalf and be responsive to the needs of our members, nursing home residents and the sector. Tadhg has led NHI and its members through a very difficult and challenging period of Covid 19 with his main focus on the protection of residents and the staff of nursing homes. Tadhg is a passionate advocate in care of the older person, outlining that as a Society we need to celebrate the fact that people are living longer, develop a continuum of care and ambitious policy for our the care of ageing demographic. Nursing Homes Ireland is committed to providing leadership, supporting members and promoting excellence.

Jim Daly is CEO of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association which represents almost 4,000 Consultant Doctors in Ireland to support them to provide exceptional care to patients. Jim was previously CEO of the Private Hospitals Association which represents over 20 private hospitals. Prior to his leadership roles with the representative bodies, Jim spent 16 years as a public representative serving as Councillor, Mayor of Cork, TD and Minister of State.

Currently the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission – the regulator for inpatient mental health services in Ireland - John is a recognised expert in strategy, human rights governance and risk-based regulation.

John is a member of An Garda Siochana Strategic Human Rights Committee, a Governing Authority member of Maynooth University and an independent expert reviewer for the World Health Organisation. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and was educated at the Honourable Society of Kings Inn, Harvard Kennedy School, Smurfit Business School and University College Dublin. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the IPA and UCD.

A Dublin native, John has worked in Ireland and the UK in both clinical and executive management positions. Prior to his current role, John was the first CEO of Ireland’s Charities Regulator, and deputy Chief Inspector of Social Services in the Health, Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

Over a 35-year Fintan’s career has been spent in medical education and training in both Ireland and overseas. He worked from 1993 – 2011 in RCSI in a number of senior posts including Project Lead for a overseas projects in the Gulf and Malaysia. From 2011 to 2017, he was CEO of the College of Anaesthetists in Ireland. This was a young organsiation and within which he put in place a strong governance structure, a clear identity and established a strong overseas base. For the last 8 years he has been CEO of the Irish College of GPs with the College seeing growth across all its key areas in Ireland and overseas. Fintan has completed an MBA from Smurfit Business School in addition to a primary degree and postgraduate qualifications in HR, Accountancy, Teaching, etc. Fintan has served on the Board of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland for 8 years and is also Company Secretary of Polio Survivors Ireland. In June 2023, he was appointed to the Board of the Dublin Dental University Hospital. Fintan’s areas of professional interest are in Business Growth Strategies, Corporate governance and developing and empowering senior members of staff.

Paul is a Registered Psychiatric and General Nurse and was appointed as the Regional Director of Nursing and Midwifery for HSE Dublin and South East in December 2024. Paul was appointed as Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery, Ireland East Hospital Group in 2018. He was professional lead for over 5500 nurses & midwives, a role that required strategic and operational partnership with 16 Directors of Nursing & Midwifery. Paul joined the corporate team of St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, as Director of Nursing in 2006. He developed a strong interest in clinical research and has worked closely with Trinity College Dublin and continues this work with UCD. Paul was nominated by the Minister for Health to represent Directors of Nursing & Midwifery on the Board of the NMBI in 2013. After his election as President, he and the Board were responsible for overseeing the introduction of the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011. In acknowledgement of Paul’s contribution to the Nursing & Midwifery, he was awarded the following titles: • Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Sciences, University College Dublin. • Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin • Fellow of the Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, RCSI Paul holds an MBA from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, UCD, and has recently completed a Senior Leaders Scholarship in the UK.

Professor Hennessy is the Director of the Wellcome HRB CRF at St James’s Hospital, Deputy Chair of HRB CRCI, Clinical Pharmacologist and Consultant physician at St James’s Hospital Dublin with clinical expertise in hypertension, cardiovascular risk and medication safety. Martina is also an Associate Professor of Medical Education in the School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin. Martina’s research interests are in antiretroviral pharmacology, international development and medical education.

Vincent Jordan holds the position of Regional Director of Technology & Transformation. He leads large-scale digital transformation initiatives for the HSE West and North West. Vincent is also the current chairperson of the Health Informatics Society of Ireland which brings together professionals, academics and industry partners involved in digital health in Ireland.

Veronica was seconded to clinical governance in Dublin City University in May 2025 having previously held the role of Head of School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health at Dublin City University since September 2022. She has over 19 years’ experience of working in the higher education sector. She is a Full Professor of Children and Family Nursing and leads on child and family focused health and wellbeing research, with a specific interest in understanding experiences of children and families living with childhood long-term health conditions and children's palliative care, including health communication, shared self-management responsibilities, and psychosocial wellbeing and illness impact on child and family.

She is co-leading the Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Ignite Network at DCU focused on building capacity for high quality health and social care research with patients/public and sustainably embedding meaningful PPI in all health and social care research. She is co-Director of DCU REACH Centre and active member of REACH [Research and Engagement across Community Health] Collaboratory Steering Group - a unique Health Service Executive and DCU academic partnership to generate evidence to inform decision-making and policy, in partnership with local communities, and related to community health and wellbeing and services/system development.

Damien McCallion is the HSE’s Chief Technology and Transformation Officer with responsibility for technology, information security, data governance and digital development. Damien is the HSE Director for the Sláintecare Programme, overseeing the HSE’s medium to long term transformation programmes. Damien is also the lead for the HSE’s Organisational Change Unit, overseeing reform and transformation in the HSE. Damien is also Deputy CEO of the HSE. Damien was the HSE’s Chief Operations Officer from mid 2022 to June 2024, responsible for oversight of day-to-day health and social care operations in the HSE and over 100,000 staff. He took on a lead role in the COVID-19 pandemic response as the head of the successful Vaccination and Test &Trace programmes, a key part of the nation’s public health response to the pandemic. He held a variety of roles prior to this within the HSE, from Screening Services, Head of the National Ambulance Service, Head of ICT, National Director for Emergency Management and Special Delivery Unit, and an Area Manager for Health Services in the North West. He has also had a lead role in cross border health programmes, as Chair and Director General of CAWT, and the organisation Safefood as Deputy Chair, for a number of years. Prior to working in the Health Service he worked for ten years in the airline industry. Damien originally qualified from Letterkenny IT in computing and subsequently completed an MSC in Innovation Management from University of Ulster and Letterkenny IT.

Dr McGovern is Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum and GP specialising in Addiction Medicine in the HSE Addiction Services since 1998. In 2022 he was appointed Clinical Lead for the HSE Addiction Services for Louth Meath & The Midlands. He is a member of the board of directors of Europad, (European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association) and one of the founder members of the International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies.

Lucy was appointed CEO of Children’s Health Ireland in January 2025 having previously held the role of CEO at Tallaght University Hospital since 2019 following roles of COO & DCEO in the Hospital. Prior to joining TUH she worked in the HSE’s Acute Hospitals Division as Head of Quality Assurance & Risk Management and Clinical & Patient Services Manager in the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street. Prior to that she worked in a number of nursing roles as a registered general and children’s nurse and holds a BSc, MSc, RCPI Diploma in QI & Leadership & is a graduate of the IESE Business School Advanced Management Programme. She is a Past President of the Health Management Institute of Ireland & is currently the President of the European Association of Hospital Managers.

Grainne O’Leary has been the Chief Executive of Arthritis Ireland since 2017 where she is leading the strategy of the charity to be one of the leading patient centric health charities in Ireland. She is passionate about making positive change for people living with arthritis. with long-standing experience of the organisation since she started there in 2004.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Executive, she was Head of Services with the organisation where she developed and implemented Arthritis Ireland’s suite of patient support services. She has worked as a senior manager in the non-profit and healthcare sector for over 25 years.

Gráinne holds a BA degree in Economics and Business Studies from Trinity College Dublin and a MSc in Environmental Management from University College Dublin. She then worked in a variety of educational roles in the community and voluntary sector before joining Arthritis Ireland.

She serves as a board member of the Disability Federation of Ireland, where she is currently Vice-Chairperson.

Brian O’Mahony is the Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society, a former President of both the World Federation of Hemophilia and the European Haemophilia Consortium. He is a former board member of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and Chairperson of their research committee. He is the author or co-author of more than 100 peer reviewed scientific journal articles and 2 editions of a tender and procurement guidebook for WFH. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine (Ireland) and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (UK). He has post graduate qualifications in Management and in Occupational Health and Safety and is currently an assistant adjunct Professor in Health Service Management in Trinity College, Dublin. Brian was born with severe Haemophilia B and is currently participating in a Gene Therapy clinical trial.

Dr Mairead O’Riordan graduated from Medical School in University College Cork in 1995. She became a member of member of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists in 2001. She pursued higher specialist training in the Rotunda Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and The National Maternity Hospital in Dublin and In the Unified Maternity Services (proceeded Cork University Maternity Hospital) and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork. In 2006 she took a training post in the Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine in National Women’s Hospital and was appointed a Senior Lecturer in the University of Auckland. She took up her current post in UCC/CUMH in 2008. She has taken a central role in the delivery of medical education within the university. She is the lead in the provision of undergraduate obstetrics and gynaecology. Year head for GEM3/ DEM4 and a module coordinator (Maternal Medicine) within the MSc programme in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a contributor to the other modules. Her research interests include perinatal asphyxia and maternal medicine – diabetes, Vitamin D and long-term maternal health outcomes. She also has an interest in patient quality and safety and the interface of technology and clinical medicine and education. Her clinical practice is undertaken at the Cork University Maternity Hospital and at Cork Obstetrics and Gynaecology Associates. She works in the Perinatal Medicine Service (includes diabetes). She is the clinical lead in the area of Quality and Patient Safety and is also the Clinical lead in the labour ward (deliveries approx 9,000/ annum).

Bridie O’Sullivan was appointed Regional Director of Nursing and Midwifery, for the HSE South West Region in 2024, having previously held the role of Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the South/South West Hospitals Group (SSWHG) since October 2014. She provides professional and clinical leadership for all aspects of Nursing, Midwifery services within the HSE SW Region. She is responsible for developing and implementing the strategic vision for Nursing, Midwifery and Support staff in collaboration with healthcare service executive teams. She is a member of the HSE SW Regional Executive Management team and the HSE SW Leadership Team and has a key role in achieving the corporate and clinical objectives for the Group. Her extensive clinical and leadership track record in Health services is evidenced in her achievements leading on new service developments and service improvement and she is committed to driving the quality and safety agenda for patients and their families. She was formerly the Director of Nursing at Mercy University Hospital, Cork during the previous 5 years and through her career she held a variety of both clinical and management roles. Bridie’s professional and academic qualifications include a Post Graduate and master’s degree in Gerontology. She completed the Diploma in Leadership and Quality from the Royal College of Physicians. She is an Adjunct Clinical Professor with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork.

Anne Quirke is an experienced technology professional specialising eHealth programmes across Acute Healthcare and Mental Health Services. Anne's career highlights include spearheading the deployment of eHealth initiatives across public sector, not-for-profit, and private organisations in Ireland and Australia. Currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Beaumont Hospital, Anne is at the helm of a hospital-wide transformation aimed at replacing the hospitals core operational applications.

Recognised as the Women in IT CTO of the Year in 2021, Anne balances her professional achievements with her roles as a mother to two ‘adult’ children. In her leisure time, Anne enjoys running and cherishing her roots as a Kerry native.

Derval Reidy is the Director of Operations at the Wellcome HRB Clinical Research Facility based at St. James’s Hospital. Derval has a background in general nursing, a BSc in Industrial Microbiology an MSc in Public Health. Derval manages complex clinical trial delivery across a wide disease spectrum involving Phase I to Phase III clinical trials.

Professor Ryan qualified from RCSI in 1983. He passed the FRCSEd (A&E) and the DipSportsMed exam in 1989. He completed his Higher Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine in London, Brighton and Sydney. He was a Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Brighton before returning to St Vincent’s University Hospital. He is Vice-Dean with responsibility for Advanced Secialty training in Emergency Medicine. He is a Trainer for the specialist registrar training programme in Sports and Exercise Medicine. His particular area of interest is in Acute Sports Injury Management and Research. He is team doctor with Leinster Rugby.

Pete Struthers is the Chief Information Officer of St James’s Hospital, one of Ireland’s largest and most digitally advanced hospitals. Pete has a wealth of experience in healthcare technology, having spent of 10 years specialising in this field and over 13 years working at Microsoft. In recent years Pete was the Director of the Microsoft Technology Centre, helping business leaders across all sectors, build and deliver their digital transformation strategies. Now as CIO, Pete is overseeing the digital strategy and operations for a hospital of over 5,000 users, expanding the use of clinical systems and data to deliver the hospital mission of providing patients with timely access to high-quality care.

Fran Thompson is Chief Information Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE). He is responsible for leading the HSE’s Digital Journey across all elements. Leading a strong team of professionals and working with Clinical and Business Colleagues. The HSE has a vision to be a digital organisation across all the elements of care and the administrative processes.

Fran Thompson has over 30 years health ICT leadership experience and has a comprehensive understanding and practical application of transformation and change management within the health sector. Before his appointment as Chief Information Officer Fran was the Programme Director for the Strategic e-Health Programme. Fran has been involved with all aspects of ICT and has played a leading role in delivering various projects and programmes including Hospital Administration and Hospital Clinical systems, Primary Care messaging solutions and Health Finance solutions.

Fran led the creation and set up of the ICT Project Management Office within the HSE and has responsibility for delivering a number of key strategic e-Health programmes including the electronic health record for the country and the Individual Health Identifier.

Jim Walsh has been a professional communicator for over 40 years. During that time he has worked with many organisations in the healthcare sector primarily on strategy, corporate counselling, production of video, audio and written content and media relations. These organisations have included hospitals, healthcare and pharmaceutical organisations and charities in the sector. He has also been actively involved in patient advocacy. Jim is a Life Fellow and former President of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, former chair of the Public Relations Consultants Association and former Global President of IPREX a network of international communications partners.

In June 2025 Jim was awarded the inaugural Hall of Fame Award from the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). The PRCA Hall of Fame Award is a new honour established by the PRCA Board to celebrate individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on the public relations industry in Ireland