The following mentors make up the approved Panel of Mentors for 2021 - 2024.
Aidan Shine
Aidan is CEO of South East BIC and provides leadership and support to the experienced BIC team in their role supporting entrepreneurs and startups in the South East. He has extensive knowledge of the startup ecosystem having assisted numerous companies with their growth strategies and helping them secure both public and private equity funding. Aidan is also the Halo Business Angel Network coordinator in the South East region and matches individual private investors with pre-screened investment opportunities in start-up, early stage and developing businesses. An MBA, Aidan has special interest in areas such as strategy development, business modelling and financial planning.
Alan Maher
Maher Consulting was established by Alan Maher in 1999. His business experience and background include Retail Management, Customer Service, Retail Sales, Training & Personal Development and B2B Sales. Maher Consulting has provided a range of services to well-known and internationally recognised brands such as Clarins, SSE Airtricity, Hertz and William Grant & Sons. Maher Consulting also work with established local businesses and many new business start-ups representing all business sectors. Alan also delivers various training programmes for the Local Enterprise Office and has been Course Tutor on The LEO Start Your Own Business Programme in Enniscorthy since 2007. He has been on the Local Enterprise Offices mentor panel for 10 years and provides extensive business mentoring and training services to Wexford Local Development and other organisations. He is very passionate about helping businesses and individuals to achieve the potential they are capable of.
Alva Pearson
Pearson Consulting was formed in 2018 by Alva Pearson who has 20 years’ experience at senior level in sales and marketing. Alva provides direct support in developing a business via the creation and implementation of a targeted sales and marketing strategy plan. Support is offered in all areas of sales & marketing including website design and digital marketing. The objective is to establish a direct route to market, seek conversions, and achieve revenue targets set out in the strategy. Alva is known to be an empathetic, creative, practical and methodical worker who gives clear direction and is mindful of available resources in terms of time, personal know-how and finances. Alva has hands on experience working across various sectors promoting commercial growth and establishing opportunities to generate greater revenue, those sectors are not limited to but include tourism and hospitality, environment, and agriculture. Pearson sits on a number of LEO panels and also the Failte Ireland mentoring and training panel.
Blaise Brosnan
Blaise has a unique blend of practical top management experience gained over 25 years in his capacity as Chief Executive of a portfolio of business types. In addition to this, he has gained further national and international experience. To underpin this “cutting edge” experience, he studied and graduated, as a mature student from TCD in 1989 with a M.Sc.Mgmt. He is Strategy Senior Specialist within the Management Resource Institute, working with Boards and senior management to stand back from their businesses and formulate and agree their future strategic repositioning. He then works with the team to bring that strategic thinking and vision down through their organisations, so that they are all “singing from the same hymn sheet”. He achieves this through a combination of direct facilitation and focused training. Blaise is also founder Director of International Dispute Resolution (Ireland) Ltd, which specialises in providing disputants with an alternative to the normal litigation routes, to solve their commercial disputes. In addition to this he is a Director of a number of commercial businesses. Author of the series of business books; You are the Limiting Factor, Jack, and I Dare You, a ‘blueprint’ of practical advice helping readers to reach their potential.
Brendan Byrne
Brendan is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has over 30 years’ experience in a wide variety of industries including retail, craft, manufacturing, services, technology, and the financial sector. He is an adept finance professional with significant local and international experience, both administrative and operational. His breath and depth of knowledge facilitate the identification of uncomplicated, workable solutions to the problems of your business. Whether your issue is a business plan, grant, MFI, application or something more complex, he can help you. He makes the complicated simple. He holds extensive qualifications and works nationally and internationally with LEO’s, educational and professional bodies to pass on his skills to others. Brendan has supported numerous national award-winning companies and can help your business.
Carey-Ann Lordan
Carey-Ann Lordan, Managing Director of Red PR, is a public relations and communications consultant, mentor, coach and lecturer. She boasts over 15 years' experience working with Irish businesses and the media. Carey-Ann has helped hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs to reach their communication campaign goals effectively over the years. She serves on Local Enterprise Office panels nationwide as a mentor and trainer. Carey Ann’s personable and professional approach proves most popular with LEO personnel, their mentoring clients and training participants. A force to be reckoned with, Carey-Ann is a business development professional with a highly regarded reputation in communications, working with clients across a variety of sectors to get their business from its current reality to realising major organisational goals. Carey Ann is energetic, dynamic, creative, and not afraid of hard work. She is very passionate about ‘teaching a man to fish’ and getting measurable results for LEO clients.
Carole Thurston
Carole is an experienced Business Consultant with South East BIC and has over 15 years experience providing business planning advice and assistance to start-ups and SMEs in the South East. The BIC works closely with Enterprise Ireland, and other local and regional agencies in delivering concept feasibility, mentoring, business planning, modelling and sourcing finance to start-ups and SMEs. Prior to moving to Ireland, Carole had over 15 years experience in management positions in CinVen a VC organisation in London and a Sears group company managing their IT departments and developing/implementing the use of technology. Carole co-founded an IT start-up company in Ireland in 2000, an online marketing business for retailers called homemaker.ie, sadly the company
Caroline Reidy
Caroline Reidy runs The HR Suite who offer specialist tailored and effective human resources, employment law and business solutions to over 500 clients throughout Ireland. Many of which are SME’s who have no HR function and the HR Suite are their HR partner to advise them in this area. The HR Suite also assist with complex investigations, training all areas of people management and skills development and representation at third party forums. The HR Suite has offices in Dublin and Kerry. Caroline is a past Commissioner on the Low Pay Commission and is also an adjudicator in the Work Place Commission. Caroline has completed a Masters in Human Resources in the University of Limerick and is a trained mediator. She is also the author of ‘The Art of Asking the Right Questions” that provides top tips to people managers throughout the employment journey. To mark 10 years in business in 2019 Caroline launched a children’s book ‘Celebrating You’ to advocate diversity and the importance of celebrating individuality in children. Caroline is also a TEDxTralee presenter and her most recent talk is here: The Art of Asking the Right Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSZ8lROfJ24. Caroline also contributes as a thought leader to national media, conference speaker and articles in national press. www.thehrsuiteonline.com
Conor Hyde
Conor’s career in the Irish food industry spans three decades. He has successfully managed five of Ireland’s top 100 grocery brands and lectures in food marketing for UCC, IMI, BIM, Teagasc, ICOS, SKILLSNET, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the LEADER Networks. He also appeared as an expert consultant on RTÉ’s Higher Ground programme. In 2001 Conor established Bullseye Food Marketing to meet the growing demand for expert, best practice business marketing support tailored to the requirements of owner-managed food sector SMEs. Over the past decade Bullseye Food Marketing has worked with over 500 Irish food businesses as well as public bodies and other organisations. Today its team of 10 Food Marketing experts provide a full range of hands-on food business support services specifically designed for the sector’s needs. Conor is a first-class honours graduate of UCC’s B.Sc. Food Business programme and a council member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland.
Damien Farrell
Damien, Auxilia Consultants Associate, with 10 years’ experience, is strategically focused Finance Professional with a demonstrated history of working across a wide spectrum of diverse industries - Retail (Traditional & Online), FMCG, IT and Construction. Damien has first-hand proven experience with: ▪Financial Reporting, ▪Management Accounts, ▪Budgeting and Forecasting, ▪Cash Flow Management, ▪Scenario Planning ▪Financial Modelling Damien has the ability to lead and manage teams through both the more traditional accounting and finance roles of reporting, budgeting and cash flow management while translating insights into cross departmental recommendations and actions to drive company growth, profitability and success. Damien has extensive experience in leading teams through the preparation & presentation of timely management accounts internally & adherence to external statutory requirements. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – FCCA Fellowship Member ACCA.
Denise Doyle
Denise Doyle is an Export, Digital, E-Commerce and Food Marketing Consultant. Throughout her career she worked in marketing for Unilever, Nestle and Cantrell and Cochrane, launching and evolving household consumer brands like Lyons Tea, Ballygowan Water, Smarties, Knorr Soups and Nescafe in grocery retail, convenience and wholesale channels nationwide. Denise holds a position on the Enterprise Ireland Mentor Panel and is also a qualified trainer and lecturer where she guest lectures for TU Dublin, Griffith College and The Marketing Institute of Ireland on Marketing Strategy, Branding and Digital Marketing. She holds a Degree in Marketing, Diploma in Advertising and a Diploma in Digital Marketing and is a member of The Marketing Society of Ireland. Denise can help Micro businesses with their digital planning including website marketing, analytics, social marketing and Google Ads (adwords) planning. When it comes to growth domestically or finding export markets, Denise can show businesses proven frameworks and approaches to understanding how to grow, when to grow, route to market and associated costs. For more on Denise - https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisedoylesmemarketing/ www.retailrepublic.ie
Dermot O’Reilly
Dermot is a purpose driven individual with over twenty-five years management experience in a variety of different sectors, from manufacturing to arts management. His specialities are in innovation, entrepreneurship, business model development, strategic planning, design thinking, management development, experiential management, and the application of lean tools. He holds an MBS (marketing), a Higher Diploma in Service Design and Innovation, a Post Graduate Certificate in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and an Honours Degree in Applied Economics. Since 2014, Dermot was a founder member of Solutions Consultancy Ireland, working with organisations at every stage of development in a wide range of industries ranging from food to manufacturing to tourism to technology and services, dealing with a diverse range of clients at all stages of developing their enterprise, from idea to product development and launching and growing their business model.
Dick Whelan
Dick Whelan is Managing Director of Almir Business Ltd, established 1999. He has worked extensively in a consulting and training capacity in a variety of sectors including electronics, precision engineering, fabrication, injection moulding, additive manufacturing, packaging. He has worked across several sectors including medical device, life sciences, aerospace, automotive, security, distribution, services. On a professional level, Dick has achieved various academic qualifications including an MBA. He is a certified QMS Auditor (certified by IRCA, International Register of Certified Auditors), an approved facilitator and assessor of EFQM (European Foundation of Quality Management) and a certified auditor (by FAS) for Excellence Through People. Dick has extensive experience in the successful planning, development, implementation, certification/accreditation, and maintenance of management systems based on the requirements of AS9100, ISO13485, ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001. Dick is an Irish delegate to the International TC 176 ISO 9001 working group.
Deirdre O’Flynn
Deirdre works with SMEs, and particularly women in business, helping them to communicate effectively and clearly. With a background in journalism, Deirdre believes storytelling is at the heart of how and what business people communicate. She is experienced at helping entrepreneurs to identify their unique strengths, to speak to their customers/clients, and to adapt their stories to different platforms, whether on social media or websites, in print or in person. Her current work involves training and coaching women who are starting new businesses, facilitating the LEO Wexford Women in Business Network, as well as providing premium copywriting and social media services to clients. Her clients range from local authorities to small businesses, PhD and Masters’ students to organisations in the education field. With qualifications in rural development, journalism, training, and coaching, Deirdre is adept at helping new and established entrepreneurs to develop clear and clever content. www.spellcheck.ie / www.amindfulwalker.com / https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdreoflynn1/
Ed Flanagan
Ed has experience as Corporate World Class Leader at IBM 1985-2014 for 29 years as 1st, 2nd, 3rd level management and Executive, in Finance, Operations, Outsourcing, Real Estate, Communication Pricing and Special Bids, along with Sales and Marketing, Audit, Process improvement, Lean Six sigma including Change management, Business Continuity, ISC. Experience SMEs, 2014 - present in his Photography business. Ed has been working as mentor with several LEOs, helping 100s of SMEs, (with numerous exceptional testimonials confirming knowledge sharing/confidence building and simplification.) in the areas of Finance, Cashflow forecasting, Pricing, Business Model/ Business Case development, Funding and MFI preparation, VC and Angel funds. Pitching Business / Pitching both business and self-branding, Business Continuity and pivoting. As well as Ideation, Lean, Six business for small businesses. Bookkeeping/Tax/Vat/Tax returns. Trading Online Voucher (assessor), Scaling, Brexit opportunities, PLATO guest speaker, on strategic growth, scaling, and pricing for profit growth. “My Passion, is helping entrepreneurs work on their business rather that in their business, through pattern matching and mapping, applying my experience. I love bringing clarity to Business Models, profitable revenue streams, Pricing USPs.
Ed O'Neill
Hi, my name is Ed. O’Neill and I have recently retired from the staff of Teagasc where I held the role of Artisan Food Specialist. My role was primarily that as a Food and Packaging Technologist where I was the lead in developing a range of award-winning fresh and fermented products including Cheese, Yogurt, Butter, Beverages, Sauces, Ready Meals, and Frozen Desserts. My work has taken me to the USA, Canada, Iceland, Europe, the UK and throughout Ireland. In addition, I was the Teagasc lead on the Foodworks accelerator program for HPSU food companies, (a joint initiative between Teagasc, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia). For many years I have been the senior judge at the Irish Farmhouse Cheese Awards. I have worked with Safefood, delivering a number of training courses on Cleaning & Hygiene and Food Packaging. I was a member of their expert group looking at food safety issues. Currently I am involved with the BIA Innovator campus in Athenry, where we have established a Food Hub, incorporating a series of small food units and large food specific units, in addition to educational facilities. O’Neill Food Solutions is my company, where I hope to offer over three decades of experience to Food Companies.
Eugene O’Keane
Financial and business mentor with over 30 years of proven success in building and leading domestic and international businesses. Expertise in strategic planning, team building, account relationships, process improvements and system development. Strong motivator and leader with a corporate focus and a results-driven attitude. Significant Board experience and driving business turnarounds, setting high standards and making though decisions. Effective communicator with excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills. Chartered accountant. Master in Business Coaching.
Fiona McGuire
Fiona is the owner/manager of Join the Dots Online; Join an online marketing company specialising in website & e-commerce website design, website content management, google ads management and social media advertising, video marketing and mentoring. Join The Dots Online works with companies across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the U.K. Since starting, Join the Dots Online, Fiona has worked with companies ranging from start -ups to larger more established SMEs who require online marketing expertise. With a background in PR, marketing and a degree in communications, Fiona can help to plan, strategise and execute your online marketing goals. A member of the Wexford Local Enterprise Mentor Panel for the last 9 years, Fiona also provides website training and workshops for LEO Wexford. To find out more visit: www.jointhedotsonline.com
Geraldine Doyle
Geraldine holds valuable experience looking after clients regarding accounting, bookkeeping and payroll services. Geraldine is a training expert to SME’s – retail and the service industry and start-ups, Expertise on the delivery of group courses to job seekers, Sage Computerised Accounts, Thesaurus Computerised Payroll, Finance for the non-financials, SYOB, Office Management Skills, Introduction to Revenue Online, VAT returns, cash flow and budgeting, income tax returns. moreover, trainer for the Big Red Book Co for the South East area and though zoom nationwide.
James Burke
James Burke & Associates is Irelands leading independent retail and food advisor who is an experienced senior executive (with board room experience) with over 30 years knowledge in the FMCG industry. He is one of only ten people in Ireland who holds an MBA in Retailing and Wholesaling from Stirling University in Scotland. James key focus is on helping businesses identify the correct the route to market and pinpointing the journey to get there. He has extensive experience at building brands in the food sector and specialises in developing sales growth strategies from those at start up stage right through to larger businesses.
Jennie Frizelle
Jennie first began delivering I.T. training in 1997. She has a flair for explaining things in simple terms and putting people at ease in an environment where they often feel overwhelmed and anxious. ADKC Web Design was established in January 2009 as a web design, training, consultancy and mentoring business. Since then, Jennie has undertaken training, consultancy and mentoring assignments for a broad range of clients, including Local Enterprise Offices, government bodies and private enterprises. Training courses include the Microsoft Office suite as well as web-related technologies such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Facebook for Business, LinkedIn, Google AdWords and Google Analytics. Prior to setting up her own business, Jennie worked as training coordinator in a large organisation where she delivered training courses to a great variety of clients. Jennie greatly enjoys seeing people leaving her courses with new-found confidence and knowledge, ready to put their skills to good use.
Jim Hoey
Jim is an experienced Business Advisor based in Wexford specialising in Operational Excellence initiatives, Strategic Business Growth and International Sales Development. Jim is an EI and Wexford LEO approved Mentor, Lean Manufacturing practitioner ( 20 projects completed with savings of €1m +) and Business Growth Advisor and during the past 10 years he has worked with a variety of EI, IDA and LEO clients. During his Industrial career, spanning 30 years he held various positions in Multinational companies in Ireland and Overseas and has specialised in start-up activity (Medtronic, Tarkett and Masonite), company scaling and agile organisation development. He has experience of the Chemical, Plastics, Life Sciences, Wood Processing, Food and Building Products Sectors. He holds a BSc in Chemistry, a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry and a Masters’ Degree in Industrial Engineering and is a Green Belt Lean practitioner. Between 2006 - 09 Jim held the position of Senior VP for Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East located at the Masonite Corporation CEEME headquarters in Budapest with operating entities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey. Prior to that he had been Managing Director of Masonite Ireland since 1996 and during this time the company grew from start-up to exporting Building Products to 30 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Jim is a former Chairman of the Irish Productivity Centre and was a member of the National Executive of IBEC and a board member of that Organization for many years. In 2004 this candidate was appointed by the then Tánaiste to the newly formed Enterprise Strategy Group which was charged with developing “a medium-term enterprise strategy” and a national policy response to “strengthen the competitiveness of Ireland’s enterprise environment”. Areas of Expertise: Operational Excellence including Lean and Quality initiatives, Strategic Profitable Growth, Start-up Management, Management Team Development, Innovation, Non-Executive Directorships.
Joanna Hannick
Joanna has a proven track record of successfully implementing sales and marketing strategies which impact positively on revenue and overall success, with 25 years of sales, marketing, revenue and operations management experience in the hospitality sector & in recent years has branched out as a consultant, trainer & mentor. Joanna has strong leadership skills & experience in developing innovative sales and marketing strategies and aligning these to strategic mission of the organisation & has recently completed a Post Grad in Innovation, Creativity & Leadership in the UCD innovation academy. Relevant experience includes: voluntary member of Board of Directors with Kilkenny Tourism 2018 – 2020, part of Kilkenny LEO Mentor Panel 2020 - 2023, current trainer with Mayo Food & Drink Network & Mayo/Roscommon & Sligo Reboot Initiative.
Joan Mahon
Joan is an independent HR Consultant, Coordinator, and Executive Coach with 20 years’ experience within business, focusing on HR in the past 10 years, and more recently including Coaching. She provides HR advice, management development, and facilitation within the private and public sector. She provides coaching to professionals from junior to senior management, empowering individual and team performance towards greater success and business results. She has considerable experience in the areas of employee relations, facilitation, conflict resolution, organisational development, change management, engagement, and people development. With vast experience of working within various and challenging situations, she is confident managing the complexities of people and the various dynamics that can exist within the working environment. Clients have included Pfizer, National University of Ireland (Galway), Bank of Ireland, The Arts Council of Ireland, Athlone Institute of Technology, Print Plus Ltd, Midlands 103, Glass Innovations Ltd, and Shoon Construction.
Joan Pask
Joan helps businesses move forward and offers value to your company, whether you are a new start up or want to grow your business by improving internal efficiencies and external effectiveness to achieve competitive edge and become a market leader. This is achieved by collaborating with you in either planning or reviewing your business direction to achieve clarity and focus for success by using a structured approach to validate your strategy, ‘teasing out’ potential to achieve clarity, awareness and accountability. She is experienced in running her own business and has worked throughout Europe and North America holding senior executive positions in small, medium and large companies. This has given her an international perspective and strong grasp of all facets of business from strategic planning and delivery to business development, market research, marketing communications, digital marketing, customer services, financial management and new product development. She is a skilled project manager, practiced in Prince2 and Accelerate project management methodologies. Joan will take the time to get to know your business and market and will quickly become a trusted and valued advocate, a good sounding board, able to give and take constructive feedback with a strong commitment to imparting her experience and skills to help your business succeed.
John Collier
Dr John Collier and Foodovate Consulting is a Food-Innovation consultancy helping companies design and develop new products for the retail/food service markets. This is built on over 20-years’ experience in industry. We work in Innovation and Innovation Capability, Market Intelligence, Strategy & Business Models, Export Plans & Models, Nutrition & Health Claims, New Product Development, Digital Marketing for Food and Training. We are experts in Design Thinking and innovation models to help you bring your ideas to life. We also work with companies to secure funding for start up formation, feasibility, and growth. John has owned and managed several food companies over the past 20 years and has worked in every aspect of the industry. He has direct experience with beverages, prepared meals, horticultural products, pharmaceuticals, meat products, dairy products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, savoury, and sweet snacks.
John Foley
John has over 35 years’ experience working in Marketing and as a C.E.O. He has a track record of optimising performance in Ireland and Internationally. He has worked in marketing roles in Ireland and internationally. He joined Waterford Crystal in 1991 as Marketing Manager and progressed to roles as Sales and Marketing Director and C.E.O. He grew the core business, developed new products for the Irish and International markets and created a significant tourist business. More recently he has worked in the Sports business, managing Athletics Ireland and then Cycling Ireland. Sales and Marketing are the primary areas of John’s experience/expertise and he would like to focus his mentoring on assisting small companies to grow their businesses. He works as a Mentor with Enterprise Ireland assisting SME service and consumer goods businesses. John has completed a Professional Diploma in Business and Executive Coaching from Smurfit Business School.
John Haran
Over the past 30 years, John has worked with 300 SMEs, either as CEO, senior management coaching or international trade advisor. John’s range of management skills and international experience has allowed him to provide companies with the tools and confidence to make decisions and drive growth within their business. As someone who has experienced many of the issues that commonly confront small business owners when trading internationally, John has the credibility and breadth of experience to provide practical advice, supported by examples.
John Whelan
John Whelan is an international trade consultant with extensive experience advising and assisting companies in managing exports, imports, product launch, logistics and financing of international trading expansion. In 2014, John established the trade consultancy company John F Whelan Ltd when taking up the role of export industry advisor to the AIB bank group. He regularly delivers training and mentoring for SMEs, under the auspices of DCU, TUD and private companies. He is a member of the Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) and participates in monthly SME pitching sessions; usually, 6 companies who are looking for funds to scale up their businesses pitch to the HALO panel each month. He established the RDS Entrepreneurs Club, which facilitates SMEs along their path to scaling. He is also chairman of the RDS Enterprise Committee. He was the chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association from 1999 to 2013, where he worked with exporters large and small to develop into international markets. During this time, he also established the Dublin Food Chain with the 4 Dublin LEOs, which continues to deliver for food and drink companies in the sector. He managed the EU funded Access 6 programme assisting 90 companies from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Ireland to enter EU, UK and US markets from 2014 to 2016. He has acted on many Irish Government task forces reviewing the business impact issues, including the Trade Advisor Council, the Euro introductory Task Force, Revenue Customs Consultative Committee, Social Partnership Agreements business pillar and the National Development Plan. At the early stage in his career, he took an entrepreneurial path, establishing a series of start-up companies; one in electronics, one in chemicals and one in ship chartering services. He held senior management posts with Morgan Crucible and Bunzl group in the UK. Returning to Ireland, he took up the position of operations director with the Smith group 1972-1983. Subsequently, moved to the Aer Lingus group’s Airmotive Ireland division, where, as senior executive he managed the international subcontracts and supply chain section from 1983 to 1999. He then took up the position of chief executive at the Irish Exporters Association in 1999 -2013. John is active in his local community, being a founder director of the not-for-profit Celbridge Mill local industrial enterprise support hub, also a founder director of the Ardclough Village Centre. He is a science graduate of University College Dublin and also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from UCD Business School. He completed a post-graduate Diploma in Business Studies in Newcastle upon Tyne University and was awarded a research internship to Liverpool University School of Management.
Joy Redmond
Joy has been working in the web industry since 1996 in marketing, research and design roles. Her specialties include helping clients pinpoint what benefits they offer (research), communicating those benefits through effective messaging, copywriting and branding (marketing), developing quality collateral, case studies, white papers (content) and spinning all of the above into an attractive media pitch (PR). She is also hired to build, manage, or advise on website projects from a business analysis/UX and marketing point of view. Her experience as both a founder and a start-up marketer has taught her what can be achieved with limited resources – a clear understanding of the difference between ’nice to have’ and ‘must have’. Joy holds undergraduate degrees in both Marketing and Design & Technology, Postgrads in Enterprise Development and Service Design and is currently engaged in further study in Data Visualisation. Joy has been a mentor with LEO Wexford since 2009 and various Partnerships in Dublin.
Justin Kearns
Justin Kearns is a business innovation and digital technology consultant with 10+ years experience in technology & entrepreneurship across multiple sectors and is skilled in identifying and developing market opportunities for new products, services and business models. Justin leverages his experience in establishing multiple startups to help clients validate market opportunities for their concepts, assess the feasibility of their project and assist them as they bring their concept to market. He has lived experience of developing and bringing to market innovative products and services both in Ireland and in export markets and he has a wide range of knowledge across market research, funding, brand building and business strategy. Justin has a Post Grad qualification in Innovation and Enterprise from Trinity College Dublin, and has participated in industry leading innovation programmes, startup accelerators and entrepreneurial development programmes with Enterprise Ireland, Dogpatch Labs, Google and TechStars. He has a strong track record of mentoring Local Enterprise Office clients, built up over a decade of mentoring sole traders, micro-enterprises, start-ups and scale-ups. He has a comprehensive understanding of the range of support available to clients and takes great pride in supporting clients as they break through barriers and move to the next stage of development within their business
Karen Sommerville
Karen Sommerville is the owner of Call Focus, specialists in “effective customer communications”, by helping companies develop greater customer relations, maximise opportunities & increase sales by focusing on how engage and communicate with their customers. With over 25 years’ experience, Karen has worked in many areas of sales and marketing extending across a wide range of industry sectors for both the business and consumer markets. She is especially known in the area of cold calling, telesales, customer service and direct marketing. As a mentor and trainer, her delivery style is very energetic, practical, and interactive; with all exercises and discussions focused around participant’s real life situations and business needs. As a result, Karen regularly achieves satisfaction ratings exceeding 85% on many of her training programmes. Karen’s holds qualifications in business, marketing, training and mentoring. She works with many different groups including Skillnets, LEO’s, Business Associations and educational bodies as well as several private clients.
Keith Darcy
Keith Darcy is an experienced Business Advisor, qualified Management Accountant (CIMA) and Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA) with Institute of Bankers Ireland. Having worked for over 20 years in Financial Services, most recently with Ulster Bank as a senior manager in their Business Banking division I have a wealth of knowledge from dealing with all sectors of the SME market. Over the past 5 years I have advised clients of several Local Enterprise Offices in relation to all matters relating to Financial and Business, ranging from MFI Loan applications, Grant applications to General Business advise. I have an in-depth and first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by business, the pressure they are under and the limiting factors in which they often have to operate. In these areas my experience and skills as a Coach & Consultant has proven invaluable in bringing balance and forward development. Areas of Expertise; Micro Finance Ireland Loan Applications, Preparation of Business Plans, Grant Application preparation, Cashflow management and forecasting, Business Strategy & Planning, Pricing and Costing of Products.Visit www.keithdarcy.com
Kilian Duignan
Kilian has over twenty-five years P&L experience with companies with a turnover of up to €15 mil. During that period, he encountered many business challenges, which had to be managed proactively, in various areas such as cash-flow and financial management, business development, strategic planning, staff appraisal, stock management, margin generation and protection together with the challenges of changing economic circumstances within businesses. Kilian has excellent communications skills, and it is the marriage of this commercial and financial experience, natural empathy and understanding of the LEADER and LEO grant aid system that makes him a very competent mentor and trainer for SME’s and start-ups. He has a Certified Diploma in Accountancy and Finance awarded by the ACCA in 2001, a Professional Certificate in Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Ireland and a Mechanical Engineering qualification from Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, and FETAC level 6 Train the Trainer. In recent years, Kilian manages the EI Mentor Network in a co-ordination role providing guidance and resources to businesses throughout Ireland and he is an approved Mentor with Wexford, Waterford, Kildare, Carlow, Laois and Offaly Leo’s.
Liam Birkett
Liam Birkett ran his own design and marketing consultancy for 25 years, was responsible for corporate design/product creation for such clients as Waterford Foods, Smurfit/K Club, Mona Yoghurt, Fashion Houses, and GAA. Managing Director of O’Darby Irish Cream Liqueur, he launched on 17 world markets finally selling the company to Bacardi Corporation. He has been responsible for a wide variety of name creations, product development, copy platform and advertising concepts; then branding and marketing such goods and services internationally. Being an inventor himself, has experienced the patenting process first hand and sold the inventions. For ten years he was director of marketing and intellectual property consultant with the biggest IP firm in Ireland. Author of two easy to read and understand books - "How to create and protect a trade mark” & “You are an inventor”
Maeve Finch
Maeve Finch of Total Focus (www.totalfocus.ie) has been mentoring for ten years. Her current work includes mentoring, training, facilitating, and coaching since 2004. Prior to this Maeve worked in the hospitality industry mainly in a food environment. She has also worked in both private and publicly funded organisations at an operational and strategic level. This is combined with a strong academic background including MSc in Work & Organisational Behaviour and BA in Business. She has experience as a sole trader, trading as business name & as a private company (CLS). Maeve enjoys collaborating with entrepreneurs on a one-to-one basis and has a passion for pre-start-ups and start up especially in service industries.
Mags Boland Murphy
Mags Boland Murphy owns and runs Bofin Consultancy, providing a full range of professional strategic business, sales, and marketing consultancy solutions specific to the business who are serious about succeeding. Mags has over 20 year’s experience in the private commercial arena. She works with the following professional sectors; tourism & hospitality, food, construction, retail and media. Mags has acted as course lecturer at HSI College, Limerick, Ireland, as guest lecturer at University of Wales, Cardiff and to business students in Sweden. Bofin Consultancy works with clients in Ireland, the UK & Sweden. In 2019, Bofin Consultancy will be mentoring business owners in Sri Lanka. Mags has also written programmes to help businesses succeed. Mags is known for her honest advice and encouraging simple strategy. As a mentor, Mags believes in addressing the challenges for a business and looking at how to overcome them and set a proactive plan in place for sustainable success. The emphasis is on focusing on the client’s business requirements, considering the business objectives and to ultimately increase positive audience & revenue reach for business. Mags Boland Murphy and Bofin Consultancy are accredited with the International Authority of Business Mentors.
Michael Broderick
Auxilia Consultants was established in 2017 by Michael Broderick the former Supply Chain Director of Valeo Foods. Michael has almost 30 years’ experience in FMCG Operations & Supply Chain Management and prior to joining what is now known as Valeo Foods has worked with Rowntree Mackintosh and Nestle. Michael specialises in ▪ Manufacturing, ▪ Warehousing, ▪ Logistics, ▪ HR, ▪ Quality, ▪ Planning, ▪ Forecasting, ▪ Replenishment, During his career, Michael has managed most business functions including Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, HR, Quality, Planning, Forecasting, Replenishment, Inventory, Customer Service, Insurance, H&S and Facilities Management. Michael and the Auxilia Team have supported various Local Enterprise Offices with Mentoring Assignments, Business Continuity Vouchers and Stimulus Programmes.
Michael Heffernan
In March 2018, having worked for 27 years in the food industry, Michael formed his own food consultancy company due to demand from a couple of former customers for my knowledge and technical expertise on an ongoing basis. In this role he provides a service to customers mainly specialising in such areas such as NPD project work, and all aspects of technical/food safety consultancy for small and medium sized food company clients. This can entail such tasks as assistance with technical aspects of new product development, including recipe development, ingredients sourcing, scaling up from kitchen to factory production, specification writing etc. He also does some contract mentoring of new start up food companies through the LEO Enterprise Support with various County Councils around the country. This frequently involves assistance with product development projects, and also food safety consultancy including writing HACCP plans for clients and mentoring them on how to implement such food safety procedures as part of their daily production. Full assistance on all aspects of product labelling is also provided, to ensure that clients labels comply with labelling regulations.
Michael O’Donoghue
Bringing over 20 years sales and management experience, Michael O’Donoghue has worked in various fields throughout his career. Having graduated from The College of Marketing & Design, Michael started his sales career in retail, and part time farming. He quickly moved into full time sales, working his way from Agri sales into Veterinary, on from there into Medical, and has worked for the last 10 years in various Surgical Sales roles. He has headed up various product launches in both Medical & Surgical and has partnered with surgeons in operating theatres for companies such as Technopath, and most recently, Johnson & Johnson. In 2016, Michael returned to higher level education, and graduated first in class with first class honours in Business & Sales Management. (H1, Level 8) from Munster Technological University. Sporting passions include rugby & hurling, and he is an avid weekly hiker. Michael is married to Claire, and they have 3 adult children.
Michael O'Gorman
Michael is an experienced Business Advisor based in Wexford specialising in Business Transformation. Founder and Principal at pathway Business Solutions, Michael has grown a best practice, regional, national and international reputation as a business and innovation thought leader. Strategically discovering, developing and growing business across Startups (Business Advisor to the new NDRC), SMEs (Wexford LEO approved Mentor) and Large Organisations (EI approved Mentor) we transform business through approved frameworks using a Pathway Toolkit of best practice models, tools and techniques, including; Organisational Design | Entrepreneurship Development | Innovation | New Market Development | Lean | Continuous Improvement | Project Management | Value Management | Risk Management | Leadership | Financial & Commercial Management | Performance Management | Transformation Management. Michael has continuously underpinned experience with targeted learning, including; Postgraduate in business (MBA) from Teesside University: Postgraduate in Education (PGCE) from Teesside University: Postgraduate in Innovation and Enterprise Development (PGCEI) from TCD: Accredited as an Advanced Practitioner in Value Management (VMP) from the Institute of Value Management UK: Six Sigma Green Belt, AJC Optimisation Ltd: Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) from MIT Boston. Michael is a moderator with Validator, an international pre-accelerator organisation. He blends fundamental management processes and systems with entrepreneurship and innovation in crafting a unique offering of mentoring, coaching, training, and consulting.
Muireann Fitzmaurice
Muireann Fitzmaurice works with entrepreneurs to help them figure out how to get their brand name out there, what tools to use & ways to increase engagement with customers. Muireann is brilliant at helping business owners understand how to create simple and effective plans. Muireann runs the award-winning business MarketingCoach.ie, winning Micro Business Award 2020, All Start Business Accreditation as Thought Leader in Marketing Strategy in 2019 and in 2018 was a winner of Wicklow Businesswoman of the Year. She also runs two digital agencies www.digitalpractice.ie and www.brandedcourses.ie. Muireann is an experienced mentor and trainer working with hundreds of SME businesses each year on marketing, innovation, and business planning. Muireann also has 15 years corporate marketing management experience, working with brands such as Intel, Flora, Knorr Vie, Slimfast, MiWadi and other B2B brands. She is very approachable, and clients say they feel more clarity and confidence in Marketing after her mentoring sessions.
Nadean Lowe
Nadean has over 25 years' experience working with many SMEs across all sectors throughout the UK and Ireland. Nadean’s wealth of experience enables her to specialise in Tendering and Procurement, Importing and Exporting, Sales Development, Project Management, Business Development and Business Growth. Nadean has a well-established reputation for working with companies to improve their tendering ability. Nadean has an enviable success rate and track record of helping companies win public sector contracts. Over the past 4 years alone, Nadean has mentored over 200 clients throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland, working to successfully win approximately £18million+ in new contracts. Nadean works closely with companies to assess where they are in their tendering journey; identifying relevant tenders to bid for and developing strong and winning content. Expertise winning new business, bid strategy development, developing winning content, understanding the process and procedures of procurement/tendering, registration, and navigation of all online tendering portal.
Niall P. Glynn
Niall P. Glynn is a specialist HR Business Consultant & Executive Coach and Principal of Niall Glynn & Associates Limited. He has over 30 years’ experience in HR management mainly in the Financial Services industry. He works with five Local Enterprise Offices (Wexford, DLR, South Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare). He has acted as a HR Adviser for Enterprise Ireland clients. He has a HR Management Degree and in 2010, he completed a Master’s Degree (First Class Honours) in Executive Coaching at the IMI. He is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland. In 2010, he set up his business which provides a HR Business Consultancy service to SMEs. He has held roles as a Board Member, Company Secretary and Chair of the Audit Committee for different businesses. www.niall.glynn.com
Orla McDonnell
Business Consultant, Coach and Trainer for the Retail Industry. Over the last 30 years, I have been passionate about helping retailers grow their business and profits - fast. OMD Consultancy will help you create a clear roadmap that puts processes & systems in place, identifies opportunities & gaps for business growth, creates business efficiency & motivates staff.𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺: Increase in sales and PROFIT, implementing a strategic 3–5 year plan, Succession Planning, A Maximised Digital & Marketing Strategy, Leadership & Staff Retention, Confidence & Clarity, Data Analytics, Lean Six Sigma tools to improve performance in this fast-changing retail landscape. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨: 25% Increase in Online Sales, Trading Opportunities identified Online & Instore, successfully completed the Superior Retail Programme for 90 businesses delivered over 6 months. This was made up of workshops, masterclasses, mentorship, and mystery shoppers.
Paul Ryan
Paul, Auxilia Consultants Partner, (F.C.C.A) has over 25 years’ experience as a Senior Business executive having operated in General Management, Finance, Sales and Supply Chain roles primarily in the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry. Paul specialises in: ▪ Business Planning ▪ Financial Planning & Fundraising ▪ Due Diligence ▪ Strategic and Commercial Review ▪ Project Management ▪ Process Design ▪ Strategic Procurement ▪ Sales and Business Development ▪ Business Integration ▪ Change Management ▪ Organisational Restructuring ▪ Facilitation and Mediation ▪ Mentoring and Coaching Paul has been working with client companies, SME’s across multiple sectors on improving all areas of business including strategy, business modelling, fundraising and business development. Paul and the Auxilia Team have supported various Local Enterprise Offices with Mentoring Assignments, Business Continuity Vouchers and Stimulus Programmes. Paul supports Enterprise Ireland clients in preparing for Brexit and is a Non-Executive Director of Manguard Plus.
Paula Ronan
Paula is an award-winning marketing consultant with over 27 years’ experience in marketing in the UK and Ireland. Her experience in developing strategic, effective marketing and brand solutions for blue chip companies such as Coca-Cola, Sky TV and BT in the UK and Today FM and Done Deal in Ireland as well as numerous successful SME’s means she can offer unrivalled insights and advice to business owners and managers. The effectiveness of Paula’s work is proven - please see her LinkedIn profile - www.linkedin.com/in/paularonan/ for over 50 recommendations received from clients including: “Paula has helped us with marketing in DoneDeal for many years. She delivered a lot of really creative and cost-efficient campaigns, events and ideas. She has great experience from all types of marketing, and I highly recommend her for anyone that needs help with marketing.” – Fred Karlsson, founder of DoneDeal. “Paula is one of the best “ideas” people I have ever come across. Her energy and enthusiasm is very impressive” Sarah Falconer, Today FM. Paula’s academic history includes the study of marketing at the College of Marketing and Design, Dublin, the Institute of Sales Promotion London, and the successful completion of the miniMBA in Marketing with Professor Mark Ritson. She is also a validated member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. Paula helps businesses to compete and grow by developing bespoke brand and marketing strategies and finding practical ways to implement them.
Peter Sheridan
Peter is a professional business and management consultant with over 25 years’ experience preparing and submitting Business plans and Investment proposals seeking grant support from state agencies. This was done through meticulously planned strategies by focusing on areas of sectoral knowledge that assist clients in planning for future growth. Peter has expertise in financial appraisal, strategic planning, and corporate governance. He has specialist knowledge of market sectors including Food and Consumer products, Tourism and Hospitality, Retail, Education, Creative Arts, Disruptive Technologies, Financial Services. Peter also advises clients starting and growing Social Enterprises and has delivered business training and coaching to various organisations including Trade Associations, Chambers of Commerce, and Local Enterprise Offices. He has mentored entrepreneurs on their ability to start a new business or to advise existing local enterprises on expanding and growing their business to a level where they may become a High Potential Start Up with Enterprise Ireland. Before founding his own consultancy business, PV Sheridan & Associates Ltd in 2015. Peter worked with IDA Ireland promoting Ireland as an investment location including overseas service in Germany, and later with Enterprise Ireland as Client Development manager advising promoters of small enterprises on business planning, job creation and growing sales. Peter’s experience and knowledge of market sectors can provide support and guidance to assist a promoter in learning how to run a business more effectively and to identify problems and suggest solutions.
Rosemary Ward
Rosemary is a Business Consultant at South East BIC, advising and assisting entrepreneurial clients throughout their startup journey using business modelling, business planning and strategic planning. She has successfully worked with clients in their preparation to access private funding through business angels, venture capital and private investors as well as financial institutions and government agencies, particularly Enterprise Ireland’s HPSU funding. Before joining South East BIC she worked for interiors retailer BTW, where she held the position of Marketing Manager. With five years’ experience as Trade Marketing Manager with Waterford Crystal, and more than ten years sales and marketing experience in multinational and national technology, consumer goods and retail companies, she is in an excellent position to foster innovation and trade in the South East. Rosemary is a B. Comm (International/Spanish) graduate from UCD and in 2021 completed her certification from the Digital Marketing Institute in Digital Marketing Strategy & Planning.
Ross McCarthy
Ross McCarthy is the Managing Director of Keystone Procurement Group, a company specialised in advisory services and technological solutions based around commercial strategy and procurement advice. Ross is a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) and holds degrees from DCU and ESC Reims (France) in International Business. Prior to establishing the Keystone Group, he held senior roles in world leading consultancies. He is a recognised expert in commercial strategy and has worked with/trained thousands of SME's since 2015 in bid management, public procurement, negotiation skills, contract management and related services. He has delivred mentoring services for LEO Wexford since 2016. Keystone Procurement co-delivers InterTradeIreland's Go2Tender programme as well as similar programmes delivered to clients of the Enterprise Boards in Northern Ireland including Belfast City Council. He also delivers a masterclass in tendering to the ISME (Irish SME Association) Skillnet and leads procurement policy matters fir ISME. Ross also delivers procurement management services (designs, develops and runs tender processes) on behalf of clients in the private, voluntary and public sectors. He advises a wide range of public bodies providing him with valuable insight into how organisations in the public sector operate. He has been a member of the National Council of ISME since 2017 and took over as Chairman for a two-year term in 2019.
Ruth Larkin
Ruth is a serial entrepreneur who has established and grown multiple multi-mullion International companies in the distribution, fashion and design, manufacturing, engineering and professional services industries. She also works as a mentor, consultant and trainer to provide tailored practical support to SME's focused on commercialisation, foreign expansion, market growth and business strategy.
Seamus Murphy
Seamus is a very experienced management professional, with over 30 years of experience at senior management level. Strong experience in the construction services industry sector over the last 20 years. In his previous role, he was Commercial Director of a mechanical services company and later becoming the MD of a UK mechanical services business, which he helped develop into a turnover of £5 million. Strong understanding and experience in food manufacturing and engineering businesses. Good communicator with a thorough knowledge of P & L accounts, cash-flow management, budget control, job costing, human resources, and general management. In the last 2 years, Seamus has assisted and guided businesses to positively achieve grant aid support from various agencies. Seamus has a post-graduate Diploma in International Selling is an approved mentor with Wexford, Offaly, Waterford, Kildare, Laois and Carlow LEOs. Seamus has, more recently, been approved as a Business Growth Adviser with Enterprise Ireland and he is also on the ‘Brexit Advisory’ panel with InterTrade Ireland. Seamus has a strong knowledge of International sales and new market development, having spent in excess of 18 months on the ground in the UK, as well as time in Poland.
Sharon Ginnetty
Sharon is owner and marketing consultant with Optimise Marketing, a Wexford based digital marketing consultancy. With over 20 years national and international experience working in a range of industries and business sizes she offers clients mentoring assistance with Marketing & Digital Marketing Strategy. Mentoring with LEOs in the South East since 2013, she has met with and assisted hundreds of small businesses with Digital Marketing Strategy through different mentoring programmes and schemes. Sharon can help you with challenging tasks such as structuring a new website, adding systems into your business to make your digital marketing more efficient and effective, and choosing the correct social media channels for your business. Furthermore, content creation tools, email marketing techniques and other digital marketing tactics. If your website is underperforming and you are not getting the expected results Sharon can review with you and discuss SEO, PPC Advertising, Affiliate Marketing and Link Building strategies. Sharon holds a B.Comm, two Postgraduate diplomas in Marketing and Enterprise Development, a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute and is a Graduate Member of the Marketing Institute since 1998. See www.optimisemarketing.ie for more.
Siobhán Oates
Siobhán Business Consultant, a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience both in practice, with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Waterford and O’Neill Foley in Kilkenny as well as industry with Ellickson Engineering & Flahavans. Her role at South East BIC is to advise clients on all aspects of business planning, development and specifically financial management and planning. Siobhán has a BA (Hons) in Accounting from WIT and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2016.
Therese O'Connor
Director of Blueprint Solutions, Therese O’Connor has over 25 years of business management experience within the fast-paced service sector, where she has been frequently described as the glue that brings everything together and the person that gets things done. Throughout her career, Therese as she says herself has been very fortunate to gain 360 degree experience in business management. Her expertise lies in many areas especially; training and mentoring; sales and marketing management; events, operations and project management; customer relationship management, leadership skills, implementation of quality orientated systems and strategic development. Some of Therese’s business achievements to date include: - Successfully passed the UK accreditation process with the British Council in 2012 for MLI International Schools. - Project managed the set up and operations of 16 Summer Schools for MLI International Schools in both Ireland and UK. - Decisively guided core business and project development of Cappavilla start-up initiative, while continually achieving 99% occupancy annually.
Tony Ennis
Tony is principal of Ennis & Co. Business Consultants (www.ennisco.ie) and managing partner of Advisory Ireland (www.advisoryireland.com). Tony has provided cutting-edge enterprise consultancy, training, mentoring, and facilitation for over 27 years. He is an approved business adviser, consultant, trainer, and mentor for numerous enterprise development agencies and bodies in Ireland, with a strong reputation for effective result-driven interventions. Tony holds a BSc in Small Enterprise Management; is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC); a Fellow and former National Board member and Director of the Institute of Management Consultants & Advisers in Ireland; a member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland; and a member of the Irish Institute of Training and Development. He has undertaken assignments in a broad range of sectors including Enterprise Start-Ups, Enterprise Growth & Development, Tourism, Rural Development, Environmental, Food, Internet, e-Commerce, Engineering, Electronics, Horticulture, Giftware, Consumer products, Software, Plastics, Direct Marketing, Specialist Services and many others.
Una McGoey
Una holds over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, working in a variety of roles from Branch Manager, Project Manager and Sales Capability Manager and a strong academic background to include Professional Diploma in Financial Advice (QFA) and Professional Diploma in Finance Services (Professional Banker NFQ L8). LEAN Six Sigma Green Belt. Cambridge University Judge Business School; Strategic Thinking for the CXO. Post Graduate Certificate in Leading and Managing People (NFQ L9), Professional Certificate in People Management UCD. Certified Trainer, Certificate and Diploma in Life Coaching. Accredited Practitioner Coach (APC) International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring. Una is currently Vice President Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and sits on several Board of Directors committees. In 2020 she became No. 1 Amazon Co Author and Irish Times Bestseller. Una’s experience working with micro enterprises, small and medium-sized (SMEs) business, start-ups and owner-manager businesses allowed her to establish Anu Change to help Businesses put strategies in place to start, manage and grow their business, improve communication, and develop their staff. Furthermore, Business Consultancy and Mentoring (LEAN) to help business owners reduce waste and improve efficiencies and productivity. Anu Change works with the Department of Employment, Skillnet Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices.
