Philip Hannon is Policy Director at Liquid Gas Ireland (LGI), the representative body for the LPG and BioLPG sector in Ireland. He leads the Association’s policy advocacy and communication efforts at national and local level, which includes reinforcing the role that lower carbon and renewable gaseous fuels play in Ireland’s decarbonisation journey, particularly for rural consumers and businesses. He has over 25 years’ experience in corporate communications and public affairs. He was a Ministerial Special Advisor in five separate Government Departments, across two administrations. For almost a decade, he was Communications and Public Affairs Manager at the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, the representative body for the international research based pharmaceutical industry in Ireland.

Shane Malone is a partner with Byrne Ó Cléirigh with over 20 years’ experience in engineering and management consultancy. He has extensive experience in designing, implementing and administering programmes and schemes in the energy sector. He is the project manager for Ireland’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), is an expert on the sustainability of renewable fuels, and regularly provides strategic advice on renewable transport policy to the public and private sectors.

Shane McDonagh works as Transport Analyst for the International Energy Agency. Shane completed his PhD on the techno-economics of green hydrogen, including low-carbon fuel production and electricity market interaction, before a postdoctoral role in heavy-goods transport in Ireland, both in UCC. In his current role, he models road transport as well as working in the areas of electrification, hydrogen, shipping, and aviation.

Jim Meade was appointed Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail in May 2018. He had previously been Director, Railway Undertaking since 2013 responsible for all passenger and freight services. Jim began his railway career as an apprentice fitter in 1979, joining the company as a fitter in Limerick Locomotive Shed upon completion of his apprenticeship in 1983. Since then Jim has worked in a range of roles including fleet maintenance management, strategic change programmes, District Manager in Limerick, and Regional Manager in the west of Ireland, before becoming Director of Train Operations. Jim leads the management team in ensuring that the railway is operated and maintained in a manner that prioritises safety for passengers, employees and third parties; provides a quality customer service to all who use the rail network; strengthens the productivity and performance gains that have been achieved in recent years to secure a sustainable financial position; and delivers rail’s contribution in support of the Government of Ireland’s policies on sustainable development.

Caoimhín Ó Ciaruáin is an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Transport with responsibility for Climate Action and EU/International Affairs. He has worked in a variety of Government Departments in policy, corporate and operational areas, both in Ireland and abroad, over the course of a diverse career in the civil service.

Julia Poliscanova is Senior Director, Vehicles & E mobility Supply Chains at Transport and Environment. Julia joined T&E in June 2015 and now leads the organisation's vehicles, electrification and supply chains work across Europe. This includes policies regulating vehicle emissions, such as the EU car CO2 standards, sustainable batteries and critical raw materials. Julia also represents T&E on the board of the Global Battery Alliance, and is an unpaid advisor to the board of Vulcan Energy Resources. Julia previously worked as senior EU environment expert for the Mayor of London and, as an advisor to an MEP, followed legislation on renewables, energy efficiency and sustainable transport. Hailing from Latvia, Julia studied European politics and French at Goldsmiths, University of London, and holds an MSc in energy from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, specialising in batteries and fuel cells.

Fionn Rogan is a Senior Research Fellow in MaREI and is located in the Environmental Research Institute in UCC. Fionn is interested in energy systems modelling, climate policy pathways, philosophy of technology, and energy innovation. Fionn is an expert developer of the LEAP Ireland energy system model and an experienced user of the Irish TIMES energy system model.

Ken Rooney is Head of Engineering & Sustainability at Dublin Port Company. Ken is a Chartered Engineer working for the past six years with Dublin Port Company as their Head of Engineering & Sustainability. Prior to that Ken worked in the Oil & Gas, Environmental & Manufacturing sectors. Ken is a member of Dublin Port Company’s Executive Management Team and serves as the company’s Energy Performance Officer (EPO).

Brendan Kelly is the Head of Commercial at Bord na Móna Renewable Energy and is responsible for developing commercial strategies and full commercialisation of Bord na Móna’s 2GW+ development pipeline. He is also leading the diversification strategy for the company specifically in the areas of Offshore Wind, Energy Parks, Renewable Gas, Power to X, and Flextech. Brendan has over 12 years’ experience in the Utility and Energy sector. Prior to joining Bord na Móna, Brendan held several senior management positions with Smart Wires, an Energy Technology company, based out of the Bay Area in California. At Smart Wires, Brendan was responsible for development of the EMEA business and subsequently led the company’s business expansion into the Canadian market. Brendan also previously held senior engineering roles at EirGrid, the Irish TSO, most notably leading the design of Grid Connections for over 2GW of wind generators to the Irish system.

Neil provides advice to Irish businesses seeking to develop and implement sustainability strategies. He also assists clients on regulatory issues, including ESG reporting and corporate due diligence. He has extensive experience in areas such as clean energy and environmental compliance.

Previously, he acted as Ibec’s Head of Infrastructure, Energy and Environment. During that time, he was a leading voice, both nationally and internationally, on policy issues affecting business. These included transport, planning, industrial emissions, and the circular economy transition.

His long career in business and industry also included a variety of senior management positions in the UK and Ireland. Between 2004 and 2007 he advised the Commission for Regulation of Utilities on gas and electricity tariffs, before moving to SEAI where he established and led the Energy Modelling Unit. Between 2015 and 2022 he chaired the Environment Committee of Business Europe. Neil continues to advise Ibec and its members on sustainability issues, and he remains its nominee on An Forám Uisce. He also sits on the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, with a remit to advise the Commission and Parliament on legislative proposals in the areas of transport, energy, and the single market.

Having originally graduated with a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University, Neil also holds a PhD in Environmental Economics from UCD, and an MBA from the London Business School.

Colin O’Hanlon, Commercial Manager with Indaver has over 15 years’ experience in the waste sector. He has extensive experience in the development of integrated waste infrastructure projects including Waste to Energy in Ireland and the UK.

His areas of experience include project communications, permitting process, corporate and public affairs, environmental policy and the commercialisation of Indaver projects.

Presently, Colin is engaged in advancing the commercialisation efforts for Indaver's approved 10MW Hydrogen generation project to be located at their Waste to Energy facility in County Meath.