A multidisciplinary panel will discuss and debate the long term strategic plan for Ireland, with a particular focus on Galway City, Galway County and the wider region. Our panel will also share insights and trends that emerged while navigating the pandemic restrictions and what the longer term impacts are likely to be on critical societal issues from housing and transport, through to culture and the creation of a truly liveable city.
Moderator:
Carol Tallon, CEO Property District
Speakers:
John Concannon, Vice President of NUI Galway
John Moran, Chair of the Land Development Agency
Elaine Brick, Regional Director at AECOM
Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of the Western Development Commission
TICKETS
Free | Online Event) (Live and Digital via Zoom webinar)
John A Moran is perhaps best known for his role as Secretary General at the Department of Finance during the bailout years and for establishing a road map for a post-crisis Ireland. Currently, he is the Chair of Ireland’s Land Development Agency - set up to ensure the provision of affordable homes and better management of state-owned land. John is also the Chair of SME Recovery Ireland - a platform representing Ireland’s small and medium business sector to ensure that the policy response to Covid-19 is designed to succeed for SMEs. He also holds Chair positions with the European Expo 2020, #LIVEABLELIMERICK and the Hunt Museum.
John is a trained lawyer and banker, he studied financial mathematics and French. At 21 he became one of the youngest persons to be called to the Bar of the State of New York. In the past, John has held various roles such as Board Member of the European Investment Bank, Commission member and Banking Supervisor at the Central Bank, Aviation Lawyer at GPA Group plc, CEO of Zurich Capital Markets and positions at the New York firms of Sullivan & Cromwell and McCann Fitzgerald.
John is Founder and CEO of RHH International, a thought-leadership consultancy and social entrepreneurship company and advises many companies, particularly those trying to disrupt the status quo. Since his time at the heart of the Irish Government machine, he has been much quoted for his views on urban planning. He has also advocated for better balanced regional development using the potential of Ireland’s regional cities to act as growth engines. John has been particularly involved in helping the recent renaissance of Limerick, serving on the Limerick Economic Forum and playing a role helping to secure the economic recovery of the region.
John’s work has been acknowledged at home in Ireland and internationally, including, by the decision of the President of the French Republic to bestow on him the rank of “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merit” (Knight of the Order of Merit).
Tomás Ó Síocháin is CEO of the Western Development Commission [www.westerndevelopment.ie] a state agency that supports communities to grow, invests in businesses to scale and is planning for the future of the western region. Tomás was previously External Engagement Programme Manager for NUI Galway where he led the integration of Shannon College of Hotel Management into NUI Galway. Prior to joining NUI Galway, he spent fourteen years as a journalist, editor and producer with RTÉ and TG4, working at home and abroad covering news, business and sport on television, radio and online.
He is a law graduate of NUI Galway, holds a H. Dip in Applied Communications, an MBA and is a doctoral researcher in Information Systems. He is as an External Assessor for the Broadcast Authority of Ireland’s Sound and Vision Fund, a board member of Future Mobility Campus Ireland, GrowRemote, Galway Chamber, Gnó Mhaigh Eo and was the inaugural Chair of the Regional Skills Forum West.
Elaine Brick is a Regional Director within AECOM’s Transport Consulting business. She is a specialist in transport strategy, project development and evaluation. She has worked in both the public and private sectors and brings experience of project delivery from across the UK and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the Middle East. Elaine is based in Galway and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Galway Chamber of Commerce.
John Concannon is Vice President at NUI Galway, with responsibility for the Development of the University. In this role, he is responsible for communication, alumni, the University Foundation, and corporate and community engagement. The re-development of Nuns Island as a new “Creativity and Innovation District” for Galway is a key focus of the role.
John also works with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on the “Global Ireland” initiative which aims to double Ireland’s international footprint by 2025, and was part of Ireland’s successful campaign to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
He has held numerous leadership roles across both public and private sectors, including with Unilever PLC, Dubarry, Fáilte Ireland, the Taoiseach’s Office, and the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Carol Tallon, CEO of communications agency Property District, specialises in PR, new media and public consultation for the built environment. With more than 15 years in planning, construction, property and proptech, Carol has worked with government departments, industry representatives, property developers, construction companies, auctioneering firms and media outlets. Carol and the Property District team are currently rolling out Ireland’s first virtual town hall - PLACEengage.com.