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Leo Varadkar
T.D., An Tánaiste,Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment - Keynote online address. |
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Dr. John Reilly
Head of Renewable Energy, Bord na Móna John is a member of Bord na Móna’s senior leadership team with specific responsibility for delivering the next generation of energy infrastructure projects to Bord na Móna’s expanding portfolio in the electricity market. His team is currently leading an expansion programme, which will see the company invest in excess of €2.0bn in expanding its generating fleet, with a key focus on renewable technologies, to assist Ireland in meeting its security of supply and decarbonisation targets in the period to 2030. John has more than 20 years’ experience in the energy sector and was previously part of the Senior Management team at Edenderry Power prior to its acquisition by Bord na Móna Energy from the major German utility player EON. He has also worked for Fortum, the Finnish Utility. John has served as a member of Eurelectric’s Environment & Sustainable Development Policy committee and the Irish Business & Employers Confederation (IBEC’s) Energy Policy Executive, where he previously chaired the Climate Change Working Group. He is currently on the Board of the Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI). |
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Dr Paul Deane
Research Fellow MaREI, University College Cork Senior researcher fellow in energy and climate policy with Science Foundation Ireland at MaREI Centre in University College Cork, Ireland. Paul was one of the senior writers of the report commissioned by IrBEA - “Transport in Ireland: A Pathway to Halving Emissions – Meeting ambitious emissions reduction in Ireland’s Transport sector and the role of Sustainable Bioenergy”. It looks at policy and decision-making around transport with a roadmap on how we can dramatically reduce emissions from our transport sector through the use of renewable energy resources and therefore, having a big impact on addressing our climate challenge. |
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James Cogan
Industry and Policy Analyst at Ethanol Europe James is an industry and policy analyst at ClonBio Group Ltd. He expertise is on EU climate, innovation and economic development policy. He is currently working to support the introduction of climate friendly E10 petrol in Ireland. He is a member of the Private Sector Mechanism of the UN Committee on Food Security. He represented the world Climate Ethanol Alliance as partner to the UNFCCC at COP24 in Katowice in 2018 and COP25 in Madrid in 2019. He has worked for the European Commission and its partners on innovation, finance and innovation project development. |
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Marie Donnelly
Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Council Marie is the Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Council. She spent thirty years with the European Commission, where she was Director for Renewables, Energy Efficiency and Innovation. Marie collaborates with MaREI in University College Cork and the UCD Energy Institute. Previously, she was the first Chairperson of Renewable Energy Ireland and was a non-executive director of Tipperary Energy Agency. |
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Michelle Kearney
Senior Policy Analyst Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michelle holds a BSc in Chemistry and a PhD in electrochemistry and has over 20 years’ experience in policy development. Michelle is the bioenergy policy lead in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine focusing on energy efficiency, deployment of renewable technologies at farm level, and the supply of bioenergy feedstocks as key agricultural contributions to the energy transition. Michelle also project manages the agricultural contribution to the national Climate Action Plan and most recently has become involved in policy development around carbon farming as a key opportunity for sustainable farming practices. She previously worked in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Forfás where she was mainly involved in science, technology and innovation policy including European Framework Programmes. Prior to this Michelle worked in Enterprise Ireland as a key researcher in EU-funded Framework Programmes focussing on composite and piezoelectric materials. |
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Barry Quinlan
Assistant Secretary Department of Environment, Climate and Communications Barry Quinlan has track record of policy development and implementation across complex public policy areas. He is currently leading on Energy - Built Environment, Retail and Regulation - overseeing Irelands objectives in energy efficiency, renewable heat and energy poverty. Previously he led on Social and Affordable Housing - social, affordable purchase and cost rental. Before that Barry headed up the Local Government Division leading on all areas of Local Government political and operational modernisation. |
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Paddy Phelan
CEO South East Energy Agency Paddy is CEO at South East Energy Agency, President of the Irish Bioenergy Association, Executive Committee of the Irish Wind Farmers Association, and Committee Member of European Biogas Association. Paddy manages a multi-disciplinary team at the South East Energy - a not for profit, local acting, regional energy agency. Paddy has significant experience across all areas of energy, in energy efficiency, energy management and land based renewable/clean technologies. He has significant experience in the built environment retrofit process with emphasis on social housing retrofit since 2012 with Carlow, Kilkenny & Wexford Social housing providers in Local Authority and Housing Association sites. Laura Burke
Director General of Environmental Protection Agency Laura Burke is the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), appointed in 2011 and served as a Director within the EPA since 2004. As Director General she has the responsibility to lead and strategically manage the EPA. Laura is the Chair of the European Environment Agency (EEA) Management Board. Prior to joining the EPA, she worked in the private sector. Laura is a graduate chemical engineer of University College Dublin (UCD), holds an MSc from Trinity College, Dublin, is a Fellow and is a Vice-President of Engineers Ireland and is a Chartered Director. In 2016 Laura was awarded the UCD Engineering Graduates Association (EGA) Distinguished Graduate Award. |
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Tom Egan
Operations Manager, Bord na Móna Tom Egan is a member of Bord na Móna’s Renewable Energy management team with specific responsibility for a portfolio of BnM Renewable Power Generation Assets. Tom was instrumental in leading the transition of Edenderry Power to 100% Renewable generation and developing the biomass supply chain. Tom has over 30 years’ experience in the global electricity sector, in senior management positions with Bord na Móna, Eon and General Electric. Before joining Bord na Móna, Tom was a member of Eon management team which managed a portfolio of CHP Plants in the UK and Ireland. Prior to that he spent 13 years with GE Power Systems, as a Project Manager delivering large scale capital projects in North America, Middle East, Africa and Asia and as Operations Manager for the GE Energy Rentals in EMEA, delivering temporary power generation solutions. |
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Padraig Fleming
Biomethane Programme Manager for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI): Padraig Fleming is currently working on increasing the amount of renewable gas that Gas Networks Ireland transport to start the transformation of gas industry to a sustainable energy business. He has previously worked for a number of energy companies including Ervia, Bord Gáis Energy, Commission for Regulation of Utilities and ESB. Earlier in his career he was responsible trading, pricing and regulation and led the design of the Single Electricity Market. He is member of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Engineer. He holds an MBA from Henley Management College, a Master of Arts in Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin and Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Trinity College. |
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Rowena Dwyer
Manager - Sustainability and Climate at Enterprise Ireland Before joining Enterprise Ireland, she was Chief Economist at the Irish Farmers’ Association. Prior to joining the IFA, Rowena worked as a Consultant at PWC in Dublin. She spent two years in the Ghanaian capital Accra, serving as an Economist in the Ministry of Education. Rowena is a graduate in Economics from Trinity College Dublin and holds an MSc in Public Economics from the University of York. |
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Stephen Blewitt
General Manager Aurivo Co-operative Stephen is a General Manager at Dairy Aurivo Co-operative. He has 26 years experience within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and agricultural industry. He has expertise in operations, sales leadership, communication and business development strategies. |
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Declan Meally
Director of Business, Public Sector and Transport at Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Declan joined SEAI in 2005 and has been involved in the successful delivery of many of the organisations programmes. Declan has served as Head of Department across a number of areas at SEAI including Industry, Marine/Ocean Energy, Smart Grid, Transport, Communities and more recently National Retrofit. He is a chartered mechanical engineer and has worked for over twenty years in management in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining SEAI, Declan worked in management in Xerox Europe Limited and Aer Rianta as well as the Defence Forces. |
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Seán Kelly ( Online Address)
MEP for Ireland South Seán Kelly is a member of the European Parliament for Ireland South. Among the most active MEPs of the Parliament, he has been honoured as MEP of the Year for Research and Innovation in 2012 and 2020 and MEP of the Year for Digital Agenda in 2014. Through the work of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Sean works too put in place the policies that will move us towards a low-carbon economy, in line with the EU’s pledge under the Paris Agreement (40% emissions reductions by 2030). |
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Colm Byrne
CEO of Glas Energy Colm is CEO of Glas Energy one of Ireland's longest standing renewable energy companies. Formed in 2002 Glas has deployed all types of biomass heating solutions from wood pellet and log systems for domestic clients to large wood-chip solutions for community, commercial and corporate projects. As partners for HDG Bavaria Glas offers a market leading range of boilers for the clean and convenient conversion of biomass to heat. Glas endeavours to provide fully sustainable biomass solutions and offers clients, in partnership with a forestry company, the option to 'close the biomass cycle' by planting trees to offset the timber consumed by the boiler installations. |
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Paul O'Brien
Irish Farmers Association Paul O'Brien is the Chair of the IFA Environmental and Rural Affairs Committee. |
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Valerie Hughes
Energy, Air & Adaptation Division, Department of Transport Valerie leads on the implementation of the Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy within the Department of Transport. This work sits within the Department’s Climate Action Division, which is responsible for developing and delivering climate action policy for the transport sector in line with Ireland’s national and international obligations. |
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Martin Rafter
Assistant CEO & Social Inclusion Programmes Manager Manager of a series of programmes which focus on the support of individuals, communities and business. He works supporting communities in the Kilkenny and Carlow region to represent and plan for change and to support a business to grow and strengthen in the local economy. Programmes include LEADER, Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, Tus, Community Services Programme, Rural Social Scheme plus major CSR projects with Danone Ecosystem (Bioenergy) and State Street Bank (Labour Market). |
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Joseph Spollen
Biomass Manager at Bord na Móna Joseph manages the team responsible for the sourcing and delivery of biomass material for the Edenderry Power Plant. Joseph holds a BAgrSc from University College Dublin and an MSc from TU Dublin. He has also spent a number of years working in the Renewable Energy sector in the UK and Europe prior to his current role with Bord na Móna. |
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Julie-Ann O'Reilly
Business Unit Manager Biofuel Division at College Group College Group is Ireland's leader in bio-waste management. They work closely with the food service sector continually improving and expanding total waste management solutions. |
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Luc Pelkmans
Luc Pelkmans, Technical Coordinator IEA Bioenergy Luc is Technical Coordinator of the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme since 2016. He is also manager of the consultancy firm CAPREA Sustainable Solutions. Luc graduated as MSc in Mechanical Engineering in 1994 and worked for VITO, a Belgian research institute, from 1996 until 2017 as project manager on the topics of alternative transport fuels and drivetrains, biofuels, bioenergy and biobased economy. |
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Paul Kennedy
Net Zero Carbon Director, Danone Since 2015 Paul Kennedy has overseen the global nature and sustainability programme in Danone’s baby food operations, integrating the company’s commitments on climate change, water preservation, regenerative agriculture & promoting a circular economy for packaging & food waste. Since 2019 he took on broader responsibility as global sustainably manager for Danone’s Specialized Nutrition operations. Since begining 2022 Paul is now leading Danone’s Net Zero Carbon programme within global operations. Paul graduated as an engineer from the National University of Ireland in Galway. He started his career as a project engineer within the construction industry and joined Danone in 2010 as an Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Danone Wexford, the baby formula plant certified as carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust in 2019. |
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Denis Malone
Senior Planner at Kilkenny County Council Director of Services covering Planning, Environment, Building Control, Parks, LEO/Economic Development, Tourism, Marketing & Veterinary Services. |
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Enda Buckley
Director of Sustainability with Carbery Group Enda has over 17 years’ experience in the sustainability. Over the past seven years he has spearheaded a number of sustainability initiatives and projects within the Carbery Group such as Farm Zero C, the Carbery trees initiative and the Biorefinery Glas (grass biorefinery) project. These projects and Carbery’s wider ESG strategy have enabled the group to become an Origin Green gold member two years running and winners of multiple Green Awards. Prior to his time at Carbery, Enda worked in his own consultancy - Sustainable Solutions. He was tutored at DCU and worked as the Sustainable Transport Policy Officer for the Irish Environmental Network (IEN) and was Sustainability Director at the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI). Enda is a science graduate of NUI Galway with a HDip in Applied Science Microbiology and also holds an MSc in the Management of Sustainable Development through Dublin City University (DCU). |
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Luis Gay-Tarazona
SEAI Programme Manager for Decarbonised Heat: Bioenergy Luis leads and manages the SEAI Bioenergy research strategy which includes managing the Renewable Heat Bioenergy team and other decarbonization Res-H team members. He supports the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications in Ireland (DECC) in the delivery of legislation and policy development by providing evidence based advise and ensures DECC are kept informed of emerging bioenergy trends and technology developments. |
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Ger Crosse
Director at Woodco Renewable Energy Ger heads up the business as Commercial Director of Woodco Renewable Energy. The company has a manufacturing facility in Co. Tipperary, as well as offices in Ireland and the UK, and has supplied boiler systems across Ireland, the UK, Europe, the United States and Canada. Woodco offers a range of domestic and commercial biomass heating solutions and recently expanded their range to distribute larger systems of 500kW and over. Now, some 49 years after the family company produced its first boiler, Woodco Renewable Energy still provides cost-effective and sustainable Biomass Energy solutions. |
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Seán Finan
Irish Bioenergy Association CEO Seán Finan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA). He is a Chartered Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons) Degree from National University of Ireland, Galway. Prior to joining IrBEA, Seán working in the construction sector and held the role of 35th National President of Macra na Feirme, the young farmers representative organisation, from 2015 – 2017. Seán leads IrBEA and its members for a sustainable future in bioenergy and to strategically position the Biomass, Biogas, Biofuels, Biochar, Wood fuels and Energy crop sectors to play a key role in Ireland’s Sustainability Renewable Energy Roadmap. |
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