Speaker Biographies
Introduction and Opening Address – Bob Lee, Great place to work institute
Bob Lee is the founder and CEO of the Great Place to Work Institute Ireland, and a co-owner and Director of GPTW UK. In these roles, he provides leadership and strategic direction for the Institute within these markets. Bob works with leaders and managers in a wide variety of industries to assess their workplace culture and support them as they seek to transform their organizations into great workplaces. Bob writes and lectures extensively. In addition to his regular contributions to Conferences and Seminars throughout Europe, Bob is a regular keynote speaker and presenter at professional association conferences.
Introduction and Opening Address (from GCI) – David Casey, UCD and John Hannon, GCI co-chairs
David Casey is Acting Director of the UCD Career Development Centre and Joint Chair of Graduate Careers Ireland. He is also a member of GCI Training Committee. David is a graduate of NUI Maynooth and a postgraduate of the University of Limerick and the University of Hull. His work in the careers field began in 2000. Prior to this he set up and managed a graduate training programme in the USA.
John Hannon is Head of the Career Development Centre at NUI Galway and Joint Chair of Graduate Careers Ireland. A graduate of UCG and UCD, John has worked extensively in guidance and as programme development officer at second level, in the voluntary sector and as a lecturer at third level.
Latest Developments in interviews and assessment centres – Leisha McGrath, Hudson
Leisha is a consultant and an occupational psychologist with several years previous experience in HR management. She has driven best practice for graduate recruitment, performance management, training and development, and strategic and business planning. Leisha has an international BA in psychology and an MSc in occupational psychology. She is qualified across a range of psychometric tools.
Latest Developments in interviews and assessment centres – Garry Goldsmith, Hudson
Garry joined Hudson Talent Management in 2007 from Wyeth as practice leader. For more than two decades, Garry has operated as both an external and internal change agent to develop and implement comprehensive talent management solutions. Extensive consulting experience at Senior Management level allows him to align management theory with strategic business objectives. Throughout his career, Garry has been able to develop an appreciation and understanding of world class talent management processes.
Latest developments in applicant screening and processing – Duncan Macintyre, GTI Online Solutions
After joining GTI in 1999 and working as a publisher with major national and international recruiters, Duncan has moved from –attraction– to –selection–
to become director, sales and marketing. GTI Online Solutions is a specialist developer of complex and powerful online systems for clients extending across the world,
including Rolls Royce, GKN, Barclays Capital, KPMG, Oliver Wyman, Arup, Gardiner & Theobald, Lovells LLP and the Alexon Group.
Using Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) to increase the effectiveness of your website and Marketing, promotion and recruitment in a multimedia age – Ciaran Norris, Altogether Digital
Ciaran has worked in online marketing since 2000. He took up the role of SEO and social media director at new full service digital agency Altogether Digital in April, where he works
with a variety of major brands, helping them put SEO & Web 2.0 at the heart of their marketing activities. He has spoken at a variety of events on how the web is changing business
and also blogs on digital marketing at SEOmoz and e-consultancy.
Setting up a graduate programme and promoting it to students – Neil Hughes, Ulster Bank/Royal Bank of Scotland Group
Neil Hughes is the graduate programme manager for Ulster Bank, responsible for the recruitment and development of all graduates across the company. He has been in this role
for the last 18 months, and has held a number of positions in Ulster Bank human resources over the last five years. Neil has just completed an MSc in human resource management.
Setting up a graduate programme and promoting it to students – Ruth McIntyre, Kerry Group
Ruth McIntyre has a psychology degree and a MSc in Work & Organisational Psychology from DCU. Her main areas of interest are performance management and personal and organisational development, which are now the focus of her current role as HR Manager with Kerry Group, where she is responsible for the selection, training and development of all graduate employees.
Enhancing your programme and fast tracking graduates to senior positions – Trevor Mawhinney, MacKenzieYoung and Denise Banks, Accenture
Prior to entering consultancy, Trevor was a senior executive in the financial services industry, most recently specialising in new business start-ups. His international experience
includes managing businesses in Holland, Ireland, Luxembourg, UK and project development in the Far East. Educated at Queen's University, Belfast and INSEAD, Trevor has
a postgraduate diploma in executive coaching and is an accredited mediator.
Denise Banks is Head of Training and Development for Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Denise has been with the company since 2006 and has responsibility for the provision of training across all parts of the business. Previous to Accenture, Denise worked for AIB Capital Markets in a similar role.
Key trends and developments in the third level sector and how they impact on graduate recruitment – Fergal Costello, Higher Education Authority
Fergal is Head of Policy and Planning at the Higher Education Authority, a role that involves supporting the HEA in their policy and advisory functions on the development and promotion of higher education in Ireland. He is also a member of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, and the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. Fergal Costello has a BA in History and Economics and an MEconSc in European Affairs, both from UCD.
Building relationships with colleges and careers services – Rod Toner, Abbott Ireland
Rod Toner is talent acquisition manager for Abbott Ireland and is responsible for managing both strategic and operational recruitment activities for all of Abbott's ten businesses in Ireland.
Building relationships with colleges and careers services – Mary Sweeney, University of Limerick
Mary Sweeney is head of careers at the University of Limerick where she is responsible for the overall development and management of the careers services for students and
recent graduates. She has had extensive experience in managing undergraduate placement programmes, providing careers information, advice and guidance to students and
graduates, and designing and delivering career education programmes. These activities have all involved interaction with an international network of employers on all matters
relating to graduate recruitment and development.
Information and networking Seminars (Finance) – Grace McRandal, Irish Taxation Institute
Grace McRandal is senior manager of professional education with the Irish Taxation Institute (ITI). ITI is the representative body for taxation affairs in Ireland and the ITI
School of Taxation is the leading provider of professional tax qualifications to over 1,500 students nationwide. A graduate of DCU's MSc in education and training management,
Grace's role is to lead the strategic development of ITI's educational offerings.
Information and Networking Seminars (Finance) – Niall Driver, UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business
Niall Driver currently runs the Career Management Centre at UCD's Michael Smurfit School of Business, providing careers advice, support and training to students and developing relationships with key recruiting companies. He is an MBA graduate of the Smurfit School, with over ten years' experience in a variety of public and private sector recruitment roles in Ireland and the UK.
Information and Networking Seminars (IT and Engineering) – Kathleen Reilly, IBEC
Kathryn Raleigh is the Director of ICT Ireland, IBEC's representative body for the information and communications technology sector. Prior to her appointment as Director in 2004, Kathryn held the position of Director of The Irish Software Association in IBEC since 2001. A graduate of University College Cork, Kathryn worked for the Food and Drink Federation and Bord Bia before joining IBEC in 1995.
Information and Networking Seminars (IT and Engineering) – Padraic Gallagher, University of Limerick
Padraic Gallagher is a Cooperative Education Manager at the University of Limerick. He is responsible for the ongoing development and day-to-day management of the Cooperative Education programme ( Student placement programme) for 29 undergraduate programmes in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University. Padraic is also a Careers Officer offering careers advice to undergraduates and postgraduate students.
Information and Networking Seminars (Science) – Alanna McGuinness, IBEC
Alanna McGuinness is a Business, Economics & Social Studies Graduate from Trinity College Dublin. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and holds a qualification in Marketing from MMI and in Employment Law from IBEC/NUI. She works for PharmaChemical Ireland, a trade association within IBEC, where she runs interview technique seminars and career events.
Information and Networking Seminars (Science) – Pat O'Connell, University College Cork
A graduate of the former Dairy Science Faculty at University College Cork (now the Faculty of Food Science and Technology), he obtained his BSc (Dairying) in 1969. The next 29 years were spent in the food and pharmaceutical processing industries. In 1998 he joined the Faculty of Food Science and Technology as its first Work Placement Manager and established a vibrant placement programme for the Faculty.
Graduate salaries, student attitudes and expectations in 2008 – Caroline Kennedy, National College of Ireland
Caroline is a careers officer at National College of Ireland. She completed a Masters in social and organisational psychology in UCD and has worked within the recruitment industry in both London and Dublin. She has been a third level careers officer since 2003 and is an active member of GCI serving as joint PR officer and as a member of the employers' committee.
Expert Panel – Paul Murphy, IADT
Paul Murphy is careers officer in the Institute of Art Design & Technology, Dun Laoghaire. He has been the chair of Graduate Careers Ireland[s Information and Publications
Committee for the past couple of years and has recently joined GCI's new Executive as co-secretary.
Expert Panel – Muireann Ni Dhuigneain, DCU
Muireann Ni Dhuigneain is head of DCU Careers Service, outgoing joint chair of Graduate Careers Ireland (GCI), member of AGCAS and Fedora. She has extensive
experience of career education, information, advice and guidance at university and post primary level. She has served on several strategic and operational committees,
at local and at national level. Research interests include career guidance and counselling in practice, trends in graduate recruitment, transferable skills and reflective
portfolio development.
Expert Panel – Deirdre Deery, Queen's University Belfast
With almost 30 years' experience as a careers adviser Deirdre has worked in a broad range of contexts including school guidance counsellor, careers adviser with the Department of Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland) and senior careers adviser at the University of Ulster. She is currently working as a Senior Careers Adviser (Work Placement) at Queen's University, Belfast.
