Who IRDG is
The people behind the network.
IRDG brings together a focused executive team, a voluntary Board and member-informed groups. Together they connect day-to-day delivery with the experience of companies doing R&D and innovation in Ireland.
About IRDG
An independent, business-led innovation network since 1992.
IRDG is an independent, business-led innovation network dedicated to industry research, development and innovation. Our role is practical: represent member evidence, build capability, create useful connections and help companies navigate funding and incentives.
Our members range from small indigenous enterprises to Ireland's largest multinationals, across 24 sectors. IRDG is a company limited by guarantee, directed by a voluntary Board drawn from member companies and run day to day by the executive team below.
Executive team
Meet the IRDG team.
Six people. Between them they run membership, innovation services, policy, programmes, Skillnet and events. Email anyone directly.
Dermot Casey
Chief Executive Officer
Dermot became CEO in January 2022. His career spans deep-technology investing at NDRC, scaling Storyful as COO, and technical and management roles at GE. He is a Director of the NSAI.
Mary Byrne
Director of Member Success
Mary leads membership development and communications, helping companies find the people, programmes and support most relevant to their work.
Bernadette McGahon
Director of Innovation Services
Bernie brings more than 20 years of research and innovation experience across academic, industry and public-sector settings.
Julia Le Maitre
Innovation Services & Sustainability Manager
Julia works with members across sustainability and innovation services, drawing on experience in energy policy, consultancy and collaborative research.
Josh Blake
Network Manager — IRDG Innovation Skillnet
Josh works with companies to plan and deliver Skillnet-supported training through IRDG Innovation Skillnet.
Lorraine O'Farrell
Executive Assistant
Lorraine coordinates events and conferences, supports member enquiries and provides communications and administrative support across IRDG.
The team, working
Much of what IRDG does happens in a room with members in it. Much happens in the background.
Our team of six runs membership, innovation services, policy, programmes, Skillnet and events between them. In practice that means a lot of days like this one: a stand, a delegate list and several hundred conversations.
It also means hundreds of direct one-to-one conversations every year — in person, over Zoom or Teams, or on the phone.
Board of Directors
A voluntary Board drawn from industry.
The Board approves strategy, budget and reserved matters, and holds the Chief Executive accountable for delivery. Directors serve in a voluntary capacity and are not involved in day-to-day management.
Dr John McKeon
Chair
Co-Founder & CEO, Allergy Standards
John is a medical entrepreneur whose work connects health, standards, research and the commercial application of evidence.
Muiris Flynn
Director
Former Chief Technology Officer, Glen Dimplex
Muiris has led technical and product-development work across energy and consumer technologies.
Joan Mulvihill
Director
Digitalisation and Creativity Evangelist
Joan works on creativity, technology, digitalisation and the human side of organisational change.
Richard Stack
Director
Director, Tricel
Richard has led innovation, growth and international operations across industrial, environmental and construction markets.
Nessa McEniff
Director
Centre Director, Learnovate Centre, Trinity College Dublin
Nessa works in learning innovation and EdTech, translating research into practice at Learnovate.
Seamus Ledwith
Director
Senior Principal R&D Engineer, Medtronic Vascular
Seamus has spent his career in medical-device R&D, engineering and operations innovation in a highly regulated environment.
Dervilla Mullan
Director
Chief Product Officer, NewsWhip
Dervilla leads product, engineering and AI work in communications technology and data-led software.
Niall Donnellan
Director
Services Projects Manager, Dell Technologies
Niall manages complex services and innovation projects at a multinational technology organisation in Ireland.
IRDG Innovation Skillnet
Steering Committee
IRDG Innovation Skillnet is guided by a Steering Committee drawn from industry, which helps keep Skillnet-supported activity aligned with real enterprise capability needs. The committee roster is published here once appointments are confirmed.
Member groups
Where member experience is compared and tested.
Four current groups. Each is member-informed and advisory: they shape IRDG's priorities and positions, they do not decide them.
Policy Working Group
Evidence on the policy, tax and support issues affecting research, development and innovation.
Member working groupInnovation Management
Strategy, portfolios, governance, measurement and repeatable innovation practice.
Innovation Practice GroupAI for Innovation
Practical use of AI in R&D, product and innovation work, including governance and limitations.
Innovation Practice GroupSustainable Innovation
Products, processes and business models responding to climate, resource and transition challenges.
Innovation Practice Group