Activity · Practice Groups
Real innovation practice, shared openly.
Small member sessions bring practitioners together — at member sites and online — to compare approaches, work through a live challenge and leave with something useful to try. Three standing groups run now, and groups form around member demand: an AI for Innovation group also runs through the year.
Group 01 · Innovation Management
The Innovation Management Group.
Strategy, portfolios, governance, measurement and the routines that turn innovation intent into repeatable work — compared across sectors by the people running it. A member or the IRDG team frames a live case; the group works on it; participants leave with something to try in their own organisation.
The group is run by Bernadette McGahon, Director of Innovation Services. Sessions are announced on the events platform; where no date is open, register interest and the team will contact you when one is added.
Group 02 · Sustainability
The Sustainability Leaders Forum.
The people carrying sustainability briefs in member companies — comparing how the work is actually being done: reporting obligations like CSRD, new products, processes and business models responding to climate, resource and transition challenges, and what has worked elsewhere in the network.
In 2025 the network's sustainability activity included CSRD training in Dublin, a CSRD-preparedness deep dive and a sustainability session of The Innovators Edge Series looking at what good looks like for 2026.
Who runs it
Julia runs the sustainability agenda.
Julia works with members across sustainability and innovation services, drawing on experience in energy policy, consultancy and collaborative research. If your organisation should be in the Leaders Forum — or you want to know what it covers next — start with her.
Julia Le MaitreInnovation Services & Sustainability Manager
Group 03 · Policy
The Policy Working Group.
The route by which member evidence becomes IRDG's policy positions. The group contributes evidence on the policy, tax and support issues affecting research, development and innovation — feeding pre-budget submissions, consultation responses and IRDG's standing engagement with Revenue, the Department of Finance and the enterprise agencies.
Every position the group has fed is published with its date, route and outcome on the Influence page — including the ones that have not moved.
Who runs it
Dermot carries the policy work.
Dermot became CEO in January 2022, with a career spanning deep-technology investing at NDRC, scaling Storyful as COO and technical and management roles at GE. He is a Director of the NSAI, and leads IRDG's engagement with government departments and agencies.
Dermot CaseyChief Executive Officer
What to expect
A practical session from start to finish.
Start with a real case
A member or the IRDG team frames the context, choices and question.
Compare approaches
Participants share relevant experience, methods and implementation lessons.
Leave with a next step
The session closes with an idea, contact or action you can take back to work.
Hosting
Host a practice group at your site.
Hosting gives your team a focused way to share an approach, test a challenge with experienced peers and contribute to the member network. IRDG agrees the topic, audience and practical arrangements with you.