Connections · Practice groups
Learn from other members' experience.
Join members at company sites and online to compare approaches, discuss challenges and exchange ideas you can use in your organisation. Explore our member groups below, or ask about a topic that matters to your team.
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, IRDG's Director of Innovation Services, with Dermot Casey, IRDG's Chief Executive and a Director of the NSAI — the body behind Ireland's adoption of the ISO 56000 family. 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 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.
Beyond the Forum, sustainability is one of IRDG Innovation Skillnet's training pillars, with courses at Skillnet-supported rates for eligible companies; Julia works with member companies one-to-one on where to start and which of the network's routes fits; and IRDG helps members make an informed first pass at the grants, EU programmes and supports for sustainability-driven projects and reach the right agency conversation prepared.
What is running
Upcoming sustainability sessions.
No sustainability session is listed just now.
See the events calendar for forthcoming briefings, or contact IRDG about this topic.
Who to ask
Sustainability Leaders Forum — contact Julia Le Maitre.
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 to ask
Policy Working Group — contact Dermot Casey.
Dermot CaseyChief Executive Officer
Topic · AI and innovation
AI and innovation.
Explore IRDG's AI programmes, or contact the team about opportunities to share experience with other members.
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.