Mark Fielding is a mentor, independent advisor and non-executive director with several businesses and their management. Specialising in all aspects of SME business from pre-start-up through early stage and growth phases. He has been involved in the SME sector throughout his working life, in the UK, France and Ireland and has assisted in the start-up of more than 500 enterprises.

Nationally, he has served on numerous government advisory bodies, including the Company Law Review Group, the high-level group on Business Regulation, the Retail Consultation Forum, SME Procurement advisory body and the Advisory Group on Small Business.

At an international level he served on the administrative council of SME United (UEAPME), the European body for SMEs, representing over 12 million enterprises with more than 55 million employees for 15 years.

Martin O’Keefe joined the Board in February 2023.

Eimear Berry joined the Board in February 2023.

Michael McLoughlin is chief executive of Amárach Research, the independent market research company ( www.amarach.com ). He joined Amárach in 2000 after a decade in retail banking and became CEO in 2005. Amárach undertakes research in consumer, business and not for profit markets in Ireland and overseas. Michael is also a non executive director of the Social Finance Foundation ( www.sff.ie ); Heritage Credit Union ( www.heritagecu.ie ); and he chairs the Irish Youth Foundation. He is a graduate of University College Dublin (MA and MBA) and is a Chartered Director (C.Dir).

Her work history includes higher education management, teaching experience in the area of entrepreneurship, business planning and marketing at undergraduate and post graduate level as well as private sector senior management experience in retail and publishing. Therese is research active in the area of entrepreneurship education and female entrepreneurship.

Ursula O’Connor heads up a team in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council focusing on Economic Development in the public realm. Reporting directly to the Head of Enterprise, Ursula works to improve the County’s towns and villages as areas to do business and has been particularly involved in the Council’s Covid response in the public realm along with progressing some major civic infrastructure projects across the County. Her department also provides supports and incentives to existing and new businesses; collaborates on footfall initiatives and events; and liaises closely with business representative organisations. A key part of the role is ensuring that the business voice is heard throughout the various departments of the County Council.

A Council official for 20 years, Ursula has considerable previous experience in the Finance Department, representing Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at Local Government fora and having responsibility at various times for the production of the annual budget, Project Management of Finance System upgrades and management of the Commercial Rates department. Other experience in the County Council includes Property Management and the day-to-day operation of the Parks Department including Deansgrange and Shanganagh Cemeteries.

Prior to working at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Ursula had an extensive career in eircom, primarily in the Information Technology Department as a Programme Co-ordinator and laterally, as Data Strategist for eircom wholesale and retail systems.

I am married with three beautiful kids, 2, 4 & 6 and a Wife that loves running. I live in Co, Kildare.
I love competing in Triathlons and playing astro during the week.

Joyce is Non-Executive Director of CIPD Ireland and Honorary Vice-Chair (previously Chair) of the National Committee of CIPD Ireland. Joyce is currently the joint Managing Director of Voltedge Management, a leading Irish HR and Management Consultancy. She has spent many years in senior HR positions in multinational corporates and European start-ups and has considerable experience aligning HR with business strategy, addressing employee issues, progressing major change, and providing support to senior management teams and Boards.

Prior to joining the National Development Finance Agency at the end of 2013, Louise worked in the banking and project finance market in London where she specialised in the origination of renewable energy and infrastructure projects in the European, North American and UK markets.

Ciarán Kenny is originally from Donegal, but has now settled in Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Ciarán is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UCD, as well as a Master of Accounting degree from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Blackrock.

Ciarán has extensive audit experience having worked in Deloitte’s financial services department and with Kerry Group as internal auditor for North & South America. Most recently Ciarán has held Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer roles with Irish SMEs.

Ciarán has joined the team as CEO and will be responsible for the management of the centre. He will be working closely with the Board to set and execute the organisations strategy.