Phillip Fischer joined UCD as Chief Information Officer in July 2017 and is responsible for University-wide IT Services including Academic and Administrative Systems, Research IT, Teaching and Learning Technologies, UCD Web Services and the delivery of the IT Strategy 2020. Prior to joining UCD, he held the position of CIO & PMO Europe at Aramark. In his twelve years with Aramark, he worked with the Enterprise and European business entities to develop long term ICT strategies and effective ICT services models and played a key part in driving the region forward. Phillip is a member of Ibec’s Digital Economy Policy Committee and completed the Henley MBA in 2009 specialising in ICT Shared Services.

Mike Skelton is the Deputy Director of GOV.UK Web, Publishing, Platform & Design System, Government Digital Service. Mike is responsible for developing and running the GOV.UK website, the tooling that allows content to be published on it, ensuring that GOV.UK's infrastructure is secure, robust and scalable, while leading the team that creates the styles, components and patterns to help teams in government create user-centred digital services. Prior to joining GDS, Mike worked in technology roles across a number of sectors and industries, including as VP of Product at a health tech startup, 11 years working at the BBC in a variety of product leadership roles and 7 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Owen Harrison is a seasoned technology leader currently serving as the Chief Information Officer (Assistant Secretary) at the Courts Service since September 2020. Prior to this role, Owen held the position of Principal Officer - Head of Systems Development and Data at the Office of the Government CIO, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform from December 2014 to September 2020, where he led the implementation of digital, data, and shared application strategies. Owen's experience also includes serving as Assistant Principal Officer - Head of Systems Development, and co-founding Palamon Software Ltd, where Owen managed IT development and infrastructure projects. An adjunct lecturer at Dublin City University from 1998 to 2000, Owen has also worked as a Software Engineer at SUN Microsystems. Owen holds a PhD in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin and a BSc in Computer Science from Dublin City University.

Birna Íris Jónsdóttir joined Digital Iceland as CEO in November 2023. She is an experienced leader in IT and has served as an IT and Digital leader in banking, insurance, health and retail. She holds a BSc Degree in Computer Science, a MBA Degree and a diploma in Positive Psycology. Birna also studied AI as part of a masters degree in Computer Science. As the CEO of Digital Iceland her main vision is to simplify people‘s lives, make public sector processes more efficient and support practical use of data.

Sabahat “Saab” Khan is the Assistant Chief Executive and CIO at the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). He is overseeing the Digital, ICT, and Cybersecurity department, leading initiatives to enhance local government services through digital transformation. With a focus on innovation and efficiency, Sabahat drives digital advancements and improves service delivery. Sabahat is part of the LGMA executive team, responsible for delivering on corporate objectives and implementing policy and strategy across the Agency. With over 25 years of experience in the private sector, Saab is a globally astute, goals-driven senior executive with in-depth expertise in bottom line factors including strategic planning, technology management, financial management, and organisational development. He has a proven track record of large-scale business and technology transformation initiatives leading to profit increase, operational efficiency, and cost containment.

Dr Abeba Birhane founded and leads the TCD AI Accountability Lab (AIAL). She is an assistant professor of AI at the School of Computer Science and Statistics in Trinity College Dublin. Dr Birhane researches AI accountability with a particular focus on audits of AI models and training datasets – work for which she was featured in Wired UK and TIME on the TIME100 Most Influential People in AI list in 2023. Dr. Birhane also served on the United Nations Secretary-General’s AI Advisory Body and currently serves at the AI Advisory Council in Ireland.

Barry Lowry has been CIO for the Irish Government since April 2016 with the primary task of taking forward the Public Service ICT and eGovernment Strategies. These set out ambitions for developing the use of shared services, digital services and data to better serve the people of Ireland and ensure that Ireland is well-placed to benefit from European initiatives such as the Digital Single Market. Barry is a Fellow of the Irish and British Computer Societies and is a former winner of the BCS Northern Ireland IT Professional of the Year. He was awarded an O.B.E. for services to the Northern Ireland Government and the Northern Ireland Computer Industry in 2017.

Bill McCluggage is Managing Director of Laganview Associates Ltd. He became the first CIO for the Irish Government in 2013 and was CIO for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (2005 – 2009). He joined the Cabinet Office in 2009 as deputy UK Government CIO. While in the Cabinet Office he was the Executive Director responsible for the UK Government’s ICT Strategy and was instrumental in the development of the Government G[1]Cloud, and was SRO for the Identity Assurance Programme, now GOV.UK Verify.

Brian McKeon is the Head of Technology & Data Analytics in the National Ambulance Service of Ireland. He has over 20 years senior leadership experience in public sector healthcare, including acute hospitals, national strategy, and public health. Brian has built strong partnerships with academic institutions, lectured in the University of Limerick, and is currently researching Digital Adoption in University College Cork. Brian is leading the digital transformation of the ambulance service through the exploration of emerging technologies and continued integration with the wider healthcare system as part of the HSE Digital for Care strategy.

Danny Lynch is Head of Information Systems and Innovation with Longford County Council, with responsibility for leading the organisation’s digital strategy and delivery of modern, secure digital services, and for advancing the county’s community digital transformation agenda. Danny is a recognised leader in digital transformation, digital inclusion and innovation. He developed and delivered Longford’s citizen‑focused Digital Strategy, which is the recipient of a number of national awards. A strong advocate for partnership‑driven delivery, Danny has successfully secured significant external funding to scale digital education and inclusion initiatives, including the expansion of the Longford Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, bringing digital skills to hundreds of students across the county. Danny is a graduate of TUS and University College Dublin and has over two decades of senior leadership experience across local government and the wider public service.

Danny Lynch is Head of Information Systems and Innovation with Longford County Council, with responsibility for leading the organisation’s digital strategy and delivery of modern, secure digital services, and for advancing the county’s community digital transformation agenda. Danny is a recognised leader in digital transformation, digital inclusion and innovation. He developed and delivered Longford’s citizen‑focused Digital Strategy, which is the recipient of a number of national awards. A strong advocate for partnership‑driven delivery, Danny has successfully secured significant external funding to scale digital education and inclusion initiatives, including the expansion of the Longford Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, bringing digital skills to hundreds of students across the county. Danny is a graduate of TUS and University College Dublin and has over two decades of senior leadership experience across local government and the wider public service.

David Scanlon is the Government and State-Owned Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Ireland. Leveraging over 25 years of experience in the technology sector with leading multinationals, he specialises in guiding Public Sector organisations through their cloud adoption journey. David works closely with these bodies, aiding in the development and implementation of effective cloud strategies that not only enhance their digital transformation efforts but also deliver improved citizen services.

David Scanlon is the Government and State-Owned Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Ireland. Leveraging over 25 years of experience in the technology sector with leading multinationals, he specialises in guiding Public Sector organisations through their cloud adoption journey. David works closely with these bodies, aiding in the development and implementation of effective cloud strategies that not only enhance their digital transformation efforts but also deliver improved citizen services.

Simon Cox joined the Infrastructure and Public Procurement Division of the OECD in 2021. Based in Paris, his work focuses on public procurement risk management and the digital transformation of public procurement. Before joining the OECD, he worked in government on topics including public procurement centralisation, long-term infrastructure planning, and the procurement and delivery of major infrastructure projects. Simon is a Canadian and American national.

Tom Simpson is a seasoned digital health leader with a wealth of experience driving digital transformation in healthcare. With a career spanning roles in both the private and public sectors, Tom has successfully led IT and digital functions, shaping strategy and operations to enhance healthcare services. Having spent the previous five years leading digital transformation initiatives at Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, he is now transitioning into the new Director of Digital Health and Care NI and Deputy CDIO role in Northern Ireland. Passionate about leveraging technology for better patient outcomes, Tom brings a practical, results-driven approach to his work.

Petra Holm is a Digital Transformation Adviser at the e-Estonia Briefing Centre, where she shares Estonia’s pioneering digitalisation journey with governments and organisations worldwide. She specialises in citizen-centric digital government, secure data exchange, and public sector innovation. With an education in law and experience across both public and private sectors, Petra brings a governance-focused perspective on how collaboration and trust underpin successful digital transformation.

Graeme Roche is Head of Digital Transformation at TII, where he leads initiatives to enhance digital capability and data-driven decision-making across Ireland's national transport infrastructure and services. He has extensive experience directing complex programmes in the financial services and technology sectors, having delivered global transformation initiatives for Citigroup and Microsoft. His background spans strategy, governance, compliance, and innovation leadership in highly regulated environments. Graeme holds an MBA from Boston College and a Master's in Economic Science from University College Dublin.

William Flanagan is a visionary leader at the forefront of powering digital government solutions with Data & Intelligence. Co-founder of OpenSky, a leading provider of Gov-tech engagement solutions for 20 years, William has been instrumental in bringing future-ready, transformational solutions to many of Ireland's and the UK's major public sector agencies. By harnessing the power of connected data and artificial intelligence, OpenSky is demonstrating the transformative potential of Data & Intelligence in enabling a more responsive, transparent and high-quality public service ecosystem.

William Flanagan is a visionary leader at the forefront of powering digital government solutions with Data & Intelligence. Co-founder of OpenSky, a leading provider of Gov-tech engagement solutions for 20 years, William has been instrumental in bringing future-ready, transformational solutions to many of Ireland's and the UK's major public sector agencies. By harnessing the power of connected data and artificial intelligence, OpenSky is demonstrating the transformative potential of Data & Intelligence in enabling a more responsive, transparent and high-quality public service ecosystem.

Hazel Murray is a cyber security lecturer and researcher at Munster Technological University. She leads two Research Ireland national challenge fund projects: Cyber Safety for Vulnerable populations and Digital resilience for Small businesses, both in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre. She leads the QCloud project which provides free access to quantum computing to all Irish researchers. Hazel's research interests are password security, authentication, cyber risk and quantum cryptography. She completed her PhD in mathematics at Maynooth University in 2021.

Martin Tully is the Head Of Data & Analytics at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Martin was appointed to the role in June 2021. Martin leads the Statistics, Data and Analytics team in the Department and a core part of his role is responsibility for overseeing the development and delivery of the Department’s Data Strategy. He has worked on and managed strategic people focused change projects within and across Government Departments. He has an MSc in Data Analytics and plays irish traditional music in his spare time!

Mike King is Annertech's Director of Delivery, and has more than 25 years' experience in technical project management and consulting. As an agile leader with a development background, he seamlessly bridges the gap between business and technical fields. Mike has worked with Annertech’s council and government clients across Ireland and the UK since 2013. His goal is to deliver projects using open-source solutions that meet and exceed the needs of the end user. His vast experience and skills ensure that councils deliver the ambitious digital experiences that their constituents deserve.

Alan Dooley is the Head of Digital Services for Limerick City & County Council, appointed in February 2021. Alan is responsible for the planning, development, control and maintenance of digital infrastructure, digital innovation and services for the Council and also for the Limerick region. In order for Limerick to gain a competitive advantage internationally and to work towards reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Council aims to use innovation in digital services and citizen engagement for Limerick’s economic, social and physical development. This will help transform Limerick into a smart sustainable region, with digital transformation becoming a driver for regional economic and spatial development. Prior to joining Limerick City & County Council, Alan worked for 25 years in software engineering, primarily in the U.S. financial and insurance industry, more recently leading global engineering teams across many technology disciplines, delivering digital transformation by enabling a change in engineering culture to actively embrace modern engineering practices.

As the most senior adviser to the Minister, the DHLGH Management Board and DHLGH agencies on ICT and Digital Transformation, Dr. Mihai Bilauca is responsible for driving the Government digitization agenda for DHLGH, inherently directing the digital transformation programme across the agencies under its remit and especially the Local Government sector by fostering effective partnerships for a coherent governance and strategic direction in line with the wider public service. Dr. Bilauca has responsibility for shaping the strategic direction for Digital platforms, Data and ICT, leading and directing staff and other resources; providing support and advice on digital technologies and transformation to DHLGH senior management and all agencies under its remit.

Bill McCluggage is Managing Director of Laganview Associates Ltd. He became the first CIO for the Irish Government in 2013 and was CIO for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (2005 – 2009). He joined the Cabinet Office in 2009 as deputy UK Government CIO. While in the Cabinet Office he was the Executive Director responsible for the UK Government’s ICT Strategy and was instrumental in the development of the Government G[1]Cloud, and was SRO for the Identity Assurance Programme, now GOV.UK Verify.

Garrett Blaney joined ComReg as Commissioner and Chairperson on 07 January 2019. Garrett’s second term as Chairperson commenced on 07 January 2025. Garrett Blaney was previously a member of the Commission at the Commission for Regulation of Utilities since February 2010 and Chairperson from February 2014 to February 2017. In 2017 Garrett was elected the Chair of the ACER Board of Regulators (Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators) and also the President of the Council of the European Energy Regulators (CEER). Prior to becoming a Regulator Garrett had over 20 years of experience working in the energy industry. He was previously Strategic Development Director for Viridian Power and Energy, Commercial Director for Huntstown Power, Ireland’s first independent power producer, and Asian regional director for ESB International.

Frank Feighan is Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment. He was appointed to this role on 18 November 2025.

Gary is a Partner in EY Ireland, working with the Advisory team to deliver services to government and health sector clients. He leads a wide range of complex projects enabling public sector and health care transformation initiatives across central Government and other public sector bodiesWith an extensive experience gained over more than 16 years, Gary worked on projects including program design, implementation, review and assurance. These projects covered processes and systems, IT applications and systems, organisational structure and people. Prior to joining EY, he worked as Director for another Big Four firm. Gary received a BA in Economics from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology from the Dublin City University.