Speakers


Paul Gallagher

Chief Executive, Irish Hotels Federation

As Chief Executive, Paul oversees the strategic direction and operation of the IHF, working closely with industry partners, Government and State agencies on behalf of the hotels sector to ensure the right conditions are in place to support the growth and development of Irish tourism and hospitality.

A past President of the IHF and former Chair of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), Paul was previously General Manager of Buswells Hotel, Dublin for 27 years. He is a Government appointee to Tourism Ireland as a Non-Executive Director and has previously served on numerous Government taskforces, including the Tourism Recovery Oversight Group, the Brexit Taskforce, the Advisory Group on Small Business, the Tourism Recovery Taskforce and Grow Dublin Taskforce.

Paul is a fellow of the Irish Hospitality Institute and holds a Master’s Degree in Business and Hospitality as a graduate of the University of Galway and Shannon College of Hotel Management.



Jenny De Saulles

Director of Sector Development, Fáilte Ireland

Jenny De Saulles is Director of Sector Development of Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority. Fáilte Ireland’s strategic objective is to secure the economic well being of the tourism sector through the development of an innovative, sustainable and resilient industry.

The focus of the Sector Development directorate is to support the tourism sector through a range of national initiatives informed by economic and industry analysis. These include the development and implementation of programmes around climate action, labour supply and skills, business competitiveness and financial resilience, accommodation development and quality assurance.

Previously Head of Ireland’s Ancient East, Jenny has worked with Fáilte Ireland for over 15 years in both national and regional roles working on Destination, Product, Industry and Commercial Development. Jenny has extensive FMCG experience, previously working with Nestlé across the globe in a variety of commercial roles as well as in private consultancy.


Matt Cooper

Broadcaster, Podcaster, Author and Columnist

Matt brings his experience of over 35 years in business and economics journalism to hosting a select number of live events each year.

He is the presenter of The Last Word on Today FM, a daily news and current affairs programme that runs from 4.30 pm to 7 pm Monday to Friday. He is the co-host of the Path to Power podcast and is the host of the Magnified podcast series. He writes for the Business Post and the Irish Daily Mail. His latest book, Dynasty, the story of Dunnes Stores, is to be published on October 16. He has also worked extensively on television, presenting live sports and current affairs programming and presenting a number of documentaries.


Craig Bennett

CEO, Wildlife Trusts and Honorary Professor of Sustainability and Innovation, University of Manchester Alliance, Manchester Business School

Craig is Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts. Craig was formerly CEO of Friends of the Earth and earlier in his career, Craig was Deputy Director at The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), and Director of The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change (from 2007 to 2010). Craig has twenty years’ experience of designing and contributing to executive education and leadership programmes at numerous universities and business schools including the Judge Business School, London Business School, and Duke CE. He is Honorary Professor of Sustainability and Innovation at Alliance Manchester Business School, an Associate Fellow of Homerton College (Cambridge), a Senior Associate of The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and a Policy Fellow of The Centre for Science and Policy at The University of Cambridge. He has a BSc (Hons) in Human and Physical Geography from The University of Reading and an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation from University College London, and Honorary Doctoral degrees from University College of Estate Management (UCEM), and Anglian Ruskin University (ARU).He is also a judge on The Wainwright Book Prize, a Trustee of the think-tank Green Alliance. and an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management. He regularly appears in the print and broadcast media.


Richard Burrett

Chief Sustainability Officer, Earth Capital

Richard is Chief Sustainability Officer at Earth Capital, a sustainability focused investment group. He is an independent non-exec director of Triodos Bank UK (a leader in sustainable banking) and a Fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) - where he has worked with a range of international companies at Board and Senior Executive level as well as tutoring on their Masters programme. He also leads a Sustainability and Value Creation module at Porto Business School. Richard has had over 40 years working in international banking and finance. At ABN AMRO he was involved in the development of the Equator Principles, creating a market recognised standard for the management of environmental and social risk within project financing before becoming Global Head of Sustainability. He was Co-Chair of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) from 2010 to 2012 working with banks, insurers, and investors to bring about systemic change in finance to support a sustainable world. He was a FMO (Dutch Development Bank) nominated non-exec Director of Union Bank of Nigeria PLC from 2013 to 2022 and a Board Member of Forest Trends, a Washington based organisation promoting market-based approaches to forest conservation from 2008 to 2023.He holds a BA in Modern Languages and MBA, both from Durham University and has recently completed a Masters in Social Innovation at the Cambridge Judge Business School. His work and research interests are focussed on sustainable finance and social innovation.



Chris Austin

Chief Operating Officer, Cliste Hospitality

As Chief Operating Officer for Cliste Hospitality, Chris Austin is responsible for all hotel operations, group product development and hotel capital investment. He oversees group operational standards, procedures & training, health & safety, sustainability and transitioning new acquisitions into Group. Chris is a member of the Board of Directors of iNua Hospitality PLC and Chief Operating Officer for the iNua Collection.

Chris joined Cliste Hospitality in 2019 from the Tifco Hotel Group where, as Regional Operations Manager for 7 years he managed a diverse portfolio of Hotels & Resorts. Prior to this, Chris was Operations Director at The Shelbourne Hotel and the Marriott Druids Glen Resort. Chris' international experience includes the Jumeriah Hotel Group in Dubai, senior roles at the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados, the Hilton Hotel Group, and Ashford Castle, as well as managing several restaurants and bars across the UK. 



Dara Cruise

Group General Manager, Neville Park Hotels

Dara Cruise, a 30 year hotel leader, commenced his role in hospitality field in his family business, at a very young age. Dara has gone on to a varied career within the Irish Hospitality, working with independent hotel brands, along with International groups.

Throughout Dara’s career, he has strived to provide the highest levels of hospitality to his clients, and he has shown a passion for the development of the teams around him. Dara has held many roles within the hospitality industry, working his way up from a bartender to his current role as Group General Manager 



Declan Meally 

Director of Business, Public Sector and Transport, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 

In this role, Declan oversees strategic programmes that promote energy efficiency and the adoption of clean energy solutions across key sectors. Since joining SEAi in 2004, Declan has held a variety of senior management positions, contributing significantly to the organisation's growth and impact. Prior to SEAi, he held leadership roles at Xerox (Europe) Ltd, Aer Rianta (now Dublin Airport Authority), and served in the Irish Defence Forces.

Declan is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and holds a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors. His extensive experience across both public and private sectors underpins his commitment to advancing Ireland's sustainable energy agenda. 



June Butler

Chief Executive Officer, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland

June has more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector. Prior to her appointment as CEO of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, she served as Head of SME Banking and Sectors in Bank of Ireland where she was responsible for formulating and driving the strategic direction for the business, including the delivery of the finance and funding requirements of Irish SMEs. She has also led the Groups team of sector specialists providing strategic insight into the needs of Irish businesses across a variety of sectors.

June commenced her career with PwC where she trained as a Chartered Accountant and subsequently joined Bank of Ireland where she has gained significant financial services experience through leadership roles in Group Internal Audit, Group Finance, operations and Retail banking. June holds a degree in Law from Trinity College Dublin and diplomas in Accounting and Taxation and Corporate Treasury and Risk Management from Dublin City University. She is a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Certified Bank Director.



Colette Shirley 

Director of Sustainability Corporate & Commercial, Bank of Ireland

A graduate of UCD and post-graduate of ACCA, Colette has over 20 years' experience of international banking in Ireland and the UK, with Bank of Ireland Group. Colette has worked across various sectors including Support Services, TMT, Infrastructure, Industrials and Healthcare. Colette is now the Director of the Sustainability Team for the Corporate and Commercial Division and has experience at guiding companies on materiality topics, KPIs and sustainable financing solutions.



Andres Fellenberg

EarthCheck - CAP Lead Advisor

Andres Fellenberg Van der Molen is a highly respected sustainability leader in the international hospitality industry, with over three decades of operational expertise and a proven track record of driving transformative change across hotel portfolios worldwide. Based in Amsterdam and operating globally, Andres brings unparalleled insight into aligning complex hotel operations with EU sustainability directives, ISO standards, and ESG frameworks.Currently serving as a Senior Sustainability Consultant and Lead Auditor, Andres advises hotel groups, regulators, and certification bodies on implementing and auditing sustainability systems such as ISO 14001, ISO 50001, EarthCheck, and CSRD-aligned ESG disclosures. He is particularly recognised for his pragmatic, cost-effective strategies that optimise resource use, ensure legal compliance, and embed sustainable value across entire hotel value chains.Prior to his consultancy career, Andres held senior operational roles within international hotel chains, where he developed an acute understanding of hotel management realities. This operational grounding has been instrumental in his auditing work, enabling him to interpret sustainability standards through a practical, business-minded lens. His leadership has been pivotal in preparing hotels for EU regulatory shifts, including Double Materiality assessments and Green Claims compliance.Andres holds a degree in Hotel Management with specialisations in Rooms Operations, Finance, and International Business. He is a certified Lead Auditor for ISO 14001, ISO 50001, EarthCheck and other schemes, and has further enhanced his expertise with advanced training in sustainability compliance, corporate responsibility, and ISO/IEC 17065 audit methodology. Widely regarded as a trusted advisor within the sector, Andres consistently delivers audit-ready systems, strategic disclosures, and hands-on tools that elevate sustainability performance and reporting integrity across the hospitality industry.



Michael Magner

President, Irish Hotels Federation & Proprietor, Cork’s Vienna Woods Hotel

Michael Magner is the 40th President of the Irish Hotels Federation. A native of Kileedy, Co. Limerick, Mr Magner is owner of the historic Cork's Vienna Woods Hotel. He has studied Hotel Management and holds a masters degree in Business in HRM from the University of Limerick. He began his career in hospitality aged 16 in Newcastle West, Limerick, going on to work at the Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.

Michael has over 30 years’ experience in the hotel and tourism sector in Ireland. In 2006, having acquired his own hotel business and successfully navigating it through a recession and later pandemic, the business continues to develop and thrive and where possible works to make a positive contribution to the tourism industry, local community, and society in Ireland. Suitably qualified, with a catalogued experience in business, Michael has developed his skills through education, participation, and engagement. Michael has a clear understanding of business and tourism and welcomes challenges that lead to positive outcomes.



Tom Randles

General Manager & Director, Randles Hotels

Tom Randles is General Manager & Director of Randles Hotels, Killarney. Randles Hotels operates The Dromhall Hotel & Randles Hotel. It is a 3rd generation family business established in 1921. Tom graduated from Shannon College of Hotel Management in 1995 and his career developed through roles in France, Switzerland, Scotland & The United States. More recently, in 2022, he graduated with a Masters in Hotel & Business Administration from NUI Galway and Shannon College of Hotel management.

Actively involved in Commercial organisations, he has been President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce and is a Past Vice President of the Irish Hotels Federation. Previously he was a member of The Tourism Leadership Group which oversees the National Tourism Strategy. He has also sat on the IHF classification steering group and IHF Sustainability Committee. He is a Board member Kerry Airport P.L.C and Original Irish Hotels.

Now living in Killarney, he is married to Aileen and has two sons.


Carmel Lonergan

Director of Group Operations, Trigon Hotels

As an accomplished strategic leader in the hospitality industry, she brings a wealth of expertise and a dedication to innovation. With a comprehensive background spanning revenue management, financial forecasting, and operations management, she has refined her skills in driving business success and nurturing avenues for growth.

Throughout her career, she has showcased a steadfast commitment to cultivating talent, spearheading continuous improvement endeavours, and championing sustainability in Trigon Hotels and the Cork community. These principles closely resonate with the values upheld by Trigon Hotels and her work with Cork IHF, Visit Cork and as a board member of Cork Chamber. Her insights and ability to collaborate drive positive change within the Cork community.

With her domestic and international experiences Carmel has a robust foundation in strategic leadership and planning. Coupled with her hands-on role as the Director of Group Operations for Trigon Hotels in Cork, she possesses an intimate understanding of the market dynamics and the myriad of challenges and opportunities confronting businesses in the region.