Ross joined Everun in late 2021 as Sales & Business Development Director to help introduce the full portfolio of renewable products to enhance the company and drive the growth of Everun in the renewable energy sector. Due to his efforts, this has allowed Everun to expand the team with the employment of an additional 20+ staff members in 2022 alone.

Previous to Ross joining Everun, Ross was in the automotive industry for over 20 years where he was a Business Manager in Mercedes-Benz and then also managed a small team in a Fleet Leasing company. Ross is particularly passionate about helping the homeless community and for the past 5 years has devoted his spare time into homeless outreach. He is affiliated with and gives back to social enterprises that oversee the donations of clothing and products, as well as ensuring the safety of the homeless community.

With the current energy and cost of living crisis, Ross wants to achieve a positive impact within his community and beyond through renewable energy. His aim is to leave a legacy and hopes to elevate Everun to become a household name in Renewables

Annemarie, Associate Director at Carbon Fit, is a qualified Engineer and leads the Net Zero compliance department within Carbonfit.

In 2019, based on shared client experience and feedback, Annemarie along with three other Chartered Engineers worked together to develop a solution to simplify carbon reporting, legislative requirements and deliver real carbon reduction, Carbonfit.

This solution is Carbonfit an Intelligent Net Zero Solution with an online platform at its heart with a mission to provide technology and support to businesses throughout Ireland and the UK, resulting in the acceleration of Net Zero journeys, well ahead of the 2050 deadline

With over 15 years’ experience working in the Energy and Carbon industry Annemarie’s experience spans a range of sectors including manufacturing, construction and hospitality.  In her role, she assists organisations to accelerate their Net Zero Journey, in line with and where possible ahead of SBTi .

Annemarie works on the Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland frameworks assisting clients on their decarbonisation journeys. This involves working with various sized companies from SMEs to Large Global organisations, each at various stages of their Net Zero Journey.  With greenwashing making headlines, Annemarie provides the guidance required to ensure our organisations can disclose and promote their Net Zero progress without concern.

Check out Carbonfit’s presentation here: Carbonfit: Net-Zero Transition Planning

Jac Callan is the Sustainability & Impact Manager at Visit Belfast. She is supporting Belfast on its journey towards becoming a leading sustainable tourism and events destination. Working across the tourism and events industry in Belfast, her role is to accelerate sustainable performance and encourage collaboration and sharing of best practise. Collaborative efforts of Belfast’s tourism and events industry to become more sustainable has helped the city secure the position of 8th in the world in the 2022 Global Destinations Sustainability Index (GDS-Index).

Working across all areas of Visit Belfast’s activity including, cruise tourism, leisure tourism, visitor servicing and conference and events, Jac’s aim is to harness the power of tourism and events to create positive impact for Belfast’s people, place and economy. Part of her role includes working with incoming conferences to help them organise more sustainable events that consider the 3 pillars of sustainability – environmental, social, and economic.

Dr Kirstin Lemon is Science Programme Manager at Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. Kirstin specialises in the use of geoscience as an enabler for sustainable development, especially in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Kirstin is a nominated member of the Royal Irish Academy’s Climate Change and Environmental Sciences multidisciplinary committee. She is an expert adviser to the UK National Commission on UNESCO on climate action and the role of the UN Sustainable Development Goals within UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Kirstin holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology (1st Class) from Queen’s University of Belfast and a PhD in Geological Sciences from Durham University. She has recently graduated from SOAS, University of London with a MSc in Climate Change and Development.

She is a graduate of the Northern Ireland Boardroom Apprentice initiative and has since been successful in obtaining a Ministerial appointment to the Board of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.

Cecilia Parker Aranha has been a Director of Consumer Protection at the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority since 2014.

Cecilia is the Director with responsibility for the development of the CMA’s Green Claims Code (guidance for business on making environmental claims on goods and services), and for the CMA’s programme of investigations into misleading environmental claims, currently focused on the retail fashion and fast-moving consumer goods sector. She also contributed to the CMA’s advice to the UK Government on environmental sustainability and the competition and consumer protection regimes.

Cecilia represents the UK in the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, a global network of more than 70 consumer protection bodies, whose mission is to protect consumers worldwide, co-leading work on greenwashing, and in the One Planet Network’s Working Group on Product Sustainability Information.

Cecilia splits her time between Edinburgh and Ballymoney, where she lives with her husband, her cats and her composting worms.

You can check out Cecilia’s presentation here: Cecilia Parher Aranha: Showing Your True Colours

Chris has 30 years’ experience in financial services with a background in retail, corporate banking and strategy roles.

He is responsible for the development and delivery of a comprehensive sustainability strategy and net zero outcome for Danske Bank’s UK operations. This includes, a focus on responding to both the risks and opportunities arising, along with developing solutions to help Danske customers make the transition to a net zero future.

Chris regularly contributes to articles and publications focusing on driving sustainability action across Northern Ireland and has spoken on the topics of sustainability and climate change at a variety of conferences and events. He is also a member of the BITC NI Climate Champion Steering Group.

Janice Gault is Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, and is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin holding a BA Hons and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management. She began her career in the care sector in Dublin before moving into industry holding a variety of roles in manufacturing, eventually specialising in the commercial and customer service areas.

Originally from Derry-Londonderry, she returned to the Northern Ireland in 1995 working with John Cleland & Son, a large carton manufacturer and M&S supplier. Her next role was as the marketing director at Odyssey where she was part of the launch team for Northern Ireland’s landmark Millennium Project.

Janice took up the role of Chief Executive with the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation in 2002. She was instrumental is the setting up of Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance (NITA) and is currently vice-Chair of the organisation and sits of the executive of the Hospitality and Tourism Skills Collaborative Network (HATS). Her role is to represent the hotel sector and ensure their needs are addressed within the civic and political forum. A keen traveller her hobbies include literature, cookery, and current affairs.

Connor is Net Zero Innovation and Delivery Manager, working in the Economic Development Department within Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and he develops and delivers a range of strategic projects which are designed to support economic growth and create an attractive investment proposition for the Borough as the CleanTech and Hydrogen hub for Northern Ireland.

Connor is responsible for delivery of the MEA Net Zero (MEANZ) Business project, funded under the Innovate UK Fast Followers Programme.  The MEANZ Business project aims to support the Mid and East Antrim area to address non-technical barriers to achieving Net Zero targets, both across Council services and within local industry.

Connor also managed the multi award winning Hydrogen Training Academy pilot project led by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council with support from academic partners in both further and higher education.

Stephen Tummon is Sustainability Programme Manager for DPD Ireland and a seasoned sustainability professional with large project experience. He currently leads DPD’s sustainability programme to achieve its ambitious goal of reducing CO2 emissions per parcel by a staggering 90% by 2030. Within a year of joining Stephen has overseen the rollout of 150 EV’s doubling DPD Ireland Green Parcel % from 11% to 23%.

Stephen steers DPD’s efforts to transition to electric vehicles and expand their green delivery routes. He oversees sustainability in all of DPD’s depots in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Before moving into corporate sustainability, Stephen began his career as a chef at the globally renowned Asador Extebarri before moving to Loam Galway, where he played an instrumental role in securing the Michelin guide’s first-ever sustainability award. Stephen has also swam the English Channel in 2022, becoming the 30th Irish person to do so.

Stephen’s presentation can be accessed here: Stephen Tummon: DPD Ireland

Ronan is a Chartered Electrical Engineer who has worked in the Electricity Industry for almost 20 years. Over the course of his career, he has worked across a number of jurisdictions including Australia and GB. His experience includes Asset Management, renewable project delivery, regulation, network automation, as well as being a Senior Engineering consultant.

Ronan joined NIE Networks in 2015 and worked in a number of Asset Management roles. His most recent remit has been as Customer & Market Services Director in NIE Networks. This role is responsible for the majority of customer facing functions within NIE Networks, ranging across Network Connections, Digital Transformation, Market Operations and Customer Service. During this time, he has brought forward improvements in overall customer service metrics, NIE Networks’ Digital platforms and developing and delivering a Vulnerable Customer Strategy.

Ronan has a keen interest in Sustainability leadership and how electricity networks can play a key role in decarbonising society in Northern Ireland.

Ashley is the Head of Sustainability and Programmes at Dogpatch Labs– the leading startup hub in Ireland. At Dogpatch, she runs the 2050 Accelerator, Ireland’s national sustainability accelerator focused on making this country a testbed for sustainability innovation. Her expertise are in emerging markets, corporate innovation, and the social economy.

Previously, Ashley worked for various United Nations agencies such as UN Global Compact (NYC), UN Development Program (South Africa), and IFAD (Fiji). She has launched several successful UN accelerators that ran across 70 different countries and 600+ participating companies in the pilot year, and is a published UN author.

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Dr Stuart Mathieson is Research Manager at InterTradeIreland, where he is responsible for research output and policy engagement. Previously Stuart worked as a policy officer at the Commission for Victims and Survivors and as a postdoctoral fellow at Dublin City University and Queens University Belfast.

A historian of science by training, he also writes a monthly column on science and the environment for the Irish Times.

You can see Stuart’s presentation here: Stuart Mathieson: Achieving Better Business Through Circular Economy Opportunities

Yosef Dvores hails from Canada, and is a passionate Ecologist for nearly a decade. He has worked across Canada, NZ and South America before settling in Ireland in 2020. His extensive knowledge and deep passion for the environment has led him to work with businesses, local authorities, community groups and specifically farmers for this session in order to ensure nature and people can thrive in these changing times.

Amongst his success as Lead Ecologist with Veri Connect has been facilitating Ireland’s first and largest community seed bank. This project saw community members in the border area, many of whom were farmers, collect native wildflowers in order to preserve and enhance biodiversity. Yosef’s seed saving projects encapsulate the essence of Climate Action – making a lasting impact by increasing ecosystem resilience whilst building stronger communities.

Yosef has just completed training for Tourism Northern Ireland attended by over 70 Tourism businesses – ‘Threats to Biodiversity’ and ‘Commitment to Climate Change’. Also playing a leading role in the award winning €1 million euro Wildwork Biodiversity project for three local development partners via the LEADER programme.

Peter has been Station Manager for U105 since May 2008, and previous to that he worked as a print journalist for The Irish News and Belfast Telegraph for a combined total of 4 years.

Peter joined UTV Media plc in 2000 to edit their website, u.tv, and then progressed into television and content production before joining U105 as Editor, Speech on its launch in late 2005, before assuming responsibility for the station overall in the spring of 2008.

Peter is Chair of the Radio Academy NI branch, aimed at encouraging entry into and excellence within radio. He also reports on NI for sister station Times Radio in London.

Peter has also been a Board Member of the Skillset NI Advisory Group, the Creative Industries’ Sector Skills Council (SSC) which includes TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation and computer games.

Greg Hanna is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the utility power industry. As the Renewable and Major Customer Connections Manager for ESB Networks, Greg plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy distribution.

With a background in electrical engineering and an Executive MBA from DCU, Greg combines technical expertise with strategic business acumen to drive innovation in the field. His specialisation in high voltage network connections has made him a key figure in advancing renewable energy solutions and establishing strong partnerships with major customers.

John Greer is the Director of Economic Development at Belfast City Council and leads a team delivering the economic development, tourism, festival, heritage and markets strategies developed to deliver the ambitious inclusive growth targets of the Belfast Agenda.

Prior to Belfast City Council, John was the Director of the Joint Technical Secretariat for the Special EU Programmes Body, where he was responsible for the placement and management of the €550 million

PEACE IV and INTERREG VA programmes. Before his role at SEUPB John spent more than a decade working in North America. In Vancouver, Canada John was a Director for the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) responsible for managing a fund providing monies to high growth SME’s to enable their growth. Also during his time in Vancouver John was a Partner at the Business Development Bank of Canada responsible for managing a team delivering innovative debt, equity and subordinate financing solutions to Canadian businesses.  Before moving to Vancouver, he was a Director at Invest Northern Ireland based in Silicon Valley, leading a team delivering foreign direct investment and trade opportunities for N. Ireland.

John is married with 2 children.

Ben Craig is Head of Partnerships and Business Development at Carbonfit, who provide a world class carbon footprint management solution for organisations of all sizes.

He has been working in sustainable business as a founder and consultant for over a decade and in previous roles, Ben spearheaded initiatives yielding £3.4m savings and 41.9k tonnes CO2e reduction in Northern Ireland and led research into advancing a circular economy on the island of Ireland.

He is an engaging public speaker that focuses on the practical actions organisations can take to drive impact and has presented at a wide range of events from supply chain to policy or business forums.

Ben lectures on decarbonization and Net Zero at the Institute of Sustainability Studies and as a former 4th in the world kayak surfer spends as much time as possible outside of work in the sea or outdoors with his son.

Andrew has over 15 years’ experience in financial services with an extensive background in change leadership and strategy delivery.

He is currently responsible for supporting Danske Bank UK transition to a more sustainable future and ultimately achieve net zero. This includes supporting the organisation, including customers through a programme of education, product development and process improvement.

Andrew has completed a Masters in Sustainable Development through Queens University Belfast where he developed leadership skills in the area of sustainability.

Michael Alcorn, the Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability and Strategic Projects at Queen’s University, Belfast, stands as a distinguished leader at the intersection of academia and sustainability. With a profound commitment to advancing education and fostering a sustainable future, Michael has played a key role in shaping the university’s strategic initiatives.

In his capacity as an academic leader, Michael Alcorn has championed sustainability at Queen’s University, making it a central focus of the institution’s ethos. His visionary leadership extends beyond traditional academic boundaries, emphasising the importance of sustainability in higher education. Actively involved in strategic projects, Michael is steering the university towards achieving sustainability goals while maintaining academic excellence. His efforts showcase a dedication to creating an environmentally conscious educational institution that prepares future leaders to address the global challenges of the 21st century.

Sally Smyth, an esteemed professional in the field, serves as the Head of Facilities at Harvey Group, a pioneering organisation dedicated to surpassing customer expectations. As a key figure in an industry-leading company specialising in mechanical and electrical services, Sally brings a wealth of experience to her role. With a commitment to innovative thinking and collaborative efforts, Harvey Group has emerged as a trusted partner and a top-tier provider in Northern Ireland.

Passionate about sustainability, Sally Smyth is at the forefront of Harvey Group’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Demonstrating her dedication, she is keen to embark on the net-zero journey, aligning the company’s operations with eco-friendly practices. Sally’s leadership and vision not only contribute to Harvey Group’s success but also position the company as a responsible and forward-thinking player in the industry.

Stuart Hollinger serves as the Head of Finance and Assurance at the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a dynamic and customer-focused business support organisation. Renowned for its commitment to quality and fostering economic development, NI Chamber empowers its members to thrive locally and internationally. Under Stuart’s financial stewardship, the organisation has achieved new heights in ensuring sustainable growth for businesses.

A strategic leader, Stuart is steering NI Chamber on a transformative net-zero journey. Recognising the pivotal role businesses play in environmental stewardship, he is championing initiatives to minimise the carbon footprint and enhance sustainability practices.

Jim Mulholland, a distinguished Director and Architect at TODD Architects, brings a wealth of expertise to the forefront of architectural innovation. With a passion for creating spaces that seamlessly blend aesthetic brilliance and functionality, Jim has played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s portfolio.

Jim is actively engaged in steering the company towards a net-zero future, exemplifying his dedication to environmental responsibility. Through strategic initiatives and a forward-thinking approach, he strives to make TODD Architects a trailblazer in sustainable architecture. Jim’s contributions not only enhance the firm’s reputation for design excellence but also position it as a leader in the crucial journey towards net-zero carbon emissions, showcasing his commitment to both artistic ingenuity and ecological stewardship.

Belfast-based start-up Weev has announced plans to invest £20 million in a new public electric vehicle (EV) charging network in over 350 locations across Northern Ireland.

The company plans to install 1,500 new charging points before the end of 2024, including at six ultra-rapid charging hub sites that will allow drivers to fully charge their vehicles in less than 20 minutes.

The investment will help address the paucity of charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

We provide a range of electric vehicle charging solutions—hardware, software, and services. Our chargers are compatible with all EV models, powered by intelligent software, and installed and serviced by experienced professionals.

Easy, intelligent, and insightful. Our charging management software lets you track, manage, and optimise EV charging for your fleet. We also offer tailor-made solutions based on your needs and operating systems.

Weev fleet charging covers home, office and depot charging all from a single supplier.

Electrical QS Manager and Lead for Energy & Renewables at Irwin M&E
I am a fully qualified electrician and have been in the electrical industry for over 10 years. I started with Irwin as an Electrical Apprentice working within various sectors such as health and local government which allowed me to gain a wealth of experience onsite.

After becoming fully qualified, I was given the opportunity to progress my career further and started a role as Junior Electrical Quantity Surveyor. In 2019, I was promoted to Electrical Quantity Surveyor which involved overseeing the financial performance of various contracts. I am now looking forward to undertaking my new role as Electrical Quantity Surveying Manager with the help and support from the Senior Management Team. I feel that I have been given great career development opportunities and look forward to what the future holds at Irwin!

As the Business Development and Client Relations Manager at Adler and Allan (Ireland), Jonathan’s role is pivotal in fostering growth and strengthening client relationships. Working closely with the sponsorship team, his focus is on expanding business development efforts while ensuring client retention remains a top priority.

Jonathan’s work involves developing strategic plans, conducting market research, and implementing targeted marketing strategies as well as coordinating logistics, managing vendor relationships, and overseeing event operations to guarantee a positive experience for clients and attendees. By facilitating successful events, the firm can showcase its capabilities and

Jonathan is dedicated to fostering meaningful client relationships by proactively engaging with clients, addressing their needs, and providing tailored, material and personalised solutions.

As the Sales Manager at Agnew Leasing, Adam and his dedicated team are committed to assisting you in aligning your fleet with your net zero objectives. With a wealth of experience in business development and account management within the automotive industry in Northern Ireland, Adam possesses a deep understanding of the diverse needs of companies across various sectors. Proficient in negotiation, advertising, sales, customer relationship management (CRM), and ensuring customer satisfaction, Adam and his team offer comprehensive expertise.

Moreover, they go beyond merely assessing fleet requirements; they meticulously review whole-life costs to ensure that your fleet not only contributes positively to your net zero journey but also offers economic advantages over its lifespan. With their thorough approach, Adam and his team ensure that your vehicles are not only environmentally friendly but also financially prudent choices for your business.

Eimear is Tourism NI’s Head of Experience and Industry Development, charged with the development of authentic, immersive and sustainable tourism experiences across Northern Ireland. She also heads up Tourism NI’s Industry Development programmes – focusing on Innovation, Inclusive Tourism, Sustainability and Tourism Careers.

Stuart has been the Sales Manager for izon live for the last 2 years. With a history in network security and communications infrastructure, he has worked throughout Ireland as a solutions based sales man for nearly 15 years.

Izon represents a ML and AI IoT software package for SME through to corporates with a focus on business efficiency, Carbon reporting, and derived intelligence designed to give meaningful insight to any of his customers, utilising a wide range of sensor and data inputs, to give bespoke access to what is happening under the hood in an organisation.

Dr Mary O’Riordan is co-founder of HaPPE Earth. She has been 18 years in clinical medical practice, the last 8 of those involved with Public Health Medicine, specialising in Emergency Response for Highly Emerging, Infectious Threats.

Mary has been the International Health Regulations (IHR) and ECDC Irish Focal Point representative for emerging infectious threats. She has in depth knowledge of inter-sectoral collaboration when dealing with complex, societal issues related to infectious diseases. She is highly interested in bringing practical solutions to the one health agenda working with Health, Environment and Agriculture for sustainability in healthcare.

Paul Wilson is a Hydrogeologist at the Geological Survey of Northern
Ireland. He studied for an MEng in Environmental and Civil Engineering
and a PhD in Engineering Hydraulics at The Queen’s University of Belfast.

His main role is to provide hydrogeological advice and support to the
Northern Ireland Government and public. He champions the use and role
of groundwater resources for public and private supply as well as for
sustaining our rivers and wetland ecosystems. He manages advisory
contracts with NI Water, The NIEA, The Department for the Economy. He
recently completed an EU funded project drilling groundwater monitoring
stations across Northern Ireland and was the lead author on a new book
on Northern Ireland’s Groundwater Environment.

Andrine Mendez is a seasoned entrepreneur and marketer from India, boasting over 15 years of rich experience in the industry. His journey includes a notable achievement: a successful exit from his advertising business. As a DKiT alumnus, Andrine’s passion for electric mobility has steered him towards significant contributions to green tech.

He plays a pivotal role at GoPlugable, leading marketing strategies and product vision. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavours, Andrine is a renowned keynote speaker, having graced the stages at TEDx, Digital Matters, and Web Summit. His enthusiasm extends into the realm of education, where he expresses a profound passion for teaching and sharing knowledge.

Sally has gained over 20 years’ experience as an occupational health, safety and environmental practitioner, specialising in resource efficiency and waste management. Her experience has been gained working in defence and for over 13 years supporting the food manufacturing and renewable fuels industry. In more recent years she has been responsible for the development and implementation of sustainability planning for a leading food production and renewable fuels company, Frylite Solutions.

This year she has decided to change course and utilise her knowledge and skills as a freelance consultant. She is a passionate advocate for adopting the UN Sustainable Development Goals into business strategy and is dedicated to supporting businesses on their sustainability journey.

Frank completed a PhD in igneous petrology and crustal evolution at the Open University (U.K.) in the late 1980s and following two post-doctoral Fellowships was appointed as a Lecturer at University College Dublin (UCD) in 1999. He is now Full Professor of Geochemistry in the UCD School of Earth Sciences and Director of the National Centre for Isotope Geochemistry (NCIG) at UCD.

Frank is a geochemist and has published widely on a range of topics including environmental geochemistry, isotope geology, mineral weathering, the utilization of alkaline waste minerals for carbon dioxide removal, U-series dating, palaeoclimatology, atmospheric processes and climate change. His current teaching portfolio is broad but includes a popular elective module on ‘Earth, Environment and Society’.

Frank also recently completed a ten-year term as a Member of the Editorial Board for the international geochemistry journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta and was elected as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA) in 2020.

Kate Barlow has been working with Positive Carbon over the past 18 months to drive positive change in the foodservice industry through food waste reduction. As one of the core team members of the company since its establishment, she has played a pivotal role in the communication strategies to showcase Positive Carbon’s impact, in reducing hundreds of thousands tonnes of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere to date.

Now serving as Partnerships Manager, Kate is focused on expanding Positive Carbon’s reach nationwide, leveraging her expertise in advocacy, communications and relationship management gained from years of experience in International Development across Ireland, the US, and Africa. Passionate about addressing the environmental impacts of our food system, Kate is dedicated to utilising innovation for a more sustainable future.”

Danielle is a sustainability professional with over 23 years’ experience in delivering local, national, and European behavioural change and sustainability campaigns, business mentoring and green marketing support. She is the Founder and Lead Consultant of sustainability consultancy, Triterra.

With a solid background in the industry, Danielle holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science, a CIM level 4 certificate in Integrated Communications; CIM training in behavioural change; a PgCert in International Business and a PgCert in Renewable Energy & Energy Management, both from the University of Ulster.

Danielle also established the All-Ireland Sustainability Professionals Network in November 2020, and the All-Ireland Sustainability events, with the goal of raising the profile of the sustainability agenda across the Island, encouraging opportunities to share best practice, learnings and collaborative opportunities. She continues to manage and chair the network, which now has over 650 members across NI and ROI, and runs the All-Ireland Sustainability Summit and Awards initiatives.

You can see Danielle’s presentation here: Danielle McCormick: Why PR your CSR