John Fanning

John Fanning is Chairman of Bord Bia’s Brand Forum and lectures in Branding and Marketing Communications at the Smurfit Business School. He was previously Managing Director and Chairman of McConnell’s Advertising and is a regular commentator on marketing communications and branding in the national and trade press. 

Orlaith Blaney

Orlaith Blaney is the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer and was appointed to Executive team at Ervin in 2016. Prior to this, Orlaith was CEO of McCannBlue. She has worked on many Irish brands including Tayto, Hunky Dorys and Butlers Chocolates. Orlaith was also President of the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI), Honorary Secretary of the International Women's Forum and is currently on the Failte Ireland Grow Dublin Tourism Alliance (GDTA).

Cera Ward

Cera Ward is the Country Director for Large Customer Sales, Ireland in Google. She leads the sales team who are focused on helping Irish based businesses to maximise their use of Google products to achieve their business goals. Cera has a dual role; in addition to her Irish role she also manages the UK Travel and Financial Services account management teams. These Dublin based account management teams oversee the advertising strategies of online giants such as Amazon, Expedia & Hilton Hotels.

Matt Dempsey

Matt Dempsey was editor of the Irish Farmers Journal for 25 years. Matt is Chairman of the National Newspapers of Ireland, the Irish National Stud and IdentiGEN. He is on the General Committee of the Farmers Club. He has been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from University College Dublin and was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate (DLitt) from Harper Adams University. Matt is a Graduate in Agricultural Science from UCD.

Heather Ann McSharry

Heather Ann McSharry is a non-executive director on the Boards of Greencore plc., CRH plc., Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. and a Council member of the Institute of Directors. Previously she was Managing Director Ireland of Reckitt Benckiser, a leading global branded healthcare and consumer products company. She has a B.Comm and MBS from University College Dublin.

Frank Fenn

Frank Fenn has extensive experience in business in Ireland and International Markets. He was Managing Director of DCC Food & Beverage Ltd and a member of the senior management of FTSE 100 Company DCC plc. He was CEO of R&A Bailey & Co (Baileys Irish Cream), Global Marketing Director Baileys, Regional Director Baileys and Export Market Manager Baileys. After leaving college Frank had various sales and marketing roles in Gilbeys of Ireland, Grants of Ireland and Showerings Ireland. Frank holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UCD and a diploma in Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Ireland.

Martin Chilcott

Martin Chilcott is Founder and CEO of 2degrees. 2degrees are the world's leading digital collaboration platform provider for sustainable business. It's platforms help companies cut costs, risks and impacts, particularly in the areas of energy, water, waste and carbon reduction. A fast growth technology business, 2degrees works with the world's largest companies and their supply chains including: Asda-Walmart, the European Commission, GSK, Mars, Johnson & Johnson, Co-op, Carillion, Tesco, Heathrow Airport, Kingfisher, and RBS.