Golden Bridges 2025

Alison has responsibility for leading Tourism Ireland’s Marketing Strategy and Operations in the US, Canada & Australia. In June 2017, Alison also assumed responsibility for Tourism Ireland’s operations in Australia/New Zealand. She also serves as Chair of the European Travel Commission (ETC), USA Chapter since 2017. ETC is the non-profit organisation responsible for the promotion of Destination Europe as the worldwide number one tourist destination in third markets.

Andrea Haughian is Executive Vice President and Head of Americas at Invest NI, Northern Ireland’s Economic Development Agency.

A recognized expert in Foreign Direct Investment, international trade, offshore development and global business expansion, Andrea Haughian has helped C-Level executives accelerate business growth, maximize profitability and facilitate recruitment, training and R&D.

Andrea’s experience spans a diverse range of sectors including creative and digital technology, financial services, legal and professional services, life and health sciences, green economy, manufacturing and global start-ups.

Andrea is proud to showcase the talents of home-grown companies and innovators and to enable entrepreneurs to make connections with advocates and influencers in challenging markets across the Americas.

Andrea is an advocate for the advancement of women and the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is a long-time supporter of Young Enterprise. 

Andrea received the Global Recognition Award at the Digital DNA Awards 2019. The Global Recognition Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact on Northern Ireland’s digital and technology sector on a global scale. In 2021 Andrea received the Tom Moran Business to Arts Leadership Award for her success in building successful partnerships between the business sector and arts communities. Andrea is a past Irish Echo Top 40 Under 40 Awards honouree, has been named as one of Irish America’s Most Influential Women by the Irish Voice and is a proud recipient of the Belfast International Homecoming Ambassador medal.

Andrea is based in New York, is a graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast, has undertaken post-graduate programs in both San Francisco and Chicago and is a graduate of Cornell University’s Executive Leadership Programme.  

Andrew is the Chief Executive at FNW Group having become Managing Director at Fleming Engineering in 2007. After joining the Board in 2017, Andrew current serves as President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce adopting the mantra of ‘Ambitious Regional Collaboration’ as the theme of his presidency.

A native of St Johnston Co Donegal, Andrew returned to the North West following many years studying, travelling, living and working abroad in Edinburgh, London, Sri Lanka and New Zealand amongst others. Andrew has always had a vested interest in his local communities of Donegal, Derry, and the wider North-West region as well as across both Ireland and Northern Ireland. He is ambitious with a focus on people and growth and has an active interest in supporting the development and prosperity of the North-West region.

Andrew has been involved in sport since a very young age with a particular interest in cricket, rugby and golf and has maintained connections to sport representing on local, regional, and national committees and supporting financially through Fleming Engineering Ltd. He currently serves as Chair of the Game Development and Growth Committee and sits on the Board at Cricket Ireland.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA was appointed Economy Minister on 3 February 2025.

Previous to this, Caoimhe served as Finance Minister from February 2024.

Caoimhe grew up in Coleraine.  She attended Loreto College, Coleraine and graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast with a BSc in Molecular Biology and a PhD by research with a Department of Agriculture and Rural Development studentship.  She also completed a Postgraduate diploma in Management & Corporate Governance at Ulster University.

Caoimhe was elected as an MLA for East Derry in May 2016 and re-elected in March 2017 and again in May 2022.

She is formerly Chair of the Assembly’s Economy and Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs committees. 

Prior to being elected in May 2016, Caoimhe had worked for almost a decade in applied horticulture and plant pathology research including on collaborative EU funded projects.

Charlie McConalogue is the Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, with Special Responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy.

Born in Gleneely in Co. Donegal, he attended Carndonagh Community School before studying Economics, Politics, and History at UCD, where he first became involved in politics. After working in Fianna Fáil headquarters and spending time abroad in Australia, he returned home to work on the family farm.

In 2009, Charlie was elected as a Donegal County Councillor for the Inishowen area. Two years later, he became a TD for Donegal North-East. He was re-elected to the Dáil in the General Elections of 2016, 2020 and 2024.

He was the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Children from April 2011 to July 2012. In July 2012, he was appointed as party spokesperson on Education and Skills.

In July 2020, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Justice with Responsibility for Law Reform.

In September 2020, he was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  

Following his re-election to the Dáil in November 2024, he appointed Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, with Special Responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy by Taoiseach, Micheál Martin.

Chyanne Holmes is Deputy Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington, D.C., where she leads efforts to strengthen Northern Ireland’s political, economic, and cultural ties across North America. She brings deep expertise in diplomacy and strategic engagement, honed through senior roles in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and over six years in Brussels during Brexit negotiations and COVID-19. At the UK Mission to the EU, she led high-impact campaigns and expanded international networks. Her earlier work in the European Parliament and Northern Ireland Executive Office focused on advancing Northern Ireland’s interests on the global stage. Chyanne plays a key role in shaping the Bureau’s transatlantic outreach and influence to North America.

Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly was co-opted onto Donegal County Council in September 2020 as a member of the Letterkenny/Milford Municipal District and successfully re-elected in June 2024 at the Local Government Elections. An active and committed community representative he has worked hard to help his constituents access council services and had been a strong advocate in terms of driving improvement in his local community.
 
Working on the ground he has championed the needs of local residents and strived to build long-term relationships with a number of community organisations. He has campaigned continuously for road safety improvements, water supply upgrades and the provision of social housing.
A farmer by trade he has strongly emphasised the need for crucial supports to be put in place for the agricultural sector. 
Cllr Kelly currently serves on the Agricultural Committee and the Donegal County Council Value for Money Committee together with the Community, Social, Cultural and Gaeltacht Strategic Policy Committee and the Economic Development, Enterprise & Emergency Strategic Policy Committee.
In 2024 he was appointed Chairperson of the Community, Social, Cultural and Gaeltacht Strategic Policy Committee and in his capacity as Chair of this of this committee serves on the Donegal County Council Corporate Policy Group which is the policy making body of the Local Authority.
His hard work and dedication were rewarded in June 2022 when he was elected Mayor of the Letterkenny/Milford Municipal District where he used his term in office to highlight the many positive developments in the Letterkenny area.

Garry Martin is the Director of Economic Development, Information Systems and Emergency Serviceswith Donegal County Council and is, additionally, the designated Director of the Donegal Municipal District.

In these roles he leads the Council’s development and application of initiatives supporting economic and business development, manages and leads the Council’s response in emergency events involving Fire Service and Civil Defence and has responsibility for the management and delivery of ICT solutions in support of the Council’s service delivery requirements.  

He has held the Director of Finance position in Donegal from July 2010 until 2018 and has worked both locally and nationally, (as president of the Heads of Finance Association) in leading and developing financial responses to strategic issues challenging both the Council locally and the sector nationally across a range of areas.

Garry is a qualified Chartered Public Finance Accountant, holds a Master of Science Degree in International Business from Ulster University and also holds an Advanced Certificate in Business Counselling from Durham University Business School.

Graham is Professor of Logistics and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at Atlantic Technological University (ATU). Graham is a visiting professor at the Humanitarian Logistics (HUMLOG) Institute at Hanken University, Helsinki, Finland and a visiting professor at UNSW in Australia. Graham’s work in the field of logistics and supply chain management has gained international recognition and has been recognised by Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence. In addition to leading several on-going research projects in logistics and supply chain management, Graham is active as an advisor to many organisations in the fields of logistics and supply chain management. Graham was awarded the James Cooper Memorial Cup for best PhD in Logistics and Supply Chain Management by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Prior to entering academia Graham spent fourteen years working in the Irish Defence Forces both at home and abroad in a variety of logistical appointments, as well as spending time seconded to Humanitarian agencies in a logistical capacity. Graham’s research interests are broadly in the intersections between global logistics/supply chain management, humanitarian logistics, disaster management and organisational management development. Graham is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland.

Hughie Mac Suibhne is a seasoned business development professional with over two decades of experience spanning the IT sector, seafood industry, and enterprise development. As part of the speaking panel, Hughie brings deep insight into regional enterprise strategy and innovation. He currently works with Údarás na Gaeltachta, supporting enterprise growth across the Gaeltacht regions. His role involves helping high-potential businesses—particularly in advanced manufacturing and specialised engineering—through tailored funding, strategic guidance, and long-term aftercare to help them scale and succeed.

Hughie’s work is rooted in fostering innovation, sustainability, and regional impact. He is passionate about helping local companies thrive in rural Ireland and grow into world-class players on the global stage.

Professor Malachy Ó Néill is Director of Regional Engagement at Ulster University (since August 2021), taking responsibility for relationships with key stakeholders including governmental agencies, councils, trusts and other relevant authorities on behalf of the institution. He was awarded a Personal Chair in Irish (2020) and was Provost of the Magee Campus in Derry (2016-21) and Head of the School of Irish Language and Literature (2012-17). He has played a central role in a range of strategic initiatives for the University including City and Growth Deals (UK Government), Shared Island (Irish Government), the inception of a School of Medicine (opened 2021), the development of the North West Cross-border Tertiary Cluster (with FE/HE partners) and the accreditation of Derry/Strabane as a UNESCO Learning City Region.

He was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2019, the highest accolade in UK Higher Education and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.  He was appointed to the Department for Communities’ Irish Language Strategy Expert Advisory Panel in 2021 was a member of the Irish Government’s Review Board of the Official Irish Language Standard (2016). He was editor of An tUltach (2008-10) and his research includes modern Irish pedagogy, the Ó Néill dynasty and Irish language theatre and he is Lead Investigator (Northern Ireland) in the c.€4million Shared Island social capital research initiative with NUI Galway, University of Limerick and Atlantic Technological University. He is a Board member of the Causeway and Derry Chambers of Commerce and Temporary Chair of the Governing Body of North West Regional College. 

Professor Ó Néill enjoys close ties with the Donegal Gaeltacht, having spent many years in Machaire Rabhartaigh and Gaoth Dobhair facilitating courses for teenagers and adult learners of Irish. He resides in his native parish of Ardboe, Co. Tyrone, with his wife Ursula and their three children, Proinsias, Tomás and Sorcha.

Martina is the Founder of CHC Home Care, a boutique style home care agency that allowed people to remain safely in their homes while receiving nursing care. She grew the business organically to a multimillion dollar company until it was acquired by a publicly traded corporation in October 2020. Martina serves as Board Chairperson of the Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston and is the first female to hold this position.She’s an active member of the New England Council, Irish Network Boston, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Co-founder of Mná Mheiriceá.

In 2019 she was an honoree at the Irish Echo Small Business Impact Awards honoring Irish American entrepreneurs and business leaders receiving the Care Ambassador Award. Martinahas a deep fondness for her beloved Co. Clare where she was born and raised. She is and avid outdoors person and has completed three Boston Marathons. She is currently an EMBA Candidate at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School. Martina resides in the Back Bay with her husband Craig. 

Her motto to live by is, “Goals are achieved through hard work, high standards and surrounding yourself with good people.”

Maureen Bennett represents life sciences and health care clients conducting global clinical trials and research collaborations. For more than 20 years, Maureen has advised life sciences companies, CROs (contract research organizations), academic medical centers, health care systems, patient focused organizations, and digital health companies on the contractual, regulatory, and ethical issues associated with clinical research.

Maureen regularly advises clients on emerging issues in clinical research, such as strategies to meet clinical trial diversity and health equity objectives, the design and implementation of compliant decentralized clinical trials and telemedicine networks, the structuring of patient recruitment programs, and the development of complex outsourcing arrangements between sponsors, CROs, and site management organizations. She has assisted several clients regarding the conduct of global trials for therapeutics and vaccines to address COVID-19.

Maureen also negotiates clinical trial agreements, reviews informed consents, and assists with interactions with and inspections by regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

She also represents clients in the assessment and mitigation of regulatory risks and the negotiation of liability allocation arrangements in M&A, licensing, and other commercial transactions.

Maureen formerly served as co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Health Care Section. She was honorary co-chair for the 8th Annual Boston-Northwest Ireland Golden Bridges Conference 2022 and is a regular speaker at health industry conferences.

Maureen is a member of the national Board of Directors for Lambda Legal and is co-chair of the Jones Day LGBTQ+ affinity group. She is a member of the Boston College Women’s Softball Advisory Board.

Maureen is the other co-director of Welditz Engineering.  Previous to returning to Donegal to join her brother’s business, she was a multi-award winning customer strategist in London and San Francisco.  She’s spent over 20 years delivering results for some of Britain and America’s best loved brands e.g. Specsavers, Boots, American Express, IBM, Vodaphone, O2.  Since returning home, Maureen is also a Mentor on the Donegal LEO panel.

Rónán Mac Con Iomaire is Director of Regional, Community Development & Language Planning, and is responsible for micro-enterprise, language planning and community development, among other areas.

Previously, he was RTÉ’s Group Head of Irish Language and Leascheannaire (Deputy Head) of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.  Rónán has a background in media and entrepreneurship, having spent many years working as an award-winning journalist, as Local Government Correspondent for Nuacht RTÉ and TG4, as well as for publications such as the Irish Independent, Evening Herald and Irish Times.

He has founded several his own companies, operating primarily in the marketing and hospitality sectors.

Rónán was awarded New Writer of the Year for his biography of Irish boxer, Seán Mannion, a book that went on to become the fastest-selling Irish language book of all time and on which the award-winning feature documentary, Rocky Ros Muc, was based. Rowman & Littlefield published his second book, The Man Who Was Never Knocked Down, in 2018.

Forty-six-year-old Ruairí McHugh is the son of Sylvia and the late Cllr Charlie McHugh (Deceased Oct 2008). Charlie was the first Sinn Féin rep ever elected to the former Strabane District Council in1985. He has two older sisters, Sara and Seodhna. 

Ruairí was co-opted to replace Charlie in November 2008 and has been subsequently elected in each local government election since. He has served as Chair of Strabane District Council in 2013 and.as Chair of both the Environment and Regeneration Committee and the Health and Community Committee during his time on Derry City and Strabane District Council. 

He is a former pupil of St. Patrick’s P.S. Castlederg, C.B.S. Omagh, NWIFHE Derry, and Ulster University, Jordanstown, where he graduated with a BSc Politics. 

As well as his Councillor role he is the Sinn Fein Constituency Office Manager based in Strabane and has worked as a political advisor to West Tyrone Sinn Fein in the past. 

Ruairí is known as an easily accessible, hardworking Councillor, who is passionate about the development of his local area and ensuring the equitable distribution of projects and funding to the Derg Ward. He has been instrumental in delivering regeneration projects in his hometown of Castlederg, including the town centre regeneration, Derg Castle Park and walkways and the forthcoming upgrade of Mitchell Park playing fields. 

Ruairí is a member of his local GAA club, Castlederg St. Eugene’s GFC, he is also keen Tyrone GAA fan and a season ticket holder at Celtic FC. In his spare time Ruairí enjoys salmon fly fishing on his local River Derg. ]

Sara Stanton is the Founder and Managing Director of Cara Group Travel, a leading custom group travel company based in Quincy, Massachusetts. For over 13 years, she has guided the company’s growth and reputation for creating transformative international journeys that inspire connection, education, and cultural exchange.

With more than 25 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry, Sara is recognized as a trailblazer in international sports travel. She played a pivotal role in developing the Friendship Four Ice Hockey Tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and has overseen travel logistics for major collegiate basketball events in Dublin and London. Through these initiatives, she has helped bring U.S. collegiate teams abroad, fostering both athletic competition and meaningful cross-cultural engagement.

Sara’s expertise also extends to professional learning travel programs. She has curated global journeys for judges and lawyers from the Chicago Bar Association, blending legal education with immersive cultural experiences and has led legislative learning missions for the New York State Legislature, advancing international dialogue and collaboration.

At the heart of Cara Group Travel is the Irish word “Cara,” meaning “friend.” This spirit of friendship and connection defines Sara’s approach to travel and business alike. Guided by her commitment to connection, trust, and personalized service, she continues to shape Cara Group Travel’s mission to deliver exceptional group travel experiences across Ireland, Europe, and beyond

Stephen Gillespie is the Director of Business and Culture at Derry City and Strabane District Council. The Business and Culture directorate encompasses a range of services such as economic development and job creation, business support and engagement, ICT, tourism, arts and culture, visitor services, heritage and museums and marketing and communications.

Stephen believes that councils have a growing responsibility to ensure that positive growth and development can continue at a local level, and in his capacity as Director of Business and Culture – two key economic areas for the North West – has been working to promote the City and District both on a local and international level.

“This is an exciting time for Derry and Strabane as we work through the next stage of our City Deal bid, making cases for a portfolio of strategic growth projects that will drive innovation, including the delivery of centres of innovation and excellence in data analytics (CARL) and robotics and automation (CIDRA) together with the key smart/digital City and Region initiatives.

“On the business front Council already offers a strong programme of support for entrepreneurship and new business start-ups which provides the expertise needed to nurture fledgling companies and incentivise and inspire new talent. We have also been strengthening our international business links with the City of London, the US and China ensuring that word gets out about our unique proposition as an area ripe for investment and growth.”

With the publication of a raft of new strategies in the areas of Arts and Culture and Tourism, Stephen is confident that Derry and Strabane now has the blueprint to develop a thriving creative economy, and become an outstanding visitor destination brimming with heritage and culture.

“Council has been working closely with a wide range of partners to establish the best way forward in supporting and empowering our creative community. We have the potential to become a significant cultural hub, which will also enhance our appeal as a visitor destination with a strong heritage offering celebrating the many historical and cultural assets we have to offer.

“On a broader spectrum, we are also making good progress in the delivery of the Strategic Growth Plan for the City and District with major strides already evident in our first Statement of Progress, showing that we are on track in our overarching plans to transform the North West for the better.”

Stephen qualified as an accountant in 1996 having trained in an industrial setting with Desmond and Sons, the clothing manufacturer. He then moved on to become the Financial Controller at Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners. This private sector experience has been invaluable in the current role.

Doctor Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD is the 14th president of Babson College. A successful entrepreneur, academic leader, and scholar, he assumed the role of president in July 2019.

Dr. Spinelli has spent his career at the intersection of academia, business, and philanthropy. Under his leadership, Babson was named the No. 2 best college in the United States by The Wall Street Journal and has retained its long-standing place atop U.S. News & World Report’s undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship rankings.

In collaboration with the Babson community, Dr. Spinelli launched a strategic planning process in 2019 aimed at ensuring the College’s continued success and financial stability amid market headwinds. The plan, centered on the strategic belief that Babson empowers entrepreneurial leaders to impact communities everywhere, continues to yield positive outcomes from the College and its 46,000 alumni around the world.

As a self-made entrepreneur with an innovative vision for creating and scaling successful business models, he co-founded Jiffy Lube International and was chairman and CEO of the American Oil Change Corporation, helping to pioneer the quick-lube industry across the United States and turning Jiffy Lube into the America’s dominant competitor with more than 1,000 service centers.

Dr. Spinelli is a long-standing member of the Babson community. He spent 14 years of his career as a member of the College’s faculty, as vice provost for entrepreneurship and global management, and as director of The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship.

In 2007, he became president of Philadelphia University, which later merged with Thomas Jefferson University to form the new Jefferson, where he was named chancellor in 2017.

His entrepreneurial spirit and successful business acumen have led him to numerous leadership roles as a board member, investor, advisor, and educator. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Planet Fitness and a member of the board of directors for Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers and board of advisors for the Berwind Corporation.

Dr. Spinelli earned his PhD in economics from The Management School, Imperial College, University of London, his MBA from Babson College, and his BA in economics from McDaniel College.

As founder of Seabound, Thomas Havlin combines his lifelong passion for the sea with a commitment to safety and innovation. Growing up in Donegal’s rugged coastal landscape, Thomas learned early the value of reliable boats and the risks of unreliable ones. Alongside his role at Seabound, he serves as a volunteer with the Irish Coast Guard, bringing first-hand knowledge of what’s at stake when lives depend on a vessel. For Thomas, every boat Seabound builds is more than a project; it’s a promise of safety, performance, and endurance.