New York New Belfast 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.

Ashleen is responsible for pursuing new growth opportunities for KPMG in the Northern Ireland market across Corporates, Government and Enterprise. Ashleen is a member of KPMG’s Private Enterprise Team and has worked with many of Northern Ireland’s family owned construction, engineering and development businesses. Ashleen also has over 20 years’ experience of advising Government on the procurement, financing and delivery of Infrastructure Projects and led the KPMG team engaged to advise on the Belfast Region City Deal that secured £350m of investment from the UK Government.

Ashleen is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Chair of CBI Northern Ireland Infrastructure Working Group, Member of the Institute of Directors and recently elected to CBI NI Regional Council.

Managing Director and Investment Committee member with a long history working in the venture capital, private equity and alternative assets industries. For over twenty years, managing fund-of-funds, co-investment, and direct investment programs for institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and foundations. Long and deep experience across international markets. Participating in all aspects of the firm’s business, including strategy and new product design, business development, investment sourcing, transaction execution, portfolio management, and investor relations. Represent the firm on numerous fund advisory boards and company board of directors. Early career focused on US industrial real estate development, ownership and management. Have lived in Beijing, Denmark, Hong Kong, London, Sydney, and now Washington, DC.

A leader in strategy, corporate governance, business development and change / risk management who spent 18 years in Corporate banking as well as senior roles in industry. 

Clare is leading the establishment of an innovation district that will leverage digital, intellectual and real estate assets to grow the Northern Ireland economy.

Clare is passionate about achieving place-based inclusive economic growth aligned with the UN sustainable development goals. 

Councillor Tracy Kelly was elected to Belfast City Council in 2019 to represent the Botanic DEA, as a member of the Democratic Unionist Party. Councillor Kelly has worked for many years in community development across South Belfast and is currently Office Manager for Edwin Poots MLA.

With deep roots in inner-city communities, Councillor Kelly is passionate about tackling local challenges and creating positive change. She looks forward to making a lasting, positive impact in Belfast during her year in office.

Outside of politics, she enjoys walking, football, and spending time with her family. Married to Eddie, she has two grown-up children, four stepchildren and eleven grandchildren. She is looking forward to a busy and rewarding year ahead, full of positive engagement with the people of Belfast.

Damien Martin, Belfast City Council’s Strategic Director of Place and Economy, is responsible for driving the city’s future growth and regeneration; creating a sustainable, attractive, unique, and dynamic place to live, work, study, visit and invest. 

Damien leads a department of over 300 staff, including City Regeneration and Development, Planning and Building Control, Economic Development and Culture, Tourism and City Events teams.

Previously as Belfast Region City Deal Programme Director, Damien led the team which secured Northern Ireland’s first City Deal investment. His aim is to work with colleagues and partners to ensure that Belfast continues to attract investment, and improve quality of life for residents by helping to create more and better jobs and more vibrant, sustainable communities. 

Harley began her career at CME Group’s Belfast hub working in analytics before moving to Options in 2019 where she has since worked with global financial clients in Belfast, Singapore, Dublin, London, and New York. As an integral member of the Options M&A team throughout several acquisitions Harley spearheaded the market data synergies integration globally. As Director of Data Solutions Harley has made her career from pushing the boundaries to optimize and innovate the Options product offering and processes in a quest ensure their clients’ stay ahead of the curve with efficient and cutting-edge solutions.

It was during Dr. Hugh Cormican’s doctoral studies in Physics, that he co-founded the university spin-out, Andor Technology, where he served as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from its inception in 1989. Andor achieved remarkable milestones, culminating in a successful stock market listing in December 2004. Hugh Left Andor in 2007 by which stage the company was employing over 250 professionals across 16 offices and serving 10,000 customers in 55 countries.

In 2008, Hugh ventured to the United States, driven by a passion for medical imaging he took on the role of acting CEO at Bioptics Inc. in Tucson, Arizona, where he spearheaded initiatives focused on developing cutting-edge medical devices for patients battling breast cancer.  

Returning to his roots in Northern Ireland in 2010, Hugh co-founded Cirdan, a pioneering digital health company specializing in pathology diagnostics. As its CEO, he orchestrated the acquisition of IP from GE Healthcare in 2013, propelling Cirdan into the global spotlight. Today, with offices in Ireland, Canada and Australia, Cirdan stands as a beacon of innovation, boasting a workforce of over 100 and growing rapidly. 

John Walsh was appointed as Chief Executive of Belfast City Council in March 2022, following a 31 year career in Council, most recently holding the position of Director of Legal and Civic Services and City Solicitor. 

John is committed to delivering on Council’s ambitious plans for the city and driving forward the city’s recovery journey post-Covid.

As a member of the Corporate Management Team over the last two local government terms, he is one of the architects of the Belfast Agenda and has played a key role in shaping policies aligned to it as well as the draft Local Development Plan.  

John believes in the power of collaboration to deliver.

I am the founder and CEO of TeamFeePay and I’m obsessed with making a difference to the grassroots football club customers that we have. As employee number 1, I’ve worked hard to build a team of motivated, football centric staff, and the culture that has been created at our Belfast HQ is one of the key reasons we are winning in this space. I pride myself on recruiting top talent and over the last 3 years I have head hunted an added value

team of shareholders and investors that play a role in moving the company forward every day.

Career Highlights

• Former head of sport at Belfast City Council Sport Belfast Partnership). 
• Founded Northern Irelands biggest teamwear company ClubSport NI before successful exit.
• Founded Irelands leading sports development consulting company Copius Consulting before exiting in 2020.
• Also founded and exited additional companies, B4B Telecoms, Sector 3 Solutions and the Football Management Company. 
• Liam has 25 years experience in business development and setting up / scaling business.
• Over the period 2005 – 2020, Liam successfully supported Football Clubs with the development of their pitch and stadia projects, with direct grant funding success of over £500 million.
• Liam is also Head of Player Recruitment at NIFL Championship Football Club Ballyclare Comrades.

Maura Kelly is an advisor, marketing executive, and multiple Emmy award-winning producer, with a passion for social entrepreneurship. She helps creators and organizations develop and launch program initiatives that leverage strategy and creativity, foster partnerships and community engagement.

Active in Irish diaspora initiatives, Maura is a Board Director of the American Irish Historical Society, an advisor on the Global Economic Summit 24 (Business Post), and former Director of the LEAP Leadership Program funded by the DFA. 

Her career spans leadership positions in broadcast television at PBS/WNET Group where she built media franchises and helped raise millions for programs and EdTech initiatives – to working with top-tier media companies, like the Jim Henson Co., National Geographic, Tribeca Film Institute – and corporate partners (Toyota, Intel, Cisco) to government agencies (America’s Service Commissions, US Dept of ED, NSF). Her nonprofit work with the Helping Other People Foundation includes field trips to Ethiopia and Peru to evaluate grantee programs. Maura was born in Killarney, Kerry.

As a co-founder of HALOS, Matt Nesbitt laid the original groundwork for the company’s mission to bring innovative body camera solutions to underserved sectors. He takes pride in the company’s evolution from an ambitious idea to a trusted global leader in body-worn camera solutions that enhance safety and accountability. Now, as Global Partnerships Director, Matt is leveraging his global sales expertise to expand HALOS’ footprint into new markets, building on the foundation he helped create. Matt remains dedicated to driving growth and delivering reliable technology that empowers businesses worldwide.

Michael Stamatis, president and CEO of Red Hook Terminals, began his career in the early 80s as a dock laborer handling break-bulk bananas for the global corporation Noboa. Working his way up through the company, he engaged in international trade, farming, commercial ocean transportation, chartering, terminal operations, break-bulk and container stevedoring, and vessel management. In 2000, he was promoted to senior vice president and asked to lead the company’s operations in the U.S. In 2011, he left Noboa for the top post at Red Hook Terminals. Mr. Stamatis has strengthened maritime activity at Red Hook Terminals and has instituted fruitful new partnerships with regional companies and agencies. In May 2018, Michael and Red Hook Terminals were named to develop and operate a new container and break-bulk terminal at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park.

Founding Director of Taste & Tour, The Spirit Circle and Ahoy Belfast.

Phil Ervine is a Belfast-based entrepreneur and tourism innovator, best known as the co-founder of Taste & Tour and The Spirit Circle – two ventures that have significantly contributed to Northern Ireland and Belfast’s food, drink, and experiential tourism scene.

Taste & Tour, launched in 2016, has established itself as the largest independent food and drink tour operator in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with a team of 34 tour guides. It has also recently expanded into Edinburgh in Scotland as its first stage of expansion, with future cities in the works. 

The Spirit Circle is a pioneering cocktail experience venue located in the heart of Belfast, offering two immersive journeys: Sensorium and Belfast By The Glass. These innovative experiences have gone global with their events running in Dubai, Boston, New York and Toronto, amongst others.

With a background in marketing for Ireland’s largest hospitality group as well as the drinks industry, including craft beer and local distilleries, Phil has leveraged his expertise in storytelling to craft immersive, locally rooted experiences.

A vocal advocate for Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector and local producers, Phil is extremely proud to have played a role in developing Belfast and Northern Ireland as a tourism destination over the last 9 years.

Thomas P. DiNapoli is the 54th Comptroller of the State of New York. A life-long Long Islander, Tom was raised in a middle-class, union household and saw the value of hard work and stretching every dollar in the example set by his parents.

In 1972, Tom won his first election and served as a trustee on the Mineola Board of Education, becoming the first 18-year-old in New York State to hold public office. He attended Hofstra University, earning a bachelor’s degree in history and graduated magna cum laude in 1976. He worked in the telecommunications industry for 10 years, and went to night classes and earned a master’s degree from The New School University’s Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions.

In 1986, he ran for the New York State Assembly and was elected to represent the 16th District in northwestern Nassau County for the next 20 years. Tom was elected State Comptroller on Feb. 7, 2007 by a bipartisan majority of the State Legislature. He was elected Comptroller by New York’s voters in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Tom is known for his integrity, independence and even-keeled leadership.

His record of accomplishments include identifying billions in waste, fraud and cost savings in government, uncovering corruption in State and local governments, leading to dozens of arrests and tens of millions in restitution, providing robust oversight of school district operations and education spending, successfully advocating for State law changes to increase oversight of special education contractors after widespread abuse was found, developing an early warning system to identify municipalities and school districts showing signs of fiscal stress, managing the third largest public pension fund in the nation through difficult losses during the Great Recession, reformed how it operates and received high praise for industry leading standards, investing nearly $2 billion in private equity and loan programs to benefit New York-based businesses and provide a return to the State pension fund, earning a reputation as one of the leading shareholder voices on many corporate concerns including environmental issues and corporate political spending, opening up government spending on his transparency website Open Book New York, leading the fight for prudent fiscal and procurement reforms to help New York change how it does business and put it on better fiscal footing, and streamlining claims process for individuals to recover lost money. Returned $424 million in unclaimed funds to owners in State Fiscal Year 2016-2017.