New York New Belfast

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.  

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.

Award: Belfast International Homecoming Ambassador

Prior to rejoining the world of entrepreneurship, Brian was the Executive Director of Sales Development at the Wall Street Journal where he oversaw the sales development and marketing programs for the financial and small business categories among the many Journal brands. From 2002-2010, Brian was President of Veracle Media and Moran Media Group.

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.

Ciara McConkey is an experienced IT professional and Account Director at Version 1, based in Belfast. Ciara holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and has built a diverse career spanning software development, delivery management, and business development. Specialising in financial services and capital markets, Ciara has built and managed strategic portfolios for Tier 1 financial institutions.

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. 

As part of the commercial leadership team at Vyta, I focus on developing new business and helping global organisations improve how they manage end-of-life IT assets. My role centres on reducing risk, ensuring compliance, and unlocking value from assets that are often written off, turning IT disposal into a strategic advantage.

Vyta delivers secure, sustainable and fully auditable IT lifecycle solutions across 50+ countries. In the last two years alone, we’ve returned over £7 million in client rebates while helping organisations offset 25,000+ tonnes of CO₂e. My approach is centred on building strong partnerships, understanding client challenges, and delivering commercially sound solutions that drive both ESG and financial outcomes.

Councillor lan McLaughlin was elected to Belfast City Council in 2023 to represent the Court District Electoral Area, as a member of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Project Manager with the Lower Shankill Community Association, he also represents Belfast City Council on the Shared City Partnership, is a Management Committee Member of Denmark Community Centre and a Board Member with Girdwood Community Trust and Shankill Housing and Enterprise Ltd.

Councillor McLaughlin is currently Chair of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, which is responsible for setting the Council’s strategic direction through its corporate plan and other key corporate and cross cutting strategies and policies, including implementation of The Belfast Agenda, the city’s community plan, supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of the Physical Investment strategy and developing and implementing the organisation’s Good Relations and Equality Strategies. The Committee also ensures effective use of resources and value for money for ratepayers and oversees the Council’s relationship with key agencies and partners.

Councillor McLaughlin was previously Belfast City Council’s Chair of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee which is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies, policies, programmes and projects relating to Belfast’s regeneration and growth, including economic initiatives, employability and tourism, culture and events.

Having worked in community development for over 20 years, Councillor McLaughlin is passionate about regeneration across the city, and creating skills development and employment opportunities, particularly in working class communities.

Outside of politics, he enjoys spending time with his family and young grandchildren, watching football and walking his dog.

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.

For more than thirty years Karen Kerrigan’s leadership, advocacy and training work has helped foster U.S. entrepreneurship and global business growth.  She is president & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council,and is the group’s chief advocate for its members. In January 2024, Kerrigan received certification as a Health and Wellness Coach and is founder of Steps to Wellness.

Kerrigan regularly testifies before the U.S. Congress on a wide range of issues impacting entrepreneurs, startups, investment and the economy. She has been appointed to numerous federal advisory boards including the National Women’s Business Council, the U.S.-Iraq Business Dialog, the U.S. Treasury’s Taxpayer Advisory Panel, and the National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements. Kerrigan regularly engages with the President’s cabinet and key advisors, and has spoken or led roundtables at various White House economic summits, events hosted by the Small Business Administration, U.S. Treasury Department, Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal government agencies and departments. She is a collaborative and well-respected individual within the business and think-tank community who has led numerous coalitions and initiatives with diverse partners and organizations, including the Small Business Roundtable where she serves as Chair. She has also served on NAWBO’s Advisory Council, Verizon’s Consumer Advisory Board, and the Domenici-Rivlin Debt Reduction Task Force, among other advisory roles over the course of her career. She serves on the board (and chairs the Health, Wellness and Fitness Committee) of the Vienna Business Association, and the Bayh-Dole Coalition. Kerrigan is a board member of the Cortland College Foundation and chairs the SUNY Cortland Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board.

She has written hundreds of Op-Eds and newspaper columns, and regularly appears on national television, influencer podcasts and talk radio programs. Kerrigan regularly appears on Fox Business to provide analysis and commentary on the latest economic data, what’s driving the markets, and the outlook for the economy, entrepreneurship and small business growth.

Accolades for Karen’s work.

She has been called America’s “entrepreneurial envoy” and “small business ambassador” for her extensive speaking, knowledge sharing and capacity-building work overseas. Kerrigan is a founding member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum and has provided counsel to governments and business associations across the globe regarding entrepreneurial development, capacity building, policy formation and implementation. She has traveled to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Israel, Morocco, Nepal, the Palestinian territories, among many other nations on behalf of the U.S. State Department to work with business leaders, women and youth entrepreneurs, and government officials on advancing reforms and programs to encourage entrepreneurship, investment, and business growth.  Kerrigan is a former board member/audit committee Chair and board Chair of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), one of the core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy, which works to strengthen democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reforms. She is a World in 2050 Brain Trust member of the Diplomatic Courier.

Keith Forster is the Director of Economic Development at Belfast City Council and leads a team responsible for driving the economic growth of the city through the development and implementation of initiatives aimed at supporting skills, investment, enterprise, culture and tourism.
Prior to joining Belfast City Council, Keith was a Director in the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, leading on innovation and research and sectoral growth policy.
Throughout his career Keith has focused on fostering business growth,supporting research and innovation, and shaping policies that strengthen Northern Ireland’s Economy.

Kwame Daniels is a vinyl-loving DJ, broadcaster, and multidisciplinary creative working across music, theatre, and digital arts. With over 25 years of experience, he has built a dynamic career as both an artist and cultural producer,collaborating across the public, private, and community sectors. 

As founder of Bounce Culture, a not-for-profit organisation, Kwame uses creative digital technology to support communities facing disadvantage, creating inclusive spaces for expression, learning, and connection. He has worked with artists including Kaidi Tatham and Hannah Peel, and delivered projects with Radio 1, BBC Radio Ulster, and MTV, reaching audiences of over 500,000 across the UK, Ireland, the USA, Europe, and Africa. 

Internationally, he has led initiatives such as Bounce Afrika in Senegal, using Hip Hop culture to engage communities. His latest project, Solab, connects artists from Africa and the diaspora, with its launch production, North Star, earning critical acclaim internationally. 

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.

Maura is an Advisor, Program Curator, and Emmy Award-winning producer with expertise in media, marketing, and management. She works with organizations and creators to develop and promote high-impact projects, partnerships, and cultural initiatives. She specializes in building collaborative programs and supporting executive leadership.

Active in the Irish diaspora, Maura serves on the Advisory Council for the Global Economic Summit (Business Post Group), 2024–2025 and remains engaged with its ongoing work. She is a frequent moderator for New York New Belfast and has led key community initiatives funded by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, supporting young women in business. Maura also advises EDsnaps, a nonprofit introducing girls to STEM careers.

Her career spans leadership roles in broadcast media at PBS/WNET Group, where she built series franchises and helped raise millions for programs and EdTech initiatives. Her work has included collaborations with leading media companies such as The Jim Henson Company, PBS Kids, NBC, BBC, National Geographic, and Tribeca Film Institute, as well as partnerships with leading corporations and U.S. and Irish government agencies.

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.