Alice Charles is a Director at Arup, responsible for integrated Cities, Planning and Design. She is an expert on cross-cutting urban strategies (sustainability, climate change, resilience, mobility) globally. She also oversees our global strategic partnerships with international organisations, mayoral networks, foundations and think tanks.
Alice previously led the World Economic Forum’s cities and real estate work streams. She was an External Member of the Board of Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) Planning Advisory Committee, was an EU Presidency Officer with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and managed the Dublin office of Jacobs (formerly Colin Buchanan).
Alice is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, a Member of the Irish Planning Institute.
Bob Jordan is Chief Executive of The Housing Agency, a government body that promotes the supply of housing and helps deliver sustainable communities throughout Ireland. He was previously National Director of the Irish Government's Housing First programme to end long-term homelessness, Special Adviser to the Minister for Housing, and Chief Executive of the national housing charity Threshold.
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Cormac O’Rourke is a retired corporate finance specialist covering energy, infrastructure and the Semi-State sector. He spent nearly 20 years as a Director of Goodbody Corporate Finance. Prior to that he was Head of Project Finance of KBC Bank NV for Europe, Middle East and Africa and Investment Director of ESBI. He started his career in the ESB as a Steam and Gas Turbine specialist. He has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering.
Cormac was appointed Chair of the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency in January 2013 and became the first Chair of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) following their merger in August 2015. He retired as Chair of TII in November 2021. He was appointed Chair Designate of the LDA in December 2021, and became Chair on incorporation of the LDA in March 2022.
David has over 17 years experience across the real estate, private office and corporate finance industries. Prior to joining Cantor Fitzgerald, David worked as a Director with the O’Flynn Group in Dublin involved in acquisitions, strategy and S&A housing. Before returning to Dublin, David headed up Projects and Corporate Finance for Global Ideas, a UHNW family office in Abu Dhabi and prior to this, managed the MENA region business for RKD. David holds a degree in Engineering - BAI, BA - and a diploma in Project Management from Trinity College Dublin as well as a number of executive qualifications from INSEAD.
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Ivan has considerable expertise within the property industry in Ireland and manages a great team of experienced property professionals across Ireland. The team works to build long-term partnerships with developer & non-developer clients to develop tailored solutions to achieve clients' risk/return objectives by providing strategy advice, portfolio management and transaction services across New Homes & Residential Investment (PRS) sectors.
Our dedicated New Homes team have a wealth of experience having successfully sold over 60,000 units across multiple developments. As the market is evolving and re-emerging we are identifying new opportunities for new entrants and existing development companies across the Greater Dublin Area, Cork, Galway & Limerick. Our drive is to provide strategic, policy and sales consultancy advice to a wide range of institutional, capital and developer clients.
Ivan started his career with Sherry FitzGerald in 1999, initially working in the Business Space Department within DTZ Sherry FitzGerald (now Cushman & Wakefield). After qualifying as a chartered surveyor, Ivan made the move to Sherry FitzGerald New Homes where he specialises in residential development land, mixed use developments and portfolio work. Ivan is a member of ULI (Urban Land Institute) and Chairman of Property Industry Ireland (PII).
As Head of Skills and Social Policy, Kara acts as a strategic advisor and provides support on diversity and inclusion, skills and labour market policy and practices to Ibec member organisations. Her role includes the development of tools and guidelines, lobbying and developing policy positions at a national and European level. Kara is a board member of Skillnets, member of the Governing Authority, DCU and Chair of the Joint Equality Council at ESB. She is an organisational psychologist and practicing psychotherapist, formerly HR manager in industry with lecturing experience at undergraduate, postgraduate and executive level.
With Ibec since 2008, she is a specialist in strategy development and implementation, public and regulatory policy, business representation and stakeholder engagement.
Kate English is Director, Head of Real Estate Research at Deloitte. Kate analyses the real estate market through an economic lens, conducting data driven research across both the occupier and transactional commercial & residential property markets in Ireland.
Having previously worked as the Chief Economist, Head of Ireland Research & Insights at Cushman & Wakefield and a Senior Economist/Researcher at Sherry FitzGerald, Kate’s experience in real estate spans +8 years.
She is an expert in current and historical market trends in both the commercial and residential sector. This combined with a detailed understanding of demographic data allows for insightful analysis on the real estate market. Her work spans across bespoke research reports, market publications, internal and external presentations, and media engagements.
Mary served as Interim CEO from October 2022 to April 2023 inclusive and then reverted to her role as Executive Director which she held since 2015. Prior to that, she was Divisional Manager covering regional development, property and corporate operations overseeing the implementation of the IDA’s regional development and property strategies. In this role she was also Head of HR & OD and oversaw the finance and corporate governance functions for the organisation. From 2006 to 2010 inclusive, Mary was Director of the IDA’s North American operations, leading the team in winning investments across all business sectors. Prior to her relocation to New York, Mary was Director, South Region based in Cork. A key priority for Mary is the successful execution of IDA Ireland’s strategy "Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021-2024".
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Michele is Head of Corporate Finance and Head of Infrastructure sector in Ireland. She has extensive professional experience providing strategic, financial and commercial, fundraising, procurement, value for money, M&A and debt related advice on large complex projects throughout Ireland and overseas.
Michele has significant real estate, infrastructure and project finance experience. She provides advice to government bodies, semi-state companies and private sector entities including working with infrastructure clients in housing, governance, property, transport, digital, health, leisure, emergency services and justice across their major infrastructure programmes.
Patrick Phelan is the Managing Director of Ballymore Ireland, a privately owned developer of some of Europe’s largest regeneration projects. Ballymore are one of Ireland's most innovative and dynamic property developers, having completed more than 9,000 homes and 1 million ft2 of commercial development in the UK and Ireland over the past five years.
Patrick is a real estate professional with broad experience in real estate in the UK, Ireland and the US, acquired over a twenty-five year career.
During his tenure, Ballymore have created new headquarters for major corporates and institutions including the Central Bank of Ireland, Microsoft, and the National Treasury Management Agency.
Patrick along with his team were responsible for a forward fund of 435 units in 8th Lock, the last piece of the puzzle in Royal Canal Park in Ashtown, Dublin. Under Patrick’s leadership
Ballymore acquired a landbank for over 4,000 units in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare, including Sea Gardens, Seamount Rise, Stonehaven, River Walk, Aster Park and Station Walk.
Cormac was appointed Chair of the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency in January 2013 and became the first Chair of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) following their merger in August 2015. He retired as Chair of TII in November 2021. He was appointed Chair Designate of the LDA in December 2021, and became Chair on incorporation of the LDA in March 2022.
Sarah is a well known columnist and broadcaster. She’s written for major broadsheets from The Irish Times to The Daily Telegraph on everything from economics to politics, technology and media and is a highly experienced radio and television presenter. A thorough researcher of big subjects with an open mind, Sarah is highly regarded for her professionalism and warmth.
Whatever your subject – be it technology, energy, economics or the business of media and culture, Sarah will bring a lively intellectual curiosity to the proceedings, putting other guests at ease and making sure your audience will be entertained and engaged in your event.
An authoritative and charming chair, she can keep conversations moving along but make sure all key points are explored. Acutely sensitive to the moods of an audience she’ll make sure your event stays on track. Sarah is popular in academia, politics and business and of course, with general audiences who love her personal insights, and open manner.
Sinéad is a practiced sustainability/ESG and communications professional with over 16 years’ experience gained across multiple sectors including construction, healthcare and finance. Sinéad has vast experience in the operationalisation of sustainability strategies for large multinational organisations, sustainability reporting and social value activation. Sinéad is an active participant in the sustainability and SDG dialogue in Ireland. She is a graduate of the University of Limerick (BA History, Politics and Sociology) and University College Cork (MSc Cooperatives and Social Enterprises) and a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS). She is also a member of Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Council, CDP Ireland Network Steering Committee and ICRS Ireland Hub Steering Board.
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