Aaron is Head of Distribution and Fulfilment for Tesco Ireland, with nearly 30 years’ experience across store operations, business support functions and national logistics, leading large-scale teams and complex supply chain operations.
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In his role as Air Freight Manager at DHL Global Forwarding in Ireland, Andrew oversees end-to-end air cargo operations. His work centres on managing complex international logistics networks, negotiating and coordinating with air carriers, and ensuring the efficient, timely movement of freight. His role is critical in facilitating global trade for Irish businesses, requiring deep expertise in navigating the logistical, regulatory, and operational challenges of the modern air freight industry.
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Barry Whelan (BABS) is the founder, CEO and owner of The Excel Recruitment Group (incorporating Stelfox IT recruitment), one of Ireland’s leading recruitment agencies. The Excel Recruitment group employs over 110 professionals across 5 locations in Ireland and 1 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Business services 2000 clients and deploys a temporary workforce of over 8000 staff across the Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Industrial and IT sectors.
Under Barry’s leadership, Excel, established in 2002, has grown from a niche retail specialist, into a large multinational, multisectoral recruitment leader.
Beyond his role at Excel & Stelfox, Barry is a prominent figure in the business community, widely recognised for his contributions to advancing workplace practices. He often shares his expertise in leading media outlets such as The Irish Times, The Independent, and Newstalk Radio, providing insights, trends, and solutions to address industry challenges. His extensive knowledge across many sectors and topics makes him a valuable asset to the Labour Market Advisory Council.
Celine is the Principal Officer for the Road Freight Policy Division within the Department of Transport. She brings significant expertise in national logistics, regulatory frameworks, and supply chain resilience. Prior to her current role, she served as a Principal Officer in the Brexit Policy and Legislation Branch for the Revenue Commissioners. During that critical transition period, she played a vital role in advising government committees and the private sector on new customs checks, UK import controls, and transit movements, helping Irish businesses adapt to complex new international trade frameworks.
Show moreCormac serves as the Head of Commercial & Capital Projects at Dublin Port Company. He plays a pivotal role in guiding the port's commercial strategy and executing major capital investments as part of the Masterplan 2040. His recent work involves overseeing multi-million euro infrastructure upgrades, such as high-density refrigerated container facilities and managing critical remediation projects to protect the port's infrastructure against climate change and extreme weather. Under his guidance, Dublin Port manages a rapidly growing capital project pipeline, scaling up to €175 million annually to ensure the port can meet future trade demands.
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The Internal Market & Strategic Resilience Unit, part of DETE’s EU & Trade Regulation Division, supports Irish enterprise competitiveness by ensuring a well-functioning EU Single Market and enhancing supply chain resilience. It works on trade regulation, monitors dependencies, and shapes EU policy to foster economic resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability.
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Jackie King is the Executive Director of Ibec Global, Europe’s leading English-speaking, globally networked business organisation and the international business division of Ibec, Ireland’s most impactful business representative organisation. At the helm of Ibec Global, Jackie spearheads strategic initiatives that unite business leaders and global stakeholders, creating the conditions for international success and turning ideas into action. Under her leadership, Ibec Global provides practical guidance and resources that help leaders navigate change, secure their place in global markets, and turn global insights into local impact, ensuring lasting prosperity for economies and societies.
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Jim Hackett currently serves as the Supply Chain Operations Senior Director at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Prior to this position, Jim held various roles at Johnson & Johnson from August 2005 to March 2023, including Worldwide Implant Manufacturing Senior Director and End to End Supply Chain Director, with significant involvement in the research, development, and supply chain management of neurovascular devices. Jim's extensive experience also includes a tenure at IBM from July 1998 to August 2005, in positions such as Senior Operations Manager and Customer and Supplier Quality Manager.
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Member of the Lobbing & Influence Division at Ibec, Ireland’s premier business representative organisation, with responsibility for transport, infrastructure and planning policy alongside the Dublin & Eastern Region.
Leading the Ibec Transport & Infrastructure Council whose membership includes the largest providers and users of infrastructure in the state, and the Ibec Dublin & Eastern Regional Executive Committee, representing a number of the region’s largest employers.
Former Parliamentary Assistant at the European Parliament handling European Green Deal legislation in the sustainable transport, renewable energy and environmental fields.
Michael is head of occupational safety & health (OSH) Member Services in Ibec.
He is Deputy Chairperson of the Management & Executive Boards of the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and is an employer representative on the European Commissions’ Advisory Committee on Safety & Health (ACSH).
He is a former Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Health and Safety Authority in Ireland.
Originally from Limerick, Stephen moved to Canada in 2011 where he worked with large cities (including Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and Ottawa) to deliver sustainable mobility solutions as well as climate and infrastructure resilience advisory services. Stephen has dedicated his professional career to network system thinking – considering the implications of multiple trends and disruptions for planning and strategy development for clients. His experience and work to date has included some of the largest and most complex infrastructure undertakings, covering over EUR 50 billion in capital expenditures to date.
Stephen has extensive experience in disruption and strategic advisory (including sustainability and decarbonisation linked change and opportunity), transaction and commercial advisory, energy transition pathways, real estate and urban development strategy (including transit orientated development), and social infrastructure projects. Stephen has a focus on resilience and sustainability strategy and transaction.