Joe O'Reilly
Joe O'Reilly HR Executive, SFA & Ibec

Joe specialises in providing businesses with accessible, practical, and legally robust support across HR and employment law. He advises member companies on a wide range of workplace issues, contributes to SFA guidance materials, and supports delivery of key compliance events. Joe previously served as Employer Relations Executive in Ibec’s Mid-West region, representing employers at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). He holds a Certificate in Employment Law from TU Dublin and a Bachelor of Commerce degree (HR & Leadership) from UCC.

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John O’Shanahan
John O’Shanahan Founder & Managing Director, LeanBPI

John is the founder of LeanBPI, a specialist consultancy that has spent over 12 years helping small businesses streamline operations through lean thinking, digitalisation, and practical AI adoption. Passionate about real-world small business environments, John’s approach focuses on people, processes, and sustainable digital workflows to solve actual operational problems. He holds a Master’s degree in Lean Systems from the University of Limerick.

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Paul Glynn
Paul Glynn Owner & CEO, Topform

Paul joined Gort-based Topform as a graduate trainee and went on to buy the precision-engineered work surface manufacturing company in 1996. Over the last 30 years, Paul has revolutionised the business, celebrating 50 years of heritage in Galway while scaling it significantly into an award-winning international exporter. A graduate of UCG (Commerce) and Bradford University (MBA), Paul is a dedicated practitioner of strategic management, lean practices, and continuous business learning.

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Heather Connolly
Heather Connolly Managing Director & Co-Owner, Builín Blasta

Heather took over the Galway-based café business in 2015, successfully growing it from a beloved local establishment into a nationally recognised, premium food manufacturing brand. Under her leadership, the team grew from 14 to 34 employees, earning multiple Blas na hÉireann and Great Taste awards, and culminated in Builín Blasta being named the SFA National Small Business Awards 2026 Food & Drink Business of the Year. Heather is a passionate advocate for regional enterprise and serves as industry representative on GRETB's Further Education and Training committee.

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Start Date June 09, 2026
Time 10.30AM
Duration 2 hours
Delegate Price Free
Location Ibec Galway Office - H91 XYE0
Type Briefing
Contact info@sfa.ie