Marina Bleahan
President is 2021/2022/2023

Marina Bleahen, Founder and Managing Director of Business Works, a corporate training, executive coaching and consulting company. Helping clients win the war for talent, Marina’s core purpose is for her clients to achieve success through strategy, leadership, accountability, culture, employee excellence and change management.

With over 25 years’ experience in the fields of business, marketing and communications, Marina works with business leaders, owners and their teams to build success, ensuring there is alignment to deliver the result rather than employees just showing doing the job. A global partner of DOOR International.

Previously a Global Director of Strategic Marketing with Elan Pharmaceuticals, Marina studied radiography in University College Dublin and ran a successful private clinic before joining Elan.

The current President of the North Dublin Chamber of Commerce, and council member of the Small Firms Association, with a finger on the pulse of industry interests and challenges, Marina is committed to enabling success. Her passion is helping clients achieve in all their roles in life because being in business should give you more life.

JASON CAIRNS
SALES MANAGER

Recognising that the business environment will never be the same throughout the planet, the Hilton Hotel are delighted to be the flagship venue for North Dublin Chamber. In a thriving hub of local industry, the hotel can offer you a hassle free location just outside the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

The Hilton Hotel is just eight kilometres from Dublin Airport and they can offer you a shuttle service that can connect you to terminals one and two within 15 minutes. Dublin’s city centre and the traditional fishing village of Howth are both within 10 kilometres of our hotel, and there are several golf courses within a 20 minute drive. The hotel also has a fitness centre and a restaurant with classic Irish dishes. It’s a perfect location for any meeting or conference as it sits on the edge of the city.

Stephen Kennedy
Vice President

Stephen is an executive recruiter with a proven track record of placing high performing individuals in roles that continue to enhance and develop their skill set. Stephen has successful recruited primarily across technical and commercial disciplines in Ireland and overseas for domestic and International clients and recruitment assignments that Stephen and his team have recently completed include, Sales Manager, Business Development Director, Country Manager, SAP Project Manager and IT Programme Manager. If you are looking to strengthen your talent pool, or contemplating new career opportunities, I would be delighted to speak with you.

The Talent Partners Contract Staffing division are currently working on an International IT Resourcing Project with an Enterprise Software Support Company and we are placing experienced SAP professionals on client sites throughout EMEA and APAC. If you are an experienced SAP Professional with 10+ years experience and open to discussing exciting opportunities please contact Stephen today.

Areas of Specialism:
Executive Search
Headhunting
ICT – Sales, Marketing, Programme Management and Technical/Engineering roles.
Facilities Management
Banking & Financial Services
Medical Devices & Pharmaceutical – Sales & Marketing roles
Senior Management positions across industries.

Specialties: executive recruitment, headhunting, psychometric testing, interview preparation, consultancy

Ellen is the General Manager of the DCU National Centre for Family Business (NCFB), where she was seconded from her role as a Project Manager in AIB. AIB Bank have partnered with the NCFB since 2014).

She was also  the President of the North Dublin Chamber, formally the Chamber of Commerce from February 2017 to February 2021. With over 30 years of experience in financial services with AIB Bank, she has held a variety of different leading roles over 19 years in Head Office and 14 years experience, as Retail Manager and Branch Manager.

TerEnce Bowden
Executive

Terence has valuable experience in innovation; during his 2 years with Hood Associates he designed several products for both large global corporations and local companies of which several have been patented. With James Leckey Design in Belfast he designed equipment for kids with special needs, with LED Group he spent two years as New Product Development Manager updating their portfolio with 137 new products.

Terence was Venture Manager of the DCU’s Ryan Academy Propeller Venture Accelerator (ranked 7th in Europe by the Kauffman Foundation) and is co-founder of U-Start, an accelerator for the students of DCU. He has also been in two start-ups where he played an instrumental part in their sale.

Recently Terence was Business Accelerator Director with the University of Nebraska’s Innovation campus (NIC) where he investigated the start-up eco system.

Presently he looks after Community and Business Development with DCU Alpha (DCU’s Innovation Campus) which includes the running of the hackathon series.

Terence holds a degree in Industrial Design from Institute of Technology Carlow, a Higher Degree in Product, Graphic and Interactive Design where he was awarded a 1:1 from the University of Ulster, he has completed the access course for Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in Dublin City University (DCU), a Master Degree in Business Management where the major project he was involved in was awarded “Best Business Plan 2010” by DCU and a level 9 Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing also at DCU. He also attended the NCIIA’s Launchpad for Incubators/Accelerators Seminar at Columbia University, NY given by Steve Blank and Alexander Osterwalder.

Annabelle Conway
Council

Annabelle is a skilled professional with extensive experience in the areas of strategic planning and innovation, project management, business development and human resources management.

She has worked across several sectors including, Not For Profit, Consulting and Manufacturing. As a result, she has a comprehensive understanding of business and an extensive network of contacts across a variety of organisations both nationally and intentionally. She also has several years experience of working in the Not For Profit Sector and a deep understanding of the challenges this sector faces.

A strategic thinker with extensive experience in the development of innovative solutions to tackle organisational challenges, especially in the areas of job creation and business development. In addition, she is experienced in the creation of new and innovative initiatives as a method of addressing specific problems in the areas of programmes, funding, recruitment and in the development of effective partnerships.

Strong leadership skills and experienced in providing clear support and direction during challenging times, for example, the implementation of both expansion and downsizing programmes, change management initiatives and relocation activities.

Declan Gray
Council

With close to 35 years experience in the design, print and marketing industries, Declan has a wealth of experience in strategic branding and how to use the various platforms at his disposal. He is the strategic lead at evolve, helping clients understand how their brands can compete and grow successfully within an ever changing business landscape. 

Declan’s key skills include business strategy, brand design, team building, budgeting, project management, visual communications and persona driven digital marketing for enhanced customer experiences. Over the years, Declan has amassed a network of trusted stakeholders, which can cater to every sector of your business needs.

He has also held a number of positions on various boards and councils:

• Board & Council Member in Dublin Chamber 
• Ambassador in Dublin Chamber
• Committee Member in Age Friendly Alliance
• Board Member in TAB
• Mentor for Small Business Advice
• Founding Partner & Facilitator of LIFT Ireland
• Member of government taskforce for Travel & Transport
• Member of government taskforce for Walking & Cycling

SHANE HENRY
Council

Shane has over 15 years experience in Retail Banking. In that time he have worked in a number of roles within both Personal and Business Banking where he has a proven ability to deliver on financial targets while also ensuring that he have maintained the ability to deliver on any customers needs.

In his current role as Business Manager in AIB, Bankcentre Branch he is tasked with managing a team of Relationship Managers covering four of our busiest South Dublin branches. His role here is to ensure that the Relationship Management team are delivering the best banking service to both their personal and business customers while also achieving theirs and the hubs financial plans.

Wendy Stunt
Council

John donnellan
Council

John is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland (ACA). John joined Whelan Dowling & Associates in 2013 and was appointed Partner in 2020.

John maintains a portfolio of Credit Unions, Charities and Not for Profit Organisations. John provides audit and assurance services. Assurance services include internal audit, risk management, strategic planning and governance compliance. John has extensive experience with SORP financial statements and advising on governance aspects of non-for-profit entities. John has recently worked with a number of not for profit organisations in registering with the Charities Regulator.

PROFESSOR DIARMUID HEGARTY
President of Griffith College
C0-0pted from Dublin Chamber

Professor Diarmuid Hegarty, is the founder and President of Griffith College is a Barrister and Chartered Accountant.

– Barrister-at-Law; BComm, UCD; FCA
– Founder, Griffith College and Higher Education Colleges Association.
– Council member for Dublin Chamber.
– Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (Council member).
– Baggot Street Hospital board member.
– Higher Education and Training Awards Council officer.
– Higher Education Quality Network (Chair).
– Friends of the Vocal Arts (Chair).

He speaks conversational Italian and Chinese and fluent French.

NORTH DUBLIN CHAMBER
Past Presidents

Marina Bleahen    2021/2022/2023
Ellen Drumm    2019/2020
Stephen Kennedy    2017/2018
Liam OHalloran    2015/2016
E.J O’Connor    2001
Orla Dunne    2000
D.N Vavasour    1999
F. Furlong    1998
P.J Flanagan    1997
B.P Delaney    1996
N O’Donovan    1995
M. Long    1994
W.P Keegan    1993
D.C Macaulay    1992
T.J Murphy    1991
D.A. Fanagan    1990
M.A McEvoy    1989
E.M Davy    1988
M.J Lehane    1986/1987

Deiric Ó Broin is Professor of Public Policy Practice in the School of Law and Government in DCU where he lectures in Irish politics and public policy. His research is mainly on Irish politics and public policy particularly the area of local and urban governance.

He also works in the areas of public participation and deliberation, civil society involvement in public policy formulation, with a particular focus on the social economy.

Previously, he taught in TU Dublin, Maynooth University and UCD.

His most recent book (edited with Eoin O’Malley), Mayoral Governance in Dublin was published in April 2019.

Other books include Local Governance, Development and Innovation (with David Jacobson) 2017, Social Innovation in Ireland (with Ronaldo Munck and Jordana Corrigan) 2017, Adapting to Climate Change – Governance Challenges (with Peadar Kirby) 2016, Politics, Participation and Power – Civil Society and Public Policy in Ireland (with Mary Murphy) 2013, Local Dublin, Global Dublin – Public Policy in and Evolving City City Region (with David Jacobson) 2010, Power, Dissent and Democracy – Civil Society and the State in Ireland (with Peadar Kirby) 2009, Governing Below the Centre – Local Governance in Ireland (with Eugene Waters) 2017, and Taming the Tiger – Social Exclusion in a Globalised Ireland (with Peadar Kirby and David Jacobson) 2006.