Professor Danielle McWall is the Associate Dean for Partnership and Student Recruitment at Ulster University Business School, having previously served as Head of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics. Since joining Ulster University in 2006, she has held several senior academic roles, earning a Senior Lectureship in 2018 and a Professorship in 2023. She is a recipient of the University’s Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching.

As a Fellow Chartered Accountant with Chartered Accountants Ireland and a qualified Internal Auditor, Professor McWall brings extensive professional experience to her academic work. Prior to academia, she was an Audit Director with BDO, managing audits across Europe and the U.S.

She has played a key role in pioneering innovative programmes, including the UK’s first degree apprenticeship in Financial Technology. She led the teams who have successfully grown the University’s Higher Level Apprenticeships in Business Technology, FinTech, and Accounting. Her research focuses on Accounting Education, with a particular interest in innovative pedagogy. She developed the “Freedom to Fail” assessment approach to support student resilience and success.

Joanne McEvoy is an experienced Project Manager at InterTradeIreland, specialising on the Synergy programme.

For over seven years, Joanne has developed strong expertise in supporting innovation within SMEs, clusters and networks, working closely with businesses to help them collaborate, grow and maximise opportunities across the island.

Joanne holds a deep understanding of innovation-led programmes, stakeholder engagement and cross-border cooperation, which is underpinned by her many years of hands-on delivery, and extensive sector knowledge and insight.

Simon is the CEO of Digital DNA, a leading media, publishing and events company within the fast-growing tech industry. He is a highly experienced and innovative company executive with a passion for innovation, technology and leadership. Over the past 20 years, Simon has worked across multiple industries and specialises in sales & commercial leadership, developing high impact marketing strategies, organisational redevelopment and developing strategic growth initiatives. Under Simon’s leadership and vision, Digital DNA has developed a reputation for creating unique online and offline events that support the growth of the tech sector and promotes innovation through collaboration. Simon is also responsible for the growth of the media and publishing arm of Digital DNA which continues to promote and showcase the stories from within the local tech industry as well as providing commentary on global tech trends. Simon is a regular commentator and writer on the opportunity’s technology can unlock, focusing on megatrends that will impact society and the challenges and threats new technology creates. He also hosts regular roundtables, panel discussions and fireside chats with founders and tech leaders.

Away from Digital DNA, Simon advises and consults start-ups and organisations on growth strategies, including strategic sales & marketing, acquisition strategies, new market entry, M&A opportunities, company culture and corporate governance. He also maintains a strong network throughout the public and private sector, including media outlets, policy makers, the investment community and business leaders from many high growth companies. He is also a board member and Chairman of The Fintech Corridor, a cross border cluster of Fintech companies that promote the benefits of the region.

Simon is also passionate about inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and is involved with several initiatives that mentor young people and expose them to new opportunities within the digital and technology space.

Karen is responsible for the development of the multinational Financial Services and Professional Services Sector, including FinTech, in Northern Ireland. She also manages a portfolio if major existing in the FS Sector.

A graduate in Chemical Engineering from Queens University, Karen worked as a production manager for Coats Viyella and as a consultant for Reuters Healthcare and Parity, before joining Northern Ireland’s economic development agency, in 1999. She initially worked with a number of start-up companies in the ICT and Life Sciences sectors and with spin-out companies from the two local universities. She moved to the Financial Services sector in June 2005.

Damien manages InterTradeIreland’s cross-border network and cluster support programme, Synergy.  Damien has over 15 years of project management experience including delivery of a diverse range of projects to meet a variety of requirements.  Damien has been working with InterTradeIreland for over three years and in this time has built up knowledge and experience of issues affecting SME’s and how clusters can help meet these needs.

EMEA Outsource (OS) leader for Partner billing, invoice and strategy at PayPal. Having commenced my career previously with Vodafone Ireland as a customer care agent, I joined PayPal in 2013 as an analyst member of the Workforce Management (WFM) team. My current role sees me responsible for managing PayPal’s EMEA customer contact strategy and billing with all of PayPal’s EMEA OS partners providing service to our customers in all EMEA markets. I’m a member of the site leadership board for the operation of PayPal’s Dundalk site in Ireland. I’m also a huge music fan – keep your eyes peeled for me outside the office.

Michelle is Chief Executive Officer, GECKO Governance and an experienced compliance and risk professional with 15 years experience in senior positions in various financial services industries including banking and fund administration. During her time in industry, Michelle was a member of Industry working groups in AML, Data Protection and Regulation. Michelle holds the relevant compliance, risk and legal qualifications and professional body memberships, complementing strong business commercial knowledge.

Having worked in the Funds industry and understanding the intricacies of the work involved, Michelle is able to fully appreciate the pain points and frustrations of GECKO Governance’s clients and how the software can alleviate these pain points and streamline clients’ work flows and business processes. Active in the start-up and Fintech communities, Michelle is a member of the Fintech and Payments Association, and a brand ambassador for The Fintech Corridor.

Areas of expertise include:

• Developing and maturing business operations within start-ups;
• Fintechs, Digital Transformation and Cyber Risk;
• Regulatory risk compliance including training, review and analysis of CBI guidance, AIFMD, UCITS, AML legislation with cross jurisdictional requirements including MiFID, governance and data security;
• Outsourcing best practice review and guidance;
• Financial Crime Compliance by way of monitoring, local and global MI reporting and risk consulting;
• Leadership;
• Business Analysis & Strategy; and
• Continuous Process Improvement, Lean Six Sigma

Jill Robb is a no-nonsense fintech growth operator and founder with 17+ years as a business owner and 20+ years in strategy and marketing operations, including 12+ years in financial services. Operating at the intersection of sales, marketing, strategy, and RevOps, she helps U.S. fintechs scale from Series A through Series E and beyond with ROI-driven, execution-focused growth strategies. Founder of AttainX Ltd (UK) and AttainX Inc (US), Jill is a former multi-agency owner turned fractional executive, known for her direct, hands-on approach and rare blend of technical depth, commercial instinct, and sales and marketing expertise. An international and TEDx speaker and Ulster University Guest Lecturer, she works across financial services, banking, fintech and insurtech.