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.

With significant experience both in the private sector and Higher Education Sector Aidan Browne is currently Head of the Innovation and Business Development function with responsibility for enterprise development, industry engagement, Technology Transfer and commercial output at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Aidan is heavily involved in the economic development landscape in the North East region. Aidan also holds a number of directorship roles in not-for-profits in the enterprise support and financing domain specialising in working with high tech, knowledge intensive companies during their start-up and early growth phases.

David Burns is the Science, Technology & Innovation Manger within the Strategy and Policy directorate at InterTradeIreland. His responsibilities include consulting on the cross-border implications of science and technology developments, as well as managing a cross-border cluster and network support programme, Synergy, which explores new opportunities for all island collaboration that will result in mutual economic benefit for Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Prior to this, David worked as a technology platform lead within a multinational R&D firm. David has a wide range of experience gained from working in small molecule discovery within the life and agri-science sectors. His skills range from business strategy development to digital and automation change leadership with a passion for the deployment of digital technology within a business.

Alan is a Director with Resolve Partners, a corporate to startup via investment consultancy team. He has been part of a team with >300 startup investments who went on to raise >€300m VC and current exits >€500m. He has been a founder and investor with technology companies across sectors. He was a Director of the Mill Enterprise centre, where he was one of the founders of the Payments Corridor.

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 Co-Director of Origin, a full service digital agency based in Holywood, NI.  With over 15 year’s experience in the digital marketing and strategy space and previously having worked in banking services and retail, Jill brings the cutting edge of digital marketing and strategy to FinServ sector clients in the UK, Ireland and North America.

With a decade of experience in delivering digital strategies and campaigns for banks, insurance brokers, insurtechs and fintechs, Jill’s knowledge spans both the B2B and B2C space.

Jill is also an Associate Lecturer for Ulster University, co-delivering the Masters in Digital Media, Communication and Leadership.

Twitter: @JillLRobb

Peter Rowan is responsible for leading YapStone’s International Operations and Global Customer Support, based in the company’s Drogheda, Ireland office. With a 35-year career that has spanned roles with UK Law Enforcement as well as global leaders in the payments industry, including PayPal and Visa, Peter is focused on scaling international operations and expanding global customer support to 24/7/365 to support YapStone partners. Previous to YapStone, Peter was Global Director of Trust & Safety at Twitter where he was led global teams across 3 offices, Dublin, San Francisco and Singapore. Peter received an MBA degree from The Henley Business School in the UK.

“Ronan is the Director of Business, Innovation and Enterprise at the Mill Enterprise Centre in Drogheda. He is a multi-award winner for Entrepreneurship at both a National and World level. Ronan’s specialities are in the areas of business strategy, revenue management and profit optimisation.

Ronan has a proven track record of driving company turnarounds through strong revenue growth and a disciplined commercial focus. Qualified with an MBA from Trinity College Dublin, with an undergraduate degree in Economics as well as postgraduate qualifications in Entrepreneurship as well as a Masters Strategic Management & Planning, (Graduate H.Dip & MBS) from University College Dublin (UCD).

Prior to joining the Mill, Ronan worked as the Director of Revenue, Pricing and Deal Management for the Mater Private Hospital Network. Ronan has over 15 years’ experience in Director and senior Commercial roles across tourism, aviation, telecoms and healthcare and has worked in across the Caribbean and in North Africa.”