ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Paul McCormack, Conference Chair, Belfast Metropolitan College
A research & innovation specialist Paul has many years of extensive skills and experience in developing, leading and delivering international projects. As a Green Hydrogen proponent Paul is passionate about tackling the climate crisis, generating energy security and building resilient communities with hydrogen as the catalyst for change.
A founding member of Hydrogen Ireland Paul is currently leading several international projects including GenComm, H2AZEL and H2CAT, Paul is helping accelerate the EU clean hydrogen journey, develop innovative sector coupling opportunities, establish alternative pathways to net zero and stimulating industry to pivot to new green economy models
His vision is to rise to our energy challenges and use this opportunity to; ensure green hydrogen is commodified, build a stronger resilient global green economy, deliver global energy security and ensure a just transition for all.
Amanda Daly, Pinsent Masons
Amanda is a business development professional with over 20 years’ experience in Marketing Communications and Media Relations departments of multinational financial institutions and professional services organisations in London, and in Dublin. Amanda worked in one of Ireland’s largest law firms for 7 years, before joining Pinsent Masons in 2019. Amanda spends much of her time in business development for the energy sector, and works closely with Energy Partner Garrett Monaghan.
Garrett Monaghan, Pinsent Masons
Garrett Monaghan has consistently been one of the most active renewables and project finance lawyers in Ireland and works across several inter-related disciplines including energy, project finance, corporate/M&A and private equity. Garrett specialises in the development, acquisition, disposal and funding of energy and infrastructure assets. In addition to renewables and infrastructure, Garrett has worked on early phase hydrogen-related projects including offshore wind and green ammonia production. Garrett has also worked in-house within investment banking and energy trading (extending to gas, power, green certificates and commodities trading).
Catherine Joyce O’Caollai, Policy Manager, Generation Strategy, ESB
Catherine works as Policy Manager, Future Opportunities, in ESB Generation & Trading and has worked in the climate and energy policy area for over 10 years. This has involved assessing the impact of regulatory and policy proposals on existing and future business opportunities. Prior to ESB, Catherine worked in Indaver, Ibec, UK Parliament and the European Parliament.
Anne Toner, Hydrogen Ireland
In 2015, Anne founded PRR Associates Ltd, a company specializing in strategic business and project development whilst simultaneously managing numerous BEIS and EU-funded projects. In 2021, she joined H2Irl as a Growth Strategy Advisor, spearheading the organization's global expansion and accelerating the hydrogen economy's adoption across the island of Ireland.
Anne, a fierce clean energy advocate, propels the net-zero transition and cultivates sustainable economic growth through inventive business strategies. In excess of 20 years’ experience across both the public and private sectors, she has partnered with top global enterprises to advance clean energy initiatives from the regional to the global.
Andrea is passionate about the key role that hydrogen and its derivatives can play in delivering a balanced pathway to net zero. She is currently VP of Net-Zero Projects IE for Belfast-based CATAGEN, a net-zero technologies company. CATAGEN wants to be part of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel demonstrator project on the island of Ireland, as it built a prototype e-fuel machine in 2022 with UK Government funding. The machine successfully demonstrated the production of e-fuels. Previously Andrea was Portfolio Director at EIH2, a Cork Green Hydrogen company, where she was responsible for developing and delivering EIH2’s offtake strategy for its GW-scale hydrogen projects. As Gas Networks Ireland’s Hydrogen Programme Manager, Dr Ahern represented the company on the Government’s Hydrogen Working Group and played a key role in the organisation of the first Hydrogen Ireland Conference (2022).
Denise Horgan, Gas Networks Ireland
Denise is a project manager with Gas Networks Ireland and has over 15 years’ experience delivering complex business and transformation projects in the utilities industry. As part of the GNI’s Hydrogen Programme team, she is currently focused on governance and alignment of GNI’s hydrogen activities towards decarbonisation of the gas network by 2050.
Andrea Ahern, Catagen