MEDIA CUBE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• IADT in 2018 As a Research Programmes Officer
• Member of the Institutes of Technology Research Officers Group
• Research Programmes Officer

Avril joined IADT in 2018 as a Research Programmes Officer, bringing with her over 10 years' experience in higher education and project management. Avril's role encompasses a wide portfolio of Research Support Services including programme administration, event management, project administration and project co-ordination. Her role involves engagement across a wide range of stakeholders including collaboration with students, academic and research staff, institute administration, industry and external funding agencies nationally and internationally. Avril works across many departments at IADT including the Research Office and the Department of Enterprise and Innovation. She is extensively involved in identifying European Horizon funding opportunities and providing advice, support and training opportunities to IADT's staff and industry. Avril assists those applying for funding with their proposal development. She also plays a key role in highlighting IADT's successful research collaborations with both the private and public sectors across a range of platforms, presenting IADT's unique range of expertise to industry through conference and networking events. Avril is a member of the Institutes of Technology Research Officers Group as well as University/Institute groups including the Euraxess network and the H2020 / Horizon Europe National Support Network. Avril is a member of the EARMA Network (European Association for Research Managers and Administrators) and holds the EARMA Certificate in Research Management. Avril holds a BA in Sociology and History and Master of Arts degree (First Class Hons) from NUI Maynooth.

Job Titles:

• Head of Research
• Head of Research at IADT

Daithí Mac Síthigh is Head of Research at IADT, responsible for supporting staff and research students across the Institute and championing and promoting excellent research internally and externally.

Job Titles:

• Director of Research
• Director of Research, Development and Innovation

Emma Leahy is the Director of Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) at IADT and is responsible for the development and management of a the RDI to enhance the aims and objectives of the Institutes research and innovation community. Emma has over 12 years' research management experience working in academia and has a track record of working across a wide range of topic areas including Computer Science, Material Science, Physics, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Social Science, Business and Humanities. She previously held the position of Executive Director of the Enable Research programme in Trinity College Dublin which is a successful 14.5 million multi-centre SFI funded research programme on focusing on Smart Cities and Communities. Prior to Enable Emma was the European Funding Manager with the Advance Materials and Bio-Engineering Research Centre (AMBER) where she supported 14 successful European Research Council (ERC) Awards. Emma has extensive experience in developing, leading and managing large collaborative research projects funded by various funding agencies including the European Commission (EC), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Health Research Board (HRB) and the Irish Research Council (IRC). She has worked directly with industry partners and governmental organisations in the development and delivery of industry driven collaborative research projects, securing over 2.6 million from industry and over 40 million from funding agencies.

Job Titles:

• Administrator

Fionnghuala has worked for a number of start-ups in the fields of tourism and film as well as setting up the first Alumni Office at NUI Maynooth and launching an affinity fundraising programme with Bank of Ireland. Fionnghuala also set up the Dublin Animation Film Festival - an annual community festival that showcases the work of talented Irish animators. Since 2013, Fionnghuala has administered the New Frontiers Programme at the Media Cube including working closely with Media Cube companies and Alumni. She has also been extensively involved in various related publicity and marketing initiatives.

Job Titles:

• New Frontiers Lead
• New Frontiers Lead, Media Cube, IADT

Orla is currently managing the New Frontiers Programme which is Enterprise Ireland's national partnership programme delivered by the Media Cube at IADT and NovaUCD, with IADT, acting as the lead partner. Orla has previously worked as the New Frontiers co-ordinator in TU Dublin Hothouse. Orla not only has experience in delivering the programme but also was a participant herself with her own business. Orla is an award-winning designer and entrepreneur. During her time on the New Frontiers Programme, she raised investment with Enterprise Ireland and commercialised a dual function transformer furniture collection called ‘As if from nowhere…' which was mass produced and sold internationally. Orla is a regular exhibitor at the Milan Furniture Fair and at London Design Week. Orla holds a first class honours degree in Interior & Furniture Design from Dublin Institute of Technology.

Job Titles:

• Enterprise and Development Manager

Rachel is an experienced marketer with over 30 years of communications and digital enterprise expertise with global blue-chip companies in Moscow, London and Ireland. Her most recent role was in Drury, a leading PR and digital agency in Dublin, where she was the Digital Director acting on behalf of a wide range of companies, start-ups, government state bodies and NGOs. Before this she ran her own business, MarketEazy, an agency offering a range of digital marketing services to SMEs and start-ups. Rachel is passionate about working with start-ups and SMEs to help their businesses grow. As Enterprise and Development Manager, she is focused on lending her vast industry experience to support the clients of the Media Cube.