SMART DOCKLANDS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Engagement Programme Lead
Clara is an Engagement Programme Lead within the Academy of the Near Future. She is leading a programme that engages primary school students with the potential of digital connectivity, as part of our partnership with Cellnex Foundation. Her background is in social science and digital transformation. Clara brings a strong passion to empower young people to use technology to make a difference in their communities
Job Titles:
- Technology and Engagement Manager
Claudia is the Technology and Engagement Manager and is in charge of engaging with local authorities. She is passionate about impactful communication regarding sustainability initiatives, especially in urban spaces. She hopes to contribute to creating a more sustainable future for all by bridging the gap between tech-driven sustainability solutions and the local communities.
Job Titles:
- Education
- Public Engagement Manager at CONNECT
Daniel Ferrick is the Education and Public Engagement Manager at CONNECT in Trinity College Dublin. He graduated with a BA (Mod.) in Human Genetics from Trinity College Dublin and a PGDip in Genetic Counselling from Cardiff University. He started working for Trinity College Dublin as Administrative Officer for the Trinity Education Project, then moved on to the role of Interim Project Manager for the CHARM-EU Project. He has also worked as Admin Officer in the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies and as Alumni Relations Officer for Trinity Development and Alumni. He has also served as the Education Officer for Trinity College Dublin Students' Union, and is a former member of Trinity's Board of Management. Since 2018 he has been a College Officer for Trinity College Dublin as an Assistant Junior Dean.
Darach is the Programme Manager driving the development and operation of the programme and its associated connectivity initiatives. He also acts as an ‘honest broker' liaising with local residents, city government, academia and industry to accelerate innovative solutions in cities.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of CONNECT
Dr Pat Kelly was appointed Executive Director of CONNECT in June 2020. A physicist, Pat Kelly graduated from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, with a B.A. (Mod.) in experimental physics in 1986, and a PhD in Physics in 1992. He worked for ten years at NMRC (now Tyndall National Institute), University College Cork, where he became Group Director - Photonics in 1999. He was Founding Director and Chief Technology Officer of Optical Metrology Innovations Ltd from 2002 to 2007. He worked as a Commercialisation Executive at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Ignite Technology Transfer Office from 2007 to 2011, before joining Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd, Australia, as Deputy Director from 2011 to 2013. Most recently, from 2014 to 2020, he was the Research, Development and Innovation Director at ROBUS Lighting (LED Group) in Dublin, Ireland. At ROBUS he was the company's technology pathfinder, introducing Driver-On-Board technology and leading the development of Human Centric Lighting and related tunable lighting and smart wireless/IoT controls. He is a named inventor on seven patents, author of some 60 academic and conference papers, and is also a self-published travel author.
Job Titles:
- Engagement Programme Manager
Grace is the Engagement Programme Manager leading an education and skills programme Academy of the Near Future. She aims to bring people into the conversation about new technologies in our communities through interactive workshops, hands-on activities and online resources.
Job Titles:
- Smart City Program Manager
Job Titles:
- Project and Engagement Manager
Karolina is the Project and Engagement Manager and is in charge of the community engagement. She is passionate about finding compromises and solutions for better cities. She believes there is no real innovation without the community and hopes to organise hands-on activities for residents of all ages and backgrounds.
Job Titles:
- Engagement Programme Lead
Mariana is an Engagement Programme Lead within the Academy of the Near Future. She is working in the project 'Building Leaders, Crafting Communities' using Minecraft as a tool to increase awareness and understanding of smart and sustainable cities. She has a BSc in Biotechnology Engineering and a MSc in Biotechnology and Business. Mariana is passionate about STEM, leadership and technology, aiming to transform student's perception of technology and STEM fields in her community
Job Titles:
- Industry Programme Manager at CONNECT
Mark Cooney is Industry Programme Manager at CONNECT. He has over 20 years experience in the hi-tech and business sectors. He has served in a number of senior technical and managerial roles with Philips Semiconductors, Intel, and IBEC. He promotes commercial development by identifying opportunities within the research programme, and facilitates their progression towards commercially viable enterprises. Mark is also responsible for managing and promoting the relationships with our commercial partners and for seeking out and enabling new opportunities.