BY BETTER TRAVEL LAB - Key Persons
Mark lives with his family on the north coast of Ireland and has a love for the outdoors and the ocean. He has long been an active ally in the belief that we all have a responsibility to take care of the world around us. Prior to moving to Ireland he enjoyed a rewarding 20-year career in financial services during which time he created and led a Private Banking & Wealth Management division for a major UK bank. His passion is leading and enabling others to achieve. In 2012, upon leaving banking he helped create and establish ABSTRACT Ltd, a Learning & Development company, as shareholder and fulfils the role of Commercial Director working with large corporates across the globe.
Van has experience as a film & TV Producer and is the Director of a Film Distribution company. He has worked alongside the Director of the Cannes Film Festival as Programmer and Coordinator. In 2012, as an early bitcoin miner, Van saw the potential for blockchain, DLT and digital currencies to resolve issues related to data distribution, file accessibility, encryption and validation procedures. Today he is focused on how this same technology can be leveraged to help reduce carbon emissions produced in the travel and tourism industries. He has Certificates in Blockchain, Digital Currencies and Decentralised Finance and is currently studying for a MSc degree at the Institute for the Future at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus.