Andrew Brownlee, CEO, SOLAS, the state agency responsible for Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. Since taking up the role, he has driven a major transformation programme including the creation of integrated FET colleges, diversifying pathways for learners, and establishing FET as a real ‘go to’ resource for enterprise. With more than one-in-ten adults in Ireland involved in either an apprenticeship, construction skills training or another further education course, Andrew has helped to drive awareness and demand for these options to unprecedented levels. Andrew is committed to making SOLAS one of the most progressive organisations in Ireland and recognition via the Ibec KeepWell mark, the Irish Centre for Diversity, and the HR Champions Awards underline the progress made in recent years.
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Eddie Mullins was employed by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) for over 32 years, during which time he acquired a deep understanding of the challenges faced by many people living on the margins of society.
During his time with the IPS, Eddie held a number of senior management positions culminating in the position of Governor of Mountjoy, Midlands and Wheatfield prisons. He developed strong relationships across both Government and the NGO sectors, including MQI teams in the prisons and has a unique understanding of the important role organisations like Merchants Quay Ireland carry out.
As both independent Chair of the Clondalkin Policing Forum and Board member of both Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force and PACE, Eddie gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by organisations delivering much needed services to people on the margins of society.
In May 2023, Minister for Justice Simon Harris announced Eddie’s appointment as the new Chair of the Dublin North Inner City Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP).
Head of Skills and Social Policy acts as strategic advisor and support on diversity and inclusion, skills and labour market policy and practices to Ibec member organisations across multiple sectors. Role includes lobbying and developing policy positions at a national and European level, developing tools and guidelines, and representing business at stakeholder forums across the breadth of skills and social policy issues from gender pay gap reporting and human rights to labour market activation and immigration. With Ibec since 2008, specialist in strategy development and implementation, public and regulatory policy, business representation and stakeholder engagement.
She is the Chair of the Employment Working Group of Business Europe, a member of the External Group of Experts of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), a member of the Labour Market Advisory Council and Board member of the Open Doors Initiative. An organisational psychologist, formerly HR manager in industry with lecturing experience at undergraduate, postgraduate and executive level.
Mark is the recent CEO of the award winning Soar Foundation (2019 - 2024) where he was responsible for the creation and delivery of ground-breaking social and emotional programmes to over 75,000 young adults nationwide.
Soar’s programmes were proven to increase the emotional management of teenagers, help build their inner-confidence, and develop their resilience to cope with normal everyday challenges.
Mark is a qualified personal, leadership and executive coach specialising in work with men as they seek to understand their version of masculinity and what they need to thrive in all areas of their life. Mark is also a qualified group facilitator with 10 years’ experience creating and delivering psychologically safe and authentic environments where transformative breakthroughs can occur.
Mark is passionate about creating environments where people feel comfortable to be fully authentic as he believes only when we are open to what holds us back, and what makes us great, can real and sustainable transformation occur.
Martin Warde is a member of the Irish Traveller community and has a degree in Sociology and Politics from NUIG and an MA in journalism from UL. Martin is also a stand-up comedian/writer, theatre-maker, and podcaster with a passion for telling stories from the margins. Martin has spoken on multiple platforms about the lack of representation of his community within Irish media, particularly in positions of power and decision making. He has spoken about mental health, Men’s wellbeing, and motivation, in his writing, journalism, and media interviews.
Martin’s first play, “The Dead House”, was programmed as a work in progress at the Writers week at Listowel in 2022 , The Dublin theatre festival 2021, and Traveller pride week In the Hawkswell theatre 2022, and saw the finished play enjoy a 15-night sold out run at Dublin theatre festival 2023. Martin regularly writes for the Irish Times, Irish Examiner, and recently as a features writer for the Sunday Independent. He is a regular on TV panels on RTE and Virgin Media and most recently reading his essay on BBC radio 4’s ‘Four thought’ program. Martin recently finished working on a project with the National Museum of Ireland that aims to archive Traveller oral history from the community’s elders.
In 2022 Martin held his first exhibition of his work undertaken on a Photography project with the Photo Museum of Ireland that explored perspective and expressionism within the Traveller community, within the context of Mental health and wellbeing. This project was in partnership with the HSE, Creative Ireland, Healthy Ireland Initiative, The Open doors to work initiative, and The Photo Museum Ireland. In 2023, Martin completed his FUEL artist residency with the Druid Theatre company in Galway. Martin's first 6-episode television series, The End of the world with Beanz, broadcast on RTE One in March 2024. His first 3-part radio documentary will broadcast on RTE radio one later in 2024. He is probably walking his dog when not doing any of the above.
Peter Cosgrove, Future of Work Expert, Author and Media Commentator brings the latest insights and research from across the world of work, technology, diversity and talent and does this in an entertaining, exciting and passionate manner. His messages are delivered through memorable stories and experiences which leave the audience excited, inspired and informed.
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Dr Robert Lawson is an Associate Professor in Sociolinguistics at Birmingham City University, England, and a leading expert on language and masculinities in media spaces. His recent work focuses on language and fatherhood, combatting radicalisation and extremism through pedagogical interventions, and developing a better understanding of how language is used in male supremacist spaces.
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As VP, Global Learning Design, Sandra Ondraschek-Norris is responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of all Catalyst learning programs. She brings an extensive career in adult education, instructional design, psychology, facilitation, counselling and coaching to this role. Sandra has spent over a decade at Catalyst and in her previous role as VP, Global MARC Learning, she led the creation, refinement, and delivery of Catalyst’s MARC (Men Advocating Real Change) suite of programming. She has also built out Catalyst’s global external facilitator pool, selecting, upskilling, and coaching facilitators to deliver MARC learning across the globe.
As a seasoned speaker and facilitator Sandra provides a refreshing voice and perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with a particular focus on engaging men, masculinity, and gender partnership. Her subject matter expertise in DEI combined with her background in psychology ensures a holistic, nuanced, and yet pragmatic approach to challenging topics and she has been frequently quoted in both the German-speaking and English-speaking media.
Before joining Catalyst, Sandra spent seven years as an entrepreneur, offering services in counselling, coaching, and training. She graduated with Honors in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin and is a qualified holistic counsellor with a strong interest in mental health, well-being, resilience and grief. She is based in Switzerland and holds Irish and Swiss citizenship. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and painting.
Dr. Sarah Carthy is an Assistant Professor of Terrorism and Political Violence at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Her research mainly focuses on the psychological process of radicalisation, evidence-based approaches to prevention and non-involvement in terrorist violence. She is part of the European Commission’s terrorism expert pool and is a consultant with the International Police Association. In November 2021, she delivered a Ted X talk in Galway, Ireland titled “What It Feels Like to Be Radicalised”.
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