Our Council

Idiro Analytics are pioneers in advanced analytics, working across multiple industries with a strong pedigree in banking and telecoms. In 2020, Idiro proudly won ‘Analytics SME of the Year Award’ and the Idiro CEO won ‘Analytics Leader of the Year Award 2020/2021’.

Formerly Geraldine was CFO and later Strategic Director, where she guided Idiro’s expansion. Now in her role as Director, she places emphasis on the company being a diverse, creative and nurturing culture. Just this year, she started up Idiro’s AI Ethics Centre.

Now in her 2nd elected term on the SFA National Council and appointed to the role of Deputy Chairwoman for the council in 2021, she promotes the support of SMEs for societal and commercial causes. As a passionate advocate for indigenous business and their growing need for an effective ‘Small Business Strategy’. With this in mind, she contributes to the yearly budget submission and various SFA lobbying initiatives to the government.

Geraldine is a Board member of Technology Ireland (IBEC) representing Ireland’s tech sector, which includes indigenous and FDI technology companies.

Geraldine is committed to the ongoing investment in Ireland’s indigenous sector and is honoured to be on the Dublin Chambers ‘Budget & Competitiveness’ task force since being elected to the Dublin Chambers policy Council in 2020. 

Marina Bleahen is founder and Managing Director of Business Works. She is a passionate business success expert who helps teams, CEOs and business owners achieve high performance. A Graduate of UCD Smurfit Business School Executive and Business Coaching, Licenced Engage and Grow Coach, Certified Accountability and Leadership Builder and Lead Culture, Marina brings a passion and energy to every organisation and team she works with. Drawing on solid academic models, Marina looked to Europe, Australia and North America for proven success models to build Leadership, Accountability, Culture, Engagement and Employee excellence as she invested both financially and ten thousand hours in becoming an expert in the award winning proven methodologies from Partners In Leadership, Door International, ActionCOACH and Engage and Grow. Marina specialises in helping business leaders deliver success through getting their teams aligned to key results and creating a culture of positive accountability to execute strategy, even while working remotely. Clients are reporting strong business growth and increased engagement. A proven track record as a Global brand director leading marketing strategy for Elan, Marina is passionate about delivering results and business success for her clients, her vision is that being in business should give you more life. During Covid 19, Marina has led Webinars for and been published by the SFA, PKF, Institute of Directors and Business Matters where she is regarded as an authority on getting the culture right in leadership teams to achieve results, even during uncertainty. 

Chris Fleming is the owner and founder of Sea Green Health. He has spent 20 years in the Health and Beauty industry, involving the operation of 9 Womens’ Fitness Gyms under the ‘Curves’ franchise, 2 Day Spas, and a Distribution Business bringing in products from all over the World for sale into the Pharmacy and Health Store market.

A recent ‘Consultancy’ project for a Spanish Company, introduced him to the benefits of Marine Microalgae, a 100% sustainable, plant based and nutrient dense ingredient, which is one of the sources of all life on the planet. This has led to the development of the Sea Green Health range of Supplements and has sparked much research into the concept of Eat Yourself Well and just how much of our health is controlled by our Gut Microbiome. He is looking to develop the range with specific formulations to help with a variety of ailments particularly in the neurological area of medicine. With a work life beginning with Unilever and Merchant Banking, as an investment analyst in the City of London, he then became Group Financial director of the Family Business, helping grow it to a £ multimillion turnover, employing some 350 people in the Construction and Heavy Engineering industry.

Chris, having been the winner of the SFA Best Emerging Business Award in 2021, is also passionate about helping small businesses to grow and develop, with the help of various agencies, and in particular the SFA.

Rebecca is an award-winning business owner, retailer and networking champion. She is a strong advocate for small business, family business and women in business.

She is Managing Director of Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy Boutique Department Store and Food at Fishers Cafe, employing 35 people. She sits on the SFA Skillnet Steering Committee and on the Advisory Board of Network Ireland, having served as its President in 2017.

She is a member of the Government's Retail Consultation Forum reporting to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and also sits on the Council of Retail Excellence Ireland. She speaks regularly at events and on air on East Coast FM and other media outlets. She lives in Co. Wicklow with her daughter where they love to make the most of the sea and mountains on their doorstep.

Neil has extensive experience in strategic and business planning, sales development, performance management, mentoring and business advisory services. Neil combines a strategic and analytical approach with a passion and commitment to benefit clients and their customers. Neil sold his technology business to an MBO funded by a leading Irish bank. In addition, he is involved in several high-performance start-ups, which have traded very successfully.

Paul Murphy is the CEO of AVCOM - the Premium Event Production Agency. AVCOM are design-led production, fuelled with the latest innovative technology, delivered by highly trained & skilled specialists, the AVCOM Ninjas.

From a family business, Paul has 25+ years’ experience across all levels of the business and is leading the business since 2009 after a successful succession planning period with his father. AVCOM are over 40 years trading, it's Paul’s vision to build on the entrepreneurship and success of his father Tony Murphy. Paul is currently leading his Senior Management Team through strategic change and growth with the vision of transforming AVCOM from a national success story to an international legacy.

Paul is also an active volunteer in the business community to be an advocator of the event industry in Ireland. He is currently a founding committee member of Event Suppliers Ireland (ESI) and a former policy committee member for IBEC Experience Economy. Paul is also head coach of his local football team, nurturing the talent and spirit of his team from academy level through to competitive league football.

Philip Delaney is the Managing Director of Dairyglen.

Dairyglen is the leading frozen beverage solutions specialist in Ireland, parent to the number one ice cream concession and retail brand Smooch. With headquarters in Bray and Cork, Dairyglen has an extensive product portfolio, catering to some of Ireland’s most reputable businesses across retail, foodservice, and forecourt convenience sectors.

Philip has considerable experience in strategic growth areas, leading the expansion of Dairyglen over the past 30 years to its now number one position in the Irish market and recent successful launch into the UK. Dairyglen were awarded Best Food and Drink Small Business in the National Small Business Awards in 2023.