DCU Emerging Leaders Programme 2024/25 - Participants

Sean Brady is the lead business & systems analyst at Virginia International Logistics. Sean graduated from the Bachelor of Business Studies at DCU in 2018, furthering his education with a Postgraduate Certificate in Business (Management) at DCU (2021) and an MSc in Global Capital Markets at University Ulster (2022). At the start of his career, Sean worked predominantly in tier 1 investment banking across North America, Europe and Australia. Sean now enjoys the challenge of the logistics and warehousing industry closer to home. Outside of work, Sean has a passion for traveling as well as playing and coaching across GAA, basketball and golf. Sean appreciates the correlation between professional and extracurricular development as well as the leadership skills that compliment both! He is excited to share his own experiences and engage with mentors and peers during the programme while extending his professional network for the future. 
 

Stephenie is a Technical Officer in the Astronomy & Astrophysics section at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies where she supports research in a technical capacity. She is also involved in science communication, through graphic design and public engagement events at DIAS Dunsink Observatory. Stephenie obtained her BSc in Physics with Astronomy at DCU in 2018. During her time at DCU, she worked as a student ambassador, working at tours and events on campus, representing the university to prospective students. After graduating she completed accreditations in graphic design, project management and digital marketing, while working in varying supply chain roles, and obtained an MBA from EDC Business School, Paris in 2021.
 

As an Associate Director at M-CO, a city centre consultancy, Angel leads and delivers complex projects that aim to improve health outcomes and ways of working for various stakeholders. Angel has over eight years of experience in this role, which took up in 2016, after completing an internship during her undergraduate studies in Health and Society at DCU. Angel was elected class representative and sat on the committees of various clubs and societies including SVP and Foodie Soc. She is also a founding board member and Chief Executive at Together Estranged, a non-profit organisation that supports people who are estranged from their families. She is passionate about advancing health equity and innovation, which motivated her to pursue a master's degree in Health Services Management from TCD, as well as to obtain certifications as a WELL Accredited Professional and a Lean Healthcare Green Belt. When she is not busy at work or volunteering, Angel is caring for her son at home. Her goal is to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of people and communities through her work and volunteering.
 

Mathew is currently based in IDA Ireland’s London Office, working as a Market Analyst, with a focus on the UK Technology & Business Services sectors. He actively supports IDA’s UK client base to develop existing operations in Ireland, as well as new UK companies aiming to expand into Ireland to establish strategic group functions. Prior to this role, Mathew worked across IDA’s Strategic Policy, Financial Services and Regional Development teams. Mathew initially graduated from Dublin City University (DCU) with a BA in Economics, Politics and Law, and has since completed an MA in International Political Economy at UCD, and a Professional Certificate in ‘Data: Law, Policy & Regulation’ from London School of Economics. Outside of work, Mathew has a strong interest in sports and travel.

Kevin is a forward-thinking AI Engineer at General Motors, dedicated to advancing AI technologies that enhance the future of mobility. With expertise in generative AI, and machine learning, Kevin plays a crucial role in driving technological innovation within the automotive industry. After graduating from Dublin City University in 2022 with a BSc in Computer Science, and an MSc in Data Analytics in 2024. His academic and professional journey is marked by the founding of Dyslex.ie, award-winning platform improves online reading experiences for dyslexic individuals, and has received notable funding from Enterprise Ireland and Citibank. It was recognized among the top 1% of social enterprises worldwide after winning the prestigious Enactus Ireland competition. While at university, Kevin engaged with student life, taking on leadership roles such as Chairperson of Speakeasy and Head of Sponsorship for the Raising and Giving Society, increasing fundraising and student involvement. Outside the professional realm, Kevin is an enthusiastic participant in sports, particularly Gaelic Football and Rugby, and values meeting new people. He embraces opportunities to learn from diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel his creativity, and passion in entrepreneurship. 
 

Róisín works as an Assistant Principal Officer in the Department of Education. She is currently leading the communications function there but has worked in a number of high-profile communications and policy roles across different government departments since joining the civil service in 2016. These roles have included work on youth mental health policy, roll-out of the unified brand for all government departments, implementation of the National Cancer Strategy, leading the communications on the COVID-19 vaccination programme and managing the introduction of the Digital COVID Cert nationally. Róisín is a committed public servant and has worked in the sector since graduating from Economics, Politics and Law in DCU. Outside of work, Róisín is a keen badminton player and enjoys being part of a choir.
 

Callaghan is a Senior Consultant at Crowe Ireland, specialising in the Education and Training Consulting Team. He provides expert advice and services to clients across Ireland, focusing on strategic planning and large-scale organisational design. He completed a BSc in Analytical Science in 2018 and an MSc in Public Policy in 2021 from DCU. During his time at DCU, Callaghan served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs in the Students' Union. He was also a member of the Washington Ireland Program Class of 2021, which moved online due to COVID-19. This program included remote opportunities with US organisations and leaders, enhancing personal and professional skills. As part of the class, Callaghan contributed to a work project for the Embassy of Ireland in Washington D.C. Outside of his professional life, Callaghan is passionate about music and enjoys attending concerts and festivals.
 

Leanne is a public affairs professional who specialises in renewable energy and electricity policy and works for Penta Group in Brussels. Her passion for sustainability and climate advocacy is reflected in her work. Leanne developed these interests through her participation in the Washington Ireland Program and the EIT Climate KIC – Climate Leadership Journey. After graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor of Business Studies, she founded The Irish Graduate, an online community supporting students and graduates during the pandemic. Leanne pursued an MSc in Management for Sustainable Development while working at EirGrid, graduating in 2023. At EirGrid, she gained valuable experience in electricity markets, regulation, and communications. Outside of work, Leanne enjoys traveling, music, and running. 
 

Simon Kwadjo Essuman is currently a Process Lead at Ipsen but will be starting a new role as Operations Lead at Amgen. He joined Ipsen in March 2021 as a Manufacturing Technologist, and quickly advanced to the roles of Senior Manufacturing Technologist and Process Lead within the Downstream Department, demonstrating his technical skills, leadership abilities, and commitment to excellence. Simon holds a bachelor’s degree in Analytical Science from Dublin City University, where he was a former elite scholarship student for Track and Field, and represented Ireland on an international stage, most recently in July 2024. Simon has emerged as a junior leader in his industry and looks to not only gain vital leadership experience from this programme, but to also share his experiences and knowledge thus far with other members of the programme.
 

Angela Flanagan is an experienced sales professional, currently working as an Account Executive at Remote. As demonstrated through her involvement with Gradguide and hosting webinars with the Lennox Academy, Angela is passionate about empowering sales professionals and learning from those in her network. Angela studied Environmental Science and Technology at DCU and further diversified her studies by completing a Masters in Marketing at TUD. During her time at DCU, Angela was very involved on campus, being voted Class Representative with the Students Union and employed as a Student Ambassador for the University. Outside of work, Angela volunteers with the DRCC and has a keen interest in travel and scuba diving where she is a member of the DCU Subaqua club.
 

Stephen is a Senior Consultant for Oliver Wyman based in their Abu Dhabi office. He holds a BA in Economics, Politics and Law from DCU, a MSc in Behavioural Economics from UCD and a Master in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. He has completed internships in the U.K., U.S.A., Somalia (Somaliland) and Iraq (Kurdistan) across a range of industries including non-profits, private sector, academia and public sector. Stephen is passionate about making governments work better to improve the lives of ordinary people. In his current role he focuses his work on public sector and government projects throughout the Middle East region. Outside of work, Stephen is a highly enthusiastic, though notably untalented footballer and enjoys running. He hopes that by taking part in the Emerging Leaders Programme he can learn how to best lead a team.
 

Thomas Gallagher is a dedicated Project Manager with the Football Association of Ireland, where he played a pivotal role in delivering the UEFA Europa League Final as part of the core project team. His career in sports management began in 2021 after graduating from Dublin City University (DCU) with a degree in Marketing Innovation and Technology. Following his studies, Thomas gained valuable international experience in Madrid, Spain, working for AIM Sport, where he specialised in providing Digital Perimeter Systems for football teams and UEFA competitions. Outside of work, Thomas is passionate about fitness and enjoys socialising with friends

Mariane graduated with a B.Eng. in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in 2016. Driven by a passion for entrepreneurship, she furthered her education with an MSc in Management (Business) in 2017. Currently, Mariane serves as a Lead Engineer at Exi-tite Ireland, a leading provider in the HVAC market. With over six years of experience in the HVAC industry, she has contributed to major projects that deliver energy-efficient and climate control solutions to the built environment sector. In addition to her full-time role, Mariane and her husband James, a fellow DCU graduate, co-founded Eire Drone, a drone surveying company. Mariane manages the accounting and marketing aspects of the business. With the drone surveying industry still in its early stages, Mariane and James are optimistic about its potential as the future of surveying.
 

David is an “Experience Delivery Manager” in Accenture Song, where he leads teams to design and develop digital solutions, enabling and enhancing the Customer Experience for Accenture's clients. While he previously studied Chemistry up to masters level, he most recently graduated with a MSc. in Business Management from DCU in 2017 and joined Accenture shortly afterwards. He has experience leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver large scale digital and data transformations in both Financial Services and Utilities industries. He is currently working to enhance the customer's digital journey / online account for a major Irish Utilities organization. Outside of his day-to-day role, David also supports the DCU Futures programme by helping to advise, co-create and co-deliver modules for the Digital Business and Innovation Degree Course. In addition to this, David has also established the DCU Alumni Network within Accenture.
 

Rachels works across a range of corporate and brand clients; global names such as NIVEA, LEGO, Ryanair and Irish public sector organisations such as Enterprise Ireland, the Science Foundation Ireland and the DRCC. She collaborates within the corporate and consumer teams being fluent in both traditional and modern PR tactics. With the rapid changes in how consumers interact with organisations, this is becoming increasingly important. Rachel manages influencers for a range of commercial and public awareness campaigns including ‘Unmute Consent,’ Science Week,’ ‘Gum Litter Taskforce’ and ‘NIVEA Sun Safety.’ On the corporate side, Rachel’s key role is achieving good media coverage across print, online and broadcast media for various announcements including new initiatives, job creation and financial results. Rachel directly manages clients’ expectations, so they understand the value of the results achieved, why or why not the announcement garnered the media attention it received and apply those learnings to future campaigns for better future outcomes. 

Aka D. Large holds a First Class Honours BSc in Multimedia from DCU and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Relations and Strategic Communications. As a Research and Teaching Assistant, she develops and facilitates workshops on climate change, utilising digital and analog media to educate students. Aka is an active participant in the Japanese anime and manga community, having guested at conventions across Europe, contributed to localisation projects, and created numerous costumes. She has volunteered on various cultural and creative projects in Ireland, the USA, the EU, and Iceland. She has also directed, shot, and edited short films, documentaries, podcasts, and music videos, as well as composed lyrical music and soundtracks. With a passion for innovative education and continuous professional development, her goal is to make a significant contribution to the field. In her free time, Aka enjoys travelling, composing music, vintage fashion, sailing, and DIY home improvements.
 

Marco currently works as a Senior Wealth Executive for a Dublin based Stockbroking firm. He is responsible for management of the investment and planning needs of his clients while developing long-term relationships with clients and professional partners in relation to client propositions. Marco attended DCU from 2014-2017 in which time he studied Economics, Politics and Law. One aspect of college life Marco enjoyed was his involvement in various societies, such as DCU Investment Society and Accounting & Finance Soc. Since then, Marco has completed various professional degrees, including Certified Financial Planner, MSc Financial Services and Qualified Financial Advisor. Marco leads an active lifestyle and is an avid sports fan outside of work.
 

Caoimhe is a nearly qualified actuary with a background in Data Analytics, General Insurance and Actuarial Consultancy. Currently serving as a Financial Risk Manager at Aviva Insurance Ireland. Caoimhe plays a key role in overseeing the risk management framework, supporting key business decisions and embedding a robust risk culture within the company. With a focus on providing expert input and second-line oversight in financial and insurance risk activities, she contributes to the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment and conducts thematic reviews to address current and emerging risks. Caoimhe volunteers in the Gender Balance committee at Aviva and is committed to supporting female representation in the actuarial field. In her free time Caoimhe enjoys running, hiking, pilates and spending time with the people she loves.
 

Louise graduated from DCU with M.Sc. in Human Resource Management in 2023. Prior to that, Louise completed a B.A. in English Literature at Trinity College Dublin from 2018-2022. She is currently on the Graduate Programme in Vodafone Ireland. Her first role on the programme was as a Talent Acquisition and Youth Executive. She is now working as a HR Services and Retail Enablement Executive. In addition to this, Louise is the People Lead for Vodafone's Global Youth Leadership Team. Louise's desire is to become a devoted and authentic people leader within the HR world. Outside of work, Louise loves films, cycling, reading, and travelling.
 

Daniel is a Trainee Solicitor with A&L Goodbody who is currently taking his Professional Practice Course (PPC) in Blackhall Place. Having graduated from DCU in 2021 with a degree in Economics, Politics and Law (International), he has gone on to work in areas such as banking and childcare law. Alongside completing his FE1 examinations, Daniel returned to DCU as a Legal Teaching Assistant in the School of Law & Government and a Law Lecturer in CTYI. He recently completed his first seat with ALG, sitting on the firm's Structured Finance & Debt Capital Markets team. Daniel has held leadership roles from a young age, having been chosen by his peers to lead the 2016 Belvedere College Sleepout and Fast, which raised a then record €225,000 for homelessness charities. His interests include music, literature, politics, sustainable fashion, Aston Villa and playing some really terrible golf. 
 

Dylan works as a Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer at Workhuman, where he specialises in designing and deploying scalable cloud solutions via Infrastructure as Code. He previously worked for Amazon Web Services, becoming a Subject Matter Expert in CloudFormation and supported some of their largest customers such as Netflix and Formula 1. Prior to that he completed the Paddy Power technology graduate programme as a Cloud Automation Engineer. He completed his studies at DCU in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Electronic & Computer Engineering. Outside of work, Dylan is a football referee on the Elite Panel with the FAI, mainly working as an assistant referee across the League of Ireland Men's First Division and Women's Premier Division. He also enjoys travelling and running in his spare time.

Cillian Walsh began his DCU journey in 2015, studying the Bachelor of Religious Education and History. During his time in DCU, Cillian was employed as a Student Ambassador. Upon graduation, Cillian was awarded the BRelEd Award for School Placement. Cillian returned to DCU in 2021 to study his Masters in Education and Training Management (Leadership), graduating in 2023. Cillian is a teacher of Religious Education, History and Politics & Society in Ardgillan College, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. He currently holds a post of responsibility for Learning & Teaching in his school. Cillian is a Subject Associate for Religious Education with Oide, the new integrated teacher support service.  Cillian also lectures part-time in DCU on history methodology on the Bachelor of Religious Education & History programme.