Val Cummins – Chief Impact Officer/Executive Director, Simply Blue Group

Val Cummins has over 25 years of expertise in the marine and energy fields at national and international levels. She brings a considerable track record in team building, leading complex projects with diverse disciplines, and high levels of stakeholder engagement through previous roles Val has a PhD in coastal management, is an Eisenhower Fellow, and has participated in Women in Leadership executive training at Harvard University. She is now Operations & Projects Director for Simply Blue Energy Ireland. 

Tomás Sercovich  was appointed CEO of Business in the Community Ireland in January 2018. Previously, he was with Spain’s largest sustainability network, Forética as Director of External Affairs, where he increased the international profile of the organisation and its external reputation and impact.He is a member of the Board of CSR Europe since 2008 and is a member of the World Business Council of Sustainable Development.

Cara Augustenborg -Environmental Scientist 

Cara Augustenborg is an Irish-American environmental scientist, policy lecturer, and advocate for climate action based in Ireland She is currently an Assistant Professor in Landscape Studies and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin; member of Ireland’s Climate Change Advisory Council; and a member of the President of Ireland’s Council of State. She also hosts the national environmental radio show and podcast “Down to Earth” on Newstalk and serves on the advisory committee of Teagasc’s agri-environmental Signpost programme. 

Brian Caulfield – Professor in Transportation, trinity College Dublin 

Caulfield is a Professor in Transportation and Head of Discipline in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. He is also a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. Since joining the Department Prof Caulfield has embarked on an intensive research program addressing global issues such as the environmental impacts of transport and methods to reduce the carbon impacts of transport and in 2017 he addressed the Irish Citizens Assembly on this topic. He recently provided advice to the Climate Change Advisory Council on pathways to decreasing transport emissions by 2030.  

Dr Paul Deane, research fellow at the MaREI Centre in University College Cork 

Dr Paul Deane is a research fellow at the MaREI Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy and the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at UCC. He thinks about the future and how we will heat our homes, fuel our cars, use our land and generate electricity.  He has been involved in the energy industry for approximately 15 years in both commercial and academic research trying to understand the transition to low carbon energy systems from a technical, societal and an economic perspective.   

Michelle Murphy –  Research and Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland  

After working with ACC Loan Management in the early 2000s, Murphy followed her social instincts and did a part-time Master’s degree in social justice and public policy before finding her way to Social Justice Ireland, the think-tank, as a research and policy analyst. Murphy’s work helps to frame the national debate and government policy decisions around social issues in Ireland, with poverty, equality and the environment central to her research.

Ebun Joseph Arogundade – Director in the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies in UCD 

Dr Ebun Joseph Arogundade is a Nigerian-Irish lecturer, author, and consultant. She is founder and module coordinator of the first Black Studies module in Ireland at University College Dublin. Ebun is an author, TV panellist, Columnist and an equality activist. With a research focus on Labour markets and race relations, she has presented at several conferences, businesses and nonprofits. Ebun is published and contributes regular responses on contemporary issues of race and racism in Ireland. 

Daniel Murray – Policy Editor, Business Post  

Daniel Murray is political correspondent for the Business Post. He has traditionally focused his reporting one environmental issues, and has broken many stories in this field. Daniel also hosts Five Degrees of Change, the Business Post’s Energy and Environment podcast, where he speaks with leading experts in the fields of environmental science and climate change about the policy and personal changes they would make for a greener world.  

Aaron Rogan Deputy editor of the Business Post,

Driving the company’s strategy and editorial content. An award winning journalist who has specialised in business coverage throughout his career, Rogan is also the author of Punters: How Paddy Power Bet Billions and Changed Gambling Forever.

Peter O’Dwyer – Head of News, Business Post

Peter O’Dwyer is head of news for the Business Post, managing a diverse newsroom of journalists and steering the paper’s editorial direction every week. An award winning business journalist with experience ranging from Bloomberg to the Irish Examiner, O’Dwyer has a deep understanding of business and the environmental standards they must meet.

Daniel McConnell – Editor, Business Post

Daniel McConnell is the editor of the Business Post, leading the company’s editorial strategy. A multi-award winning journalist, Daniel was political editor of the Irish Examiner for many years, where he made his reputation as one of Ireland’s foremost political commentators.

Vish Gain – Journalist, Business Post

Vish Gain is a Dublin-based journalist specializing in business and technology reporting. Currently with the Business Post, he covers topics including technology, business, and start-ups. Prior to this, Vish contributed to publications such as The Times, Irish Independent, and Silicon Republic, focusing on areas like artificial intelligence, climate change, and consumer interests, particularly within the European context. In 2023, he was shortlisted for the Upcoming Journalist of the Year award at the UCD Smurfit School Business Journalist Awards, reflecting his growing influence in the field. Vish holds a master’s degree in journalism from Dublin City University.

Laura Roddy – Industry Correspondent, Business Post

Laura Roddy is industry correspondent with the Business Post. A respected and incisive journalist, Roddy has a particular interest in energy and environment, with a track record in breaking stories across these areas. She covers industry issues for the Business Post, with a focus on Ireland’s largest companies.