Board Members
AIPCO Chair 2023
Noel Mitchell
Managing Director - Keynote PCO
Noel has over 30 years of international conference management experience, both as a PCO and as the association host. Noel’s background is as an academic in Experimental Physics, and this brings the balanced perspective of both the role of the conference organiser and the needs of the association and delegates.
He is a recognized leader in the international meetings industry, and is a former Council Member of the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO), Past-President of the World PCO Alliance, and has held several officer positions with the Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers since its foundation (currently Chairperson).
Noel is very passionate about delivering the best possible advice and service for our conference clients and delegates. His greatest thrill is winning the big international bids for Ireland!
Treasurer
John Healy
Director - Abbey Conference & Events
Nicola McGrane
CEO - Conference Partners International
Nicola McGrane established Conference Partners International in 1998. Driven by passion and enthusiasm, the values which drive her actions are quality, trust and integrity.
Nicola takes a “hands on” approach to her business and is regarded as a leading lateral thinker with an innovative approach to problem solving and delivery.
Renowned for her ability to identify opportunities, her creative thinking and strategic advice has been sought at the highest level by numerous associations, corporations and industry bodies.
Ronan Flood
Managing Director - Advantage Group
Ronan has 20 years experience managing events from Medical Congress to highly complex and involved incentive travel programmes to awards ceremonies for 700 Guests.
He appreciates that events reflect on their hosts and works tirelessly to ensure that clients get value for their investment and more importantly kudos from their guests for staging the event in the first place!!
Colette Duggan
Managing Director - Conference Connections
Colette Duggan established Conference Connections 21 years ago.
Steered by Colette’s vibrancy Conference Connections takes pride in embracing ingenuity and adopting new and forward thinking; resulting in cutting edge creations and importantly embedding a culture within its fabric of being ahead of what’s imaginable.
Colette’s leadership style within CCL is heavily focused on a commitment to clients’ needs and expectations. Colette undertakes to meet with clients personally throughout the various phases of any given event.
Colette has a unique and exemplary background within the Hospitality Industry spanning more than 3 decades. The knowledge and in depth understanding of the intricacies and running of establishments within the Hotel Industry, positions Conference Connections manifestly at the leading edge in terms of unmatched leadership skills within its DNA.
Diversity is at the heart of Conference Connections
Secretary
Therese Dolan
Director Association Management and Consulting Services – MCI
Therese has almost 20 years’ experience in international association management, business events and hospitality. During this time she has held roles in high profile organisations on both the supply and demand sides of the association conference and event industry. With a thorough understanding of the sector, she helps associations around the world to improve performance through the development of long term strategic goals, supported by community management, engagement, growth and education across wide ranging platforms. Her approach and success with associations ranging in size from a few hundred to several thousands is evident across the strong and lasting personal relationships she develops with clients, partners and community members.
John F. Burke
Co- Founder and Director - Venuesworld.com
John F. is a Co- Founder and director at Venuesworld.com™ and Octa it’s virtual service and platform offering. Established in 2008 and based in Dublin venuesworld.com positions, manages and delivers Corporate meetings, Incentive and Association conferences across North America, EMEA and ASIA.
It’s network of local offices across 33 destinations delivers local knowledge, local expertise and a tried and tested supplier structure delivering a premium world class service to its global clients.
Philip Byers
Business Development Director - Conference Organisers
Philip Byers is the Business Development Director with Conference Organisers and has also been a senior strategic and business manager who has worked with clients across many business categories including IT, Life Sciences, Distribution, Tourism, Waste management, Legal, Financial, charity. He has worked with many multi-national companies and his management experience covers a number of product and industry types, in several business disciplines. He has considerable experience across strategy, sales and marketing, business development, communications and general management.