Speaker Panel A-Z

Economy Question Time: Round Table Discussion

Frank Bryan is Managing Director of Bryan Powercom Ltd. specialising in computer networking, fibre-optics and electrical contracting. He is a Member of the I.E.T. and UK Engineering Council and has previous business experience with an international pharmaceuticals manufacturing company. As Chairman of IoD Northern Ireland, Frank serves on the UK National Council, the Economic Development Forum, chairing the Innovation Sub-Group, and is a member of ‘Matrix’, the Northern Ireland Science & Industry Panel.

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Conference Chairman

Declan Curry is the friendly face of BBC morning business news, presenting regular updates and all the breaking news for BBC Breakfast and News 24. Declan broadcasts live from the London Stock Exchange with analysis and gossip from the markets. He has also broadcast for the international news channel BBC World, and appears coast-to-coast across the United States for ABC News. Declan has explained the basics of money management on the personal finance programme It’s Your Money, and presented the early morning business programme Wake Up To Money for Radio 5 Live. Declan writes a weekly column for Investors Chronicle and contributes to a wide range of international publications. He plays a leading role in industry and business conferences as a chairman, facilitator or speaker. Declan will chair the Economy Question Time discussion at this year’s conference.

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Skills for the Future – Making the Transition to a Knowledge Economy

Janice Edgar is a Senior Executive with Accenture based in our Belfast office. She began her career with Accenture in 1989. Since then she has worked on many projects in a variety of industries in oil & gas, utilities, public sector, and retail. Janice specializes in large transformation projects with responsibility for complex change programmes. She has worked both in the UK and internationally.

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Economy Question Time: Round Table Discussion

David Gavaghan is Chief Executive Officer with the Strategic Investment Board Limited, which was established to provide expert advice and project management services for all major infrastructure investments in Northern Ireland. David was previously a Senior Manager with David Wylde Project Finance Limited (DWPF) and has extensive experience in a broad range of PFI/PPP projects. Prior to joining DWPF, David was Head of Transport at SG Hambros and he also spent some time on secondment to the DTI as Head of the Department’s Industrial Development Unit.

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The Economic Future: The Northern Ireland Medium Term Economic Forecast

Neil Gibson is a joint director, alongside Dr. Graham Gudgin, of the Regional Forecasts consultancy based in Belfast and has considerable experience in economic consultancy. Neil was previously manager of the Oxford Economic Forecasting regional economic model whilst at the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre before commencing work for PricewaterhouseCoopers as a senior economist. He has managed a number of major research and forecasting projects in both the private and public sector.

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Economy Question Time: Round Table Discussion

Aidan Gough is Strategy & Policy Director for InterTradeIreland, one of the six cross-border implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. Aidan is responsible for developing the strategic direction of InterTradeIreland as it seeks to deliver its legislative mandate. Aidan is a graduate of Queen's University with an MBA and MSc in Economics. Prior to joining InterTradeIreland, Aidan was Director of the Northern Ireland Economic Council.

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Urban Regeneration and the Role of Cities in Regional Economies

Is Visiting Policy Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures (SURF) at Salford University. He is also an Advisor on Cities and Regional Economic Policy at the Department of Communities and Local Government and an Expert for the Council of Europe in local and regional development. He is currently researching the economic relationships between cities, building on earlier work on the role of medium-sized cities.

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Economy Question Time: Round Table Discussion

Professor Gerry McCormac was appointed in 2001 to the newly established position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Community and Communications within Queen's University, Belfast. He came to Queen's in 1989 to run the world-renowned carbon dating facility. He was appointed Head of the School of Archaeology and Palaeoecology in 1998. Previously he worked at the Space Physics Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan. Professor McCormac was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA) in 2001 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA).

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Economy Question Time: Round Table Discussion

Tracy Meharg is currently Managing Director, Innovation and Capability Development Group of Invest Northern Ireland. This group has responsibility for the promotion of innovation in Northern Ireland companies across the spectrum of research, development and design, trade promotion, business improvement and knowledge management. Previously Tracy worked in IDB in marketing and business development roles, most recently heading up its ICT Division.

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Infrastructure Choices for a Sustainable Economy

Patrice Muller is the Managing Partner of London Economics. He has directed numerous public policy projects for public and private sector clients in the UK, continental Europe and the European Commission. Prior to joining London Economics in 2001 he served the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as Executive Director for Canada and Morocco. Previously he held senior positions in the Canadian civil service and the Bank of Canada. He has also worked at the OECD. Patrice studied economics at the Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) and the University of Michigan (USA).

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Confronting the Skills Paradox: An Imperative for Future Prosperity

Duncan O’Leary joined Demos as a researcher January 2005. His interests lie in public services, skills and work. He has been involved in Demos’ public interest consultancy work with the Department for Education and Skills, The British Council, and the Central Police Training and Development Authority. Duncan is also a regular contributor to the Demos weblog. Prior to joining Demos, Duncan worked as a Researcher for the National College for School Leadership. He has a BA in History from the University of Nottingham.

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Overcoming the Challenges of a Modern Economy: A Republic of Ireland Perspective

Professor Frances Ruane became Director of the ESRI on 1st December 2006. Her previous position was as Associate Professor in the Department of Economics in Trinity College Dublin, where she also held the posts of Director of the Policy Institute and Director of the MSc programme in Economic Policy Studies. A previous Chair of the National Statistics Board, Frances Ruane represents Ireland on the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres (CEIES).

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The Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Tradeable Services Sector

Alan Taylor has worked in corporate finance for 12 years and is Head of Corporate in the Corporate/Commercial department of Arthur Cox Northern Ireland, dealing with a broad range of corporate finance, corporate and commercial work on behalf of international and domestic clients. Alan is a strong advocate for acknowledgment of the wealth of experience and local talent in the services sector. He is a leading individual in the areas of corporate finance, intellectual property and education and has received many endorsements for his work.

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