On Friday, March 22, 2024, the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at the University of Galway hosted the “Accelerating Business: Tech, Scale & Finance” event as part of its Thinking Beyond series. Organized in collaboration with itag, Galway Chamber, and Data2Sustain, the event showcased how businesses can innovate and accelerate their technology, scaling, and finance operations in the West of Ireland.
The event brought together industry and academic thought leaders to provide participants with research-informed and practical insights to address current and future business challenges. Attendees engaged in business cases and panel conversations focusing on digitalization, business scaling, and sustainable finance.
Event Highlights
- Welcome Addresses: The event commenced with remarks from Professor Alma McCarthy, Dean of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics; Councillor Eddie Hoare, Mayor of Galway City; and Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of the University of Galway. A keynote address was delivered by Irial Finan, who shared reflections on his international career.
- Digitalisation at Speed: Responsible Technology in an Accelerated World: This panel, chaired by Sharon Walsh, SVP Technology at Fidelity Investments and Chair of itag, explored responsible design, use, and regulation of technology. Panelists included Ian Brannigan (Western Development Commission), Mary Ann Fleming (PennEngineering), Dave Silke (Centripetal Europe), and University of Galway academics Dr. Kieran Conboy and Dr. Anastasia Griva. Discussions highlighted leading practices in AI, analytics, cybersecurity, and the newly funded ROSETTA Research and Training programme.
- Scaling a Business: Lessons from Indigenous and FDI Companies: Co-chaired by Professors Jonathan Levie and Esther Tippmann from the University of Galway, the panel featured Elaine Murphy (Signify Health), Denis Curran (IDA Ireland), John Power (Aerogen), and Leo McAdams (Enterprise Ireland). The discussion focused on critical ingredients for successful business scaling and potential synergies between indigenous and foreign-owned sectors.
- Sustainable Finance: Mobilising Change: Chaired by Cian Twomey of the University of Galway, this panel addressed challenges in integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into financial systems. Panelists included Caítlín Flanagan (Deloitte), John Harney (SkySpecs), Louise O’Mahony (Banking & Payments Federation of Ireland), and Barry Gavin, a sustainability and sustainable finance specialist. The panel also discussed the introduction of the new MSc Fintech program at the University of Galway.
The event concluded with reflection points for businesses in the West of Ireland by Kenny Deery, CEO of Galway Chamber, followed by closing remarks from Professor Alma McCarthy.
Data2Sustain’s Involvement
As a collaborative organizer, Data2Sustain was pleased to contribute to the success of the event. The discussions on digital transformation, business scaling, and sustainable finance align with our mission to assist organizations in leveraging data and technology to achieve sustainability and operational excellence.
