Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Castlebar Town reaches Final for Digital Education Category
Castlebar Town was shortlisted in the 2022 Digital Education category of the .IE Digital Town Awards for the Digital West Conference (@digitalwestbiz). This category is for digital projects in the areas of education, training and development at all levels in the town.
Many thanks to our category sponsors Western Development Commission, Connected Hubs, Vodafone Business and AIB Merchant Services for their continued support.
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Introduction
As the digital media landscape rapidly evolves with the introduction of new technologies such as AI, VR, AR, analytics, automation and a movement towards high definition video communication, companies are finding it increasingly hard to attract and maintain talent.
This is the sixth year of this event in the West and it is just one in a number of initiatives planned as part of the creation and rollout of a digital strategy in the West.
The first phase of the National Digital Strategy, 2013 focused on digital engagement and how Ireland can benefit from a digitally engaged society. It set out a clear vision and a number of practical actions to help increase the number of citizens and businesses engaging online through industry and enterprise, citizen training, schools and education. The government is now developing a new National Digital Strategy. This is in response to technological change over the past six years, and any opportunities or challenges it presents. The changes related to the pandemic in 2020 have rapidly accelerated this digital transformation which has affected virtually all aspects of society.
MC for Digital West 2023
Business Studies Lecturer and Chair of the MSc Digital Media and Marketing
Serial entrepreneur in wholesale, retail, and international
language education industries;
Researcher involved in the Shared Ireland Atlantic
Innovation Corridor research consortium;
Lecturer in Business, Entrepreneurship and Marketing at Atlantic Technological University.
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Dr. Seamus Lennon
ATU Galway Mayo
Head of School of Business, ATU Galway Mayo
Seamus is Head of School of Business in ATU Galway-Mayo. Prior to that he was Head of Department of Science in ATU Galway-Mayo. Seamus previously held various roles within the Pharmaceutical industry and remains a consultant in the area of Quality to the Pharma and Medical Device sectors.Seamus is Head of School of Business in ATU Galway-Mayo. Prior to that he was Head of Department of Science in ATU Galway-Mayo. Seamus previously held various roles within the Pharmaceutical industry and remains a consultant in the area of Quality to the Pharma and Medical Device sectors.
Patrick Rowland
Elvery’s
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Pat Rowland is the CEO of Elvery’s, Ireland’s oldest sporting goods retailer established in 1847. Pat is an experienced executive having held management positions in CRH (Cement Roadstone Holdings) in the US before taking up his current role in 2004. His experience covers many years managing cross-functional business projects with the more recent transition to online retailing being an important priority. He is also a recent graduate of the master’s in digital media and marketing program at ATU graduating in November 2022.
Brenda Mannion
Mersus Technologies
Chief Operations Officer (COO)
Brenda Mannion is COO of Mersus Technologies who has created Avatar Academy, a virtual Learning Experience Platform for training in Ireland’s thriving Life Science sector. Brenda is in charge of accelerating the talent pipeline of Immersive developers to meet growing demand. Brenda has 20-plus years as an Operations Manager delivering solutions in Industry. Skilled in Customer Service, Management, and translating business objectives into solutions via her proven business strategies. Brenda embodies the company culture promoting it to all Mersus’ stakeholders.
Brenda is active in policy development, research, events, campaigns and advocacy in political, feminist and human rights groups. In her spare time, she is happily absorbed in theatre and music and participates in local societies.
Oonagh Fox
The Innovation Exchange
Communications and Strategy Consultant
Oonagh Fox works on strategy and communications at The Innovation Exchange, an exciting new initiative that connects large businesses facing digital transformation challenges to technology scale-ups that can fast track solutions, accelerating business transformation for both. The Innovation Exchange is a partnership between Skillnet Ireland and Furthr.
Previously, Oonagh worked to create and scale Furthr Festival (formerly FutureScope), the fast-growing annual event that explores the business opportunities arising from new innovations and emerging technologies.
Ciaran Crean
Micks Garage
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Ciaran has 16 years’ experience in eCommerce, CRM, and Software Development across multiple verticals. He offers a unique blend of eCommerce vision, leadership, strategy and execution coupled with a CIO level of tech, data and analytical skillset.
Specialties: eCommerce, Data, Information Systems, SDLC, Product, Digital media & content, CRM, B2B, B2C, Web development, International expansion, Online Marketing (PPC, eMail, SEO, Affiliate, Social Media, Partnerships, Offline), Channel / Marketplace, Omni-Channel, Talent Acquisition, Analytics, Business / Opportunity development, Board, Entrepreneur, Fundraising & investment, P&L, Forecasting / Budgets, Strategy, Operations, Customer Service, Team leadership, Organisational change, Targets / KPIs
Valerie Butler
ATU Galway
Chair for the BSc (honours) in Computing & Digital Media
Valerie Butler is a lecturer at the Atlantic Technological University, Galway, in the Department of Computing and Applied Physics. She is the programme coordinator for the BSc in Computing & Digital Media. Her areas of interest include computer graphics, 3D game design and development and complex problem solving. She is involved in promoting gender balance in Computing and outreach activities that encourage second level students to consider a future study and career path in the area.
LinkedInATU-Galway INGENIC rep
Jane Mangan
Candor Chartered Accountants FCCA
FCCA, Consultant
One of the founding Directors of Connacht Accountancy, Chartered Certified Accountants.
Jane trained and qualified in Belfast and has over 25 years experience in General Practice. She is highly motivated to deliver high quality, affordable accountancy services to SMEs. She is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and Secretary of the Galway Practioners Network.
Myles Upton
Candor Chartered Accountants ACA
ACA, Senior Accountant
Myles is a qualified chartered cccountant, ACA who works for Candor Accountancy practice based in Galway city. Candor’s vision is to move away from the traditional, paper based, slow, stereotypical accountancy firm and instead offer a modern, technology based practice delivering the timely financial information required by our clients
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John Gallagher
Google
Head of Accelerated Growth for the UK and Ireland
Castlebar native John Gallagher has been at Google for over 12 years and is currently Head of Accelerated Growth, working with global brands such as Revolut, Gymshark & Wayflyer to develop their digital strategy and accelerate their growth online.
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