DCU Emerging Leaders Programme 2025/26 - Participants

Kathryn Burrowes joined DCU in 2017 with an academic scholarship. She continued in her career of academic successes by graduating at the top of her class in 2021 with a First Class Honours BSc. in Science Education. She was the first teacher hired in Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School where she was head of the Science and Maths department, and the Digital Learning Leader for the school.

After taking some time off of work to pursue her other interests such as travelling and writing, Kathryn is now a teacher in Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School, where she hopes to continue to grow and develop as a teacher. Kathryn is a champion for accessible learning and making schools a safe and welcoming place for all students no matter their ability.

Kathryn is also a freelance writer, writing STEM and Health and Social Care books for book developers in Abu Dhabi. She also worked as a Biology Content Producer for Studyclix where she helped make informative and engaging content for Leaving Cert students. Outside of the classroom, Kathryn is a proud member of Baldoyle Musical Society where she has written 5 pantomimes with her long-time collaborator, Sinead McCrohan. This year Kathryn will be directing her first pantomime with the society and is looking forward to learning more about the process of getting ideas from paper to stage. 

Peter is a Management Consultant at Accenture with experience in business transformation, technology adoption strategies and project delivery. He currently works within the financial services sector, leveraging cutting-edge technology solutions to help clients achieve their strategic goals. Prior to his consulting career, Peter spent over a decade in professional sport, competing as a Professional Cricketer for Cricket Ireland, Leinster Lightning, and Durham County Cricket Club. Alongside his sporting career, he pursued academic excellence, earning a BSc. in Sport Science & Health from Dublin City University in 2017, where he was also awarded a DCU Sports Scholarship, followed by an MSc. in Sport Management from University College Dublin in 2021. He has a passion for technology, science, business and sport, with a genuine desire to continuously develop new skills and excel in challenging environments.

Emily Clarke is a communications professional with experience spanning the not-for-profit and consumer sectors. She currently works as a Press Officer with Early Childhood Ireland, where she works collaboratively on national media campaigns focused on advocating for the Early Years and School Age Care system in Ireland. Emily holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism and a Master’s in Public Relations and Strategic Communications from DCU.
 

Brandon is detailed and motivated individual currently working as an Administrative Officer in the Department of Transport. In his role, he supports the development of both policies and legislation to strengthen road safety nationally. He has aided in the passing of key pieces of legislation such as the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, and the Road Traffic Act 2024. He is a committed public servant. In 2021, he graduated with a BA Joint Honours in Politics and Law. During his time in DCU, he was a founding committee member of the Politics Society. After graduating, he has since obtained an LLM (Business Law) and is due to graduate with an Msc. International Public Policy and Diplomacy in the coming months. Outside of his professional life, he is an avid walker, enjoys a good book, and will never say no to an iced coffee! 
 

Luke is an Administrative Officer in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, specialising in Strategic Migration Policy. He is responsible for the policies surrounding legal migration pathways into Ireland. These include student visas, family reunification, inter-EU travel, work permits, and UK citizens via the Common Travel Area. Additionally, Luke represents Ireland at EU and International Organisation meetings regarding regular migration. He assists the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in preparing briefs ahead of international engagements and the introduction of legislation. Luke is currently completing the Diploma in Legal Studies with the Honorable Society of King's Inns. Outside of work, Luke is passionate about cooking, running and music. Luke graduated from DCU in 2024 with a BA in Economics, Politics, and Law, and is keen to develop his leadership skills.
 

Tamera is a Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Flutter UK & Ireland, passionate about creating inclusive, people-first hiring experiences across graduate programmes, commercial, and high-volume recruitment. She holds a Business Studies degree from DCU with a HR specialism and a Professional Diploma in HR Management from UCD. Tamera completed Flutter UK & Ireland's Commercial Graduate Programme, gaining hands-on experience in HR, Product, Gaming, Sports, and Retail teams. She's delivered successful cross-sell campaigns, supported product launches, contributed to OKRs driving commercial growth, and shared insights shaping key business decisions. Known for her energy, curiosity, and team-first mindset, she received a company-wide award for impact. Outside work, Tamera enjoys travelling, fashion, sport, and learning languages. She’s passionate about mentoring, networking, and helping others grow and build out their careers.
 

Frank began his journey at Dublin City University studying Marketing, Innovation and Technology, graduating in 2023 as part of the Dean's Honours List. He has since built his professional career at DCU, starting in international student recruitment and now working as the Postgraduate Recruitment & Marketing Officer for Europe. In this position, Frank is responsible for engaging with prospective European students through strategic marketing and outreach, representing DCU at international events and working closely with key recruitment partners & stakeholders. Outside of work, Frank lives an active lifestyle, enjoying fitness, travelling, the outdoors, and spending time with his mates. 

Grainne is currently a Trainee Solicitor with ByrneWallaceShields LLP, having recently completed the Professional Practice Course (PPC) at Blackhall Place. A proud two-time DCU graduate, she earned my degree in Economics, Politics and Law in 2020, followed by a Master of Laws (LLM) in 2021. Since starting my traineeship with ByrneWallaceShields, she has completed her first seat with the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and is now gaining experience in the firm’s Infrastructure, Construction, Energy and Procurement team. Outside of work, her interests include music, reading, politics and socialising with friends.
 

Laura Foody is a Buyer at Kerry, the world’s leading taste and nutrition company. She works on the European procurement team, where she supports strategic sourcing and supplier collaboration across key ingredient categories. Laura has experience in both direct and indirect procurement, managing complex spend portfolios and driving value through supplier partnerships. She is passionate about purpose-led leadership and currently serves in a voluntary role as the Disability Pillar Lead on Kerry’s European Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee, where she advocates for accessibility, equity, and inclusive workplace practices. Laura is also a mentor within Kerry, where she supports the growth of graduates in the business and fosters a culture of inclusion and belonging across the organization.
 

Born in Florida in the USA, Jordan moved to Ireland at an early age, growing up in North Dublin. Throughout his school and college years he regularly worked in local shops, pubs and restaurants while studying. He received a BA in Economics, Politics and Law. And after graduating from DCU, Jordan joined KPMG's graduate programme where he trained as a chartered accountant working primarily on the audits of pensions schemes and investment funds. After successfully completing his training contract he moved to ICON PLC. Within ICON he has grown from an accountant into a Senior Finance Manager. Outside of work he enjoys watching and partaking in all kinds of sports or leisure activities.

Deirbhile Gorman is the Early Stage Support Programme Manager at the NDRC, based in Dogpatch Labs, where she supports over 300 entrepreneurs annually at the beginning of their startup journeys. Her work spans pre-accelerator delivery, national hackathon events, and one-to-one founder support, helping early-stage founders to build and scale their startups.

Graduating from BSc Marketing, Innovation and Technology in 2022, Deirbhile has always nurtured an immense passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. As a leading member of 'Fierce Tech Founders' Network, she is passionate about creating platforms that empower women in tech and entrepreneurship. Deirbhile has spoken at major ecosystem events - including in Google EMEA HQ - and was selected for Y Combinator’s Startup School in London. She is now focused on developing into a confident, inclusive leader capable of guiding high-performing teams and building a more accessible, ambitious startup ecosystem across Ireland.

Udo is a Global Data Quality Specialist at Alexion Pharmaceuticals and a graduate of BSc Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences (2021). Recognized as BlackPharma’s September 2022 Rising Star, she is passionate about leveraging data analytics, quality, and governance to drive ethical and impactful decision-making. Udo holds a Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutical Engineering from UCD, along with specialized certifications in analytics and data governance. Her diverse background includes pharmaceutical manufacturing, asset management, maintenance and reliability engineering, computer systems, and data governance, demonstrating her adaptability across technical fields. Beyond her professional career, Udo is dedicated to giving back, having worked with DCU Access for many years and mentored students through their academic and early career journeys. Supporting underrepresented groups has been particularly rewarding, helping her develop as a communicator, listener, and emerging leader committed to fostering inclusion and growth.
 

Niamh Kenny is a Recruiter on the Talent Acquisition Team at Dublin City University, where she oversees end-to-end recruitment for academic, research, professional, technical and senior strategic roles. With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies, Niamh applies her academic background in business and HR to support effective recruitment and talent initiatives.

She has built a solid network of internal stakeholders and provides expert advice on recruitment best practices. Niamh is a trusted partner to hiring managers across a wide range of disciplines, supporting the University’s commitment to attracting high-quality talent. Passionate about continuous improvement, she is focused on enhancing the candidate experience and contributing to strategic hiring initiatives that align with DCU’s long-term goals.
 

Rachel King is a Project Manager – Advisory with daa International, a subsidiary of daa Group. Rachel is a Certified Project Management Associate (IPMA® Level D) and holds a Project Management Diploma from the Institute of Project Management. Rachel is a Business Studies graduate from Dublin City University.

After graduating from DCU, Rachel completed the 2-year daa graduate programme. During her time at daa International, Rachel has worked on a variety of projects with clients in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, including spending 4 months in the Philippines working on an airport advisory project there.

Outside of work, Rachel is a qualified Irish Dancing teacher with Cumann Rince Náisiúnta and is captain of her camogie team for the 2025 season.
 

Sinead McCrohan has worked on the DCU Student Recruitment Team for five years. Her role centres around engaging with prospective students from Ireland and the EU. She spends the academic cycle co-ordinating Open Days, webinars, information sessions, and school presentations for thousands of students interested in third-level study. She recently completed the Aurora Programme, which is a Higher Education initiative for women in leadership. She is excited to take part in the Emerging Leaders programme as both a DCU graduate and current member of staff. Outside of work, Sinead is a choreographer and script writer!
 

Lucy is a Senior Account Executive at Q4 Public Relations, where she works across a diverse client portfolio, with a growing focus on healthcare and pharmaceutical communications. She holds an MSc in Science and Health Communications, following a BSc in Health and Society. During her postgraduate studies, she completed an internship in Q4, which sparked a broader interest in strategic communications that led to a full-time role with the agency.

Lucy is passionate about public affairs and policy, with a strong interest in how clear, evidence-based communication helps shape public understanding and engagement. In her day-to-day role, she works closely with clients to deliver integrated PR and public affairs campaigns that are strategic, impactful, and aligned with their wider objectives.  
 

A Multimedia graduate from Dublin City University with a love for photography and video. Had the chance to gain experience as a social media manager, creative director and broadcaster. Succeeded in both Spain and Ireland working in Journalism, Content Creation and Marketing. Collaborated with clients such as Carlsberg 0.0, Ladbrokes and Wine Enthusiast to deliver quality material for online portals. Someone who is eager to make their mark on the world with engaging and meaningful storytelling. 
 

David Neary is a current second-level teacher, with 6 years experience. He graduated from DCU with a BSc in Science Education in 2019. Over the past number of years, he has progressed through middle-management positions in his school, and now currently holds an AP1 position as Year Head. He has previously completed leadership programmes through his work in the CDETB, and is committed to providing a wholistic experience for students in school, while developing a respectful and ambitious culture. Passionate about helping young people develop outside the classroom, he is also heavily involved in coaching within the GAA, and has experience at club, university and inter-county level. His professional ambition is to move into senior school leadership and help to shape a positive, inclusive, and future-focused learning environment.
 

Aodhán O Donoghue is originally from Castlebar in Mayo. He comes from a family of 5 with two younger siblings, a sister and a brother, and their old dog Sam. They're a very close family and with his mother being from Connemara, they're all fluent Gaeilgeoir’s. 

Biomedical engineering is something he's always had an interest in. The merging of science and technology in school were always of interest to him. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in DCU and now he finds himself living and working in Cork, at Stryker.

Johnnie works as a Technical Project Manager at Nouvem, where he delivers enterprise SaaS solutions and leads cross-functional programmes that streamline operations and unlock new revenue opportunities. He specialises in bridging technical and business teams, translating complex requirements into scalable architectures, and driving adoption of modern delivery practices. He graduated from DCU in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic & Computer Engineering and has since built a career spanning SaaS implementations, project delivery, and technical consultancy. Outside of work, Johnnie is a passionate Mayo GAA supporter (for his sins), enjoys watching espionage movies and TV shows, and likes to unwind with dips in the sea after work.

Luke is currently an Administrative Officer at the Department of Education and Youth, where he actively contributes to the development and implementation of policy in Senior Cycle education. His work focuses on policy analysis and research, stakeholder engagement, project coordination, and supporting parliamentary business. He graduated from Dublin City University in 2015 with a B.A. in Contemporary Culture and Society, where he first developed an interest in public policy. In 2019, he completed a Higher Diploma (H.Dip) in Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Luke is committed to progressing his career in the civil service. He sees the Emerging Leaders Programme as a valuable opportunity to enhance his leadership capabilities and further his development as a future leader in shaping public policy. Outside of work, Luke is passionate about hiking, psychology, cinema, collecting vinyl records, and playing the guitar.

Terence is a Senior Transformation Consultant in Deloitte's Government and Public Sector Practice. So far, he has been involved in the Operational Transformation of war migrant integration initiatives, focusing on process improvement and operational procedures. He is now involved in the Project Management of digital health initiatives. His core career purposes focuses on making an impact in the Irish public sector, and has a strong interest in data, and emerging technologies, and is part of an internal team focused on encouraging AI adoption and development within the organisation. 

Orlagh is a Senior Strategy Analyst in the Strategy, Innovation & Ventures function of CRH, where she supports strategic initiatives across both European and North American markets. Her work focuses on delivering in-depth research into industry trends and identifying growth opportunities, providing strategic insights to senior leadership. Orlagh holds a bachelor's degree in Business Studies from DCU, and a diploma in Corporate Finance from the Chartered Accountants Ireland. Beyond her professional career, she has a strong interest in the arts, travelling and exploring culinary experiences. 
 

Aisha is a DCU graduate in Economics, Politics & Law with a passion for sustainability and public impact. She currently works as a Grade VII Administrative Officer with Longford Westmeath ETB, delivering capital projects from new builds to energy efficiency upgrades.

Previously, she held roles with City of Dublin ETB and DHL Express, where she led a €4.3M national electric vehicle infrastructure rollout, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions and supporting Ireland’s transition to a greener future.

A former DCU Student Ambassador and Washington Ireland Programme alumna, Aisha is committed to leadership that combines purpose, collaboration, and innovation. Her goal is to shape national strategies for sustainable infrastructure that deliver real benefits to communities across Ireland.
 

Conor Sweeney is an IT Benchtop Systems Engineer at WuXi Biologics, where he supports regulated cleanroom environments and ensures system reliability, data integrity and compliance. Conor graduated with a BSc in Enterprise Computing from Dublin City University in 2022 and has gained experience across the pharmaceutical, life sciences and construction sectors. Early in his career, he completed an internship at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, where he led the rollout of Augmented Reality technology, presenting his work to over 150 colleagues and senior leaders. He has also played a key role in IT infrastructure projects, including server builds and network integrations.

Beyond his professional career, Conor is passionate about leadership, entrepreneurship and community building. He is the founder of Cuppa Cardio, a community-based run club that brings people together through running and social connection. He is currently developing his skills in web design and AI, with the aim of combining technology and leadership to drive future innovation.

Cormac work as a Systems Specialist in Dublin City University. He completed his studies at DCU in 2020 with a Bachelor of Business Studies with a specialism in Human Resources. He joined DCU as a People Services Assistant, processing staff requisitions and assisting with payroll. He transitioned to a Systems Specialist where he serves as the primary point of contact for HR system queries, ensuring data integrity, resolving issues, and contributing to process improvements. He also develops and delivers training for effective HR system utilization and works on complex projects to implement new systems and processes within the wider university. Outside of work he enjoys cooking, swimming, films and travelling.

Holly Traynor is a solicitor specialising in employment law at Eversheds Sutherland LLP in Dublin. She advises domestic and international clients on a broad range of workplace issues, including employment contracts, policies, investigations and disputes. Holly has a strong interest in strategic employment advisory work and is passionate about helping organisations navigate complex legal challenges and implementing policies to improve workplace culture. Throughout her traineeship, Holly gained experience in data protection, real estate, litigation and employment law. She was also selected to undertake a secondment to the firm’s Madrid office, gaining valuable cross-border experience. Holly is committed to continuous professional development and is keen to broaden her network beyond the legal sector to better understand the commercial realities her clients face. She also enjoys sharing her legal expertise with professionals from other industries and contributing to collaborative learning environments. Holly holds a law degree from DCU and graduated in 2018.