Western Development Commission

Jonathon Kavanagh is a chartered accountant with over 15 years of experience advising small and medium-sized enterprises. At the Western Development Commission, he serves on the WDC Investment Fund team, where he manages a portfolio of investment clients and oversees new investment proposals through appraisal, approval, and due diligence processes.

Ciara Herity is a Social Innovation Executive at the Western Development Commission, where she manages case support for grantees in the New Solutions Project, a European Social Fund+ and Department of Rural and Community Development initiative aimed at strengthening Ireland's social innovation ecosystem. Previously, she led the Regional Development team on multiple EU-funded projects focused on the circular economy, blue economy, and SME support, including serving as project lead for DIBEST (Digital Innovation for Blue Economy & Social Tourism). Her background includes 16 years as manager of Sligo Volunteer Centre, where she oversaw staff and volunteer operations and governance matters for the not-for-profit sector.

Ciara Jordan serves as Head of Marketing and Communications at the Western Development Commission. She has background in media and communications, with experience developing strategic media campaigns.

David Murphy is a Geographical Information Systems Executive at the Western Development Commission with qualifications including a Master's degree in GIS, a Master's degree in Project Management, and a Higher Diploma in GIS. His professional background encompasses work as a draughtsperson, surveyor, cartographer, designer, and analyst, supported by credentials in architectural technology and Building Information Modeling.

Helen McHenry is a Policy Analyst at the Western Development Commission, where she analyzes socio-economic data and policy affecting the Western Region, with particular focus on rural and regional development, demographics, and infrastructure investment. Her responsibilities include energy infrastructure policy, with published work on natural gas, electricity, and renewable energy, and she developed the Sustainable Mobility Index to assess transport services and behavior in small towns. She holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen and a BAgrSc in Agricultural Economics from University College Dublin, and previously worked in the public sector and at the University of Aberdeen.

Imelda McCarron is an EU Project Development Executive at the Western Development Commission with over 10 years of experience in sustainable outdoor recreation and rural development. She specializes in partnership coordination and funding delivery for place-based projects across Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a focus on cross-border collaboration. McCarron also produces digital content on food, walking routes, and travel in Ireland.

John Muldoon is an Investment Executive at the Western Development Commission with over seven years of experience in asset management and banking, including previous work at Link Group. His expertise includes portfolio management, cash flow analysis, stress testing, and credit appraisals across multiple sectors. He focuses on evaluating investment opportunities and managing risk to support regional economic development.

Karen Sweeney is a Regional Communications Executive at the Western Development Commission, where she has worked for over five years. She manages the Lookwest.ie campaign and leads communications initiatives promoting the West of Ireland as a location for living, working, and business. She also contributes to communications efforts for the Atlantic Economic Corridor, a regional collaboration focused on investment attraction and economic development.

Liam Horan is an author whose novel manuscript "On The Way Out" won the Gerald Griffin Award and is scheduled for publication in 2025, following the 2022 publication of "Second Chance & Other Stories." He holds a Master's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Limerick and serves as National Hubs Executive for the Western Development Commission's ConnectedHubs initiative.

Pauline Leonard is a Regional Development Executive and Project Coordinator at the Western Development Commission, where she manages EU-funded initiatives primarily focused on renewable energy. Her current projects include the Northern Periphery & Arctic Programme's GREBE project, the Framework7 ROKWOOD project, and the Northern Periphery Programme's BioPAD project. Leonard has also contributed to project development submissions across the NPA, INTERREG Europe, and Horizon 2020 programmes, with work extending to creative industries and sustainable transport sectors.

Teresa Hooks holds a BA in International Studies with French and Geography from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and an MA in Rural Sustainability focusing on collaborative farming models. Her doctoral research at University College Cork examined agricultural cooperatives and producer organisations in the Irish beef sector, followed by postdoctoral work on drinking water quality perceptions and roles in rural development programming and EU-funded projects including the Horizon 2020 FAIRshare initiative. She currently serves as Regional Development Executive at the Western Development Commission.

Mary McKenna is an award-winning angel investor (European and UK Angel Investor of the Year 2023) and Chair of AwakenAngels, guiding the syndicate's strategic direction with extensive experience as an entrepreneur and investor across Ireland and Europe.