Guest Speakers

Margie is Director of Research and Policy Insights, with key responsibilities for analytical and research functions within SEAI including the development and delivery of energy data and insights to support policy decisions, and investment in innovative energy research which contribute to Ireland's energy transition.  As a member of the Executive Leadership Team of SEAI contributing to the development and implementation of organisational strategy and operationalising that strategy for optimal delivery of results.

Margie is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland.  She joined SEAI from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), where she served as Head of Education and Public Engagement and as Interim Director of Science for Society.  Margie has served on several national education and skills policy groups and is currently Chairperson of the Gender Balance in STEM Education Advisory Group to the Department of Education.

Kerrie is currently Head of Research and Technology Department in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The SEAI Research & Technology Department coordinates Ireland's energy research funding programme, National Contact Point for EU Horizon Europe, and houses technology research areas of offshore/ocean, onshore electricity/wind and renewable heat (bioenergy and district heating).

Kerrie has over 17 years' experience in management of funded research, with the last nine within sustainable energy. The roles have spanned central university functions, research performing teams and national energy research funding agency, covering programmatic development & management, finance and governance.  She holds a BA in Mathematics and Geography, a Master's in Environmental Public Policy and is an FCCA accountant.

She is active across several EU coordination committees and initiatives such as representing Ireland on the EU SET-Plan, Horizon Europe Programme Committee and the Atlantic Strategy Plan, and nationally includes participation on steering and working groups relating to offshore, district heating, hydrogen and funded research. She is committed to bridging the policy/education/research/industry interface and is a non-executive board committee member of Kildare Wicklow ETB.

Siobhán O’Halloran is the Future Networks Manager at Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €3bn, 14,725km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 720,000 homes and businesses across the country. In her current role, Siobhán leads the network forecasting and planning function within the business, which assesses the current and future demand for gas and sources of supply on Ireland’s gas transmission and distribution systems, as well as the implications of incorporating renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen. Siobhán is a graduate of UCC (BSc Maths & Physics) and joined Gas Networks Ireland in 2014 where she has held roles in the Revenue Reporting, Network Planning and Future Networks areas.

Phil is the Director of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Decarbonisation Division having joined the organisation in 2020. Phil leads the Decarbonisation Division which plays a key role in developing and implementing regulatory framework in the areas of offshore renewable energy, onshore renewable energy, electricity generation and demand connection policy, electricity interconnection, district heating, emerging sectors and coordination of CRU’s actions under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. Phil previously held the following roles: Head of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Research & Technology Department; Assistant Professor at UCD; energy consultant at RPS Group and Manager at Science Foundation Ireland. He holds Bachelors (engineering) & Doctoral (energy) degrees from UCD.

Fergal McParland (CEng MIET) is Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for Energy at the Irish Government’s Department of the Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE).  Prior to his role as CTO, Fergal held a number of roles at EirGrid Group across ICT, Grid Development and Interconnection. He has extensive experience in the development and design of European energy markets and previously held the role of chairperson of the Board of the Joint Allocation Office (JAO) in Luxembourg. JAO is responsible for the sale of cross border energy forwards contracts across Europe and for the clearing and settlement of a range of cross border energy balancing products. He is a member of the IEA Security Task Force and the European Commission’s Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET) Steering Committee. 

Peter Coyle is the Executive Chairman of the Marine Renewables Industry Association, the oldest Offshore Renewable Energy representative body. MRIA represents ORE interests across the industry spectrum and has a particular but not exclusive interest in emerging technologies such as Floating Wind, Wave, Tidal and hybrids. He is a Director of Ocean Energy Europe and a member of numerous industry bodies. Peter spent his first career with IDA and latterly with Enterprise Ireland where he was an Executive Director.