Fiona Campbell, Director, Public Affairs:
Fiona brings a wealth of of experience working at the centre of Government, with a track record at every level of the Irish political system.
She has served as Special Advisor to the Minister for Education and Youth, the Minister of State for International Aid and Diaspora, the Minister of State for Financial Services, Insurance and Credit Unions, and the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail. Prior to this, she worked in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.
This experience has afforded Fiona an in-depth understanding of how to progress and shape the legislative process. Her work included progressing legislation, advising Ministers and Deputies through significant national and international events such as Brexit, the cost-of-living crisis, job losses and industrial relations challenges. Fiona also has deep experience in media and communications training and general strategic counsel.
Fiona has worked to guide senior political representatives through a myriad of national and international challenges. From Brexit and the war in Ukraine to the Covid-19 pandemic, cost-of-living crisis to job losses. She has represented Ireland on trade missions across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, promoting Irish enterprises abroad, while also working with State Agencies to promote and encourage the establishment and growth of enterprises at home.
Pádraic Ó hUiginn, Leads the Climate Action and Sustainability Centre of Excellence, National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI):
Pádraic Ó hUiginn leads the Climate Action and Sustainability Centre of Excellence in the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), a government agency, to enable it become a sustainability exemplar – internally, in how it does business, and externally, in how it supports business in the green transition. Pádraic is a national observer to the EFRAG SME Forum on the EFRAG Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs (VSME). With a background in economics, public policy, state regulation, communications and environmental innovation, he holds a diploma in management and leadership from UCD, and an M.Sc. in sustainability from DCU.
Over the past decade in particular, he has been a central connector and facilitator for innovation and knowledge transfer, in early mover projects in developing a circular economy in Ireland – at the intersection of industry/enterprise, government, academic research, and citizens/end users. He is a co-author and co-contributor on a number of environmental and circular economy reports, including the Irish EPA-funded Environmental Policy Integration: Innovation and Change.