Brian MacCraith received his B.Sc and PhD in physics (Optical Spectroscopy of chromium-doped crystals) at NUI, Galway. Prof MacCraith is renowned internationally for his research on optical chemical sensors and biosensors; he has a substantial track record of publications and intellectual property in this area. In October 1999, he became founding Director of the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR; www.ncsr.ie) at DCU. The NCSR has now grown to a scale of 240 researchers. In August 2001, Prof. MacCraith was elected to Fellowship of the Institute of Physics. Four years later, a spin-off company (Gas Sensor Solutions) based on technology developed by Prof. MacCraith won the Liavan Mallin Invent Award for innovation. In October 2005, he was appointed Director of the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI; www.bdi.ie) with funding of €22.5m. Currently, he is a member of the Forfas Advisory Council on Science, Technology & Innovation and the Government-appointed High-Level Steering Group on Research Prioritisation. In July 2010, he was inaugurated as President of Dublin City University, a position that he held for 10 years.

Rosemary O’Mahony was a partner with Accenture, where she spent 28 years between the Dublin, Chicago, Sophia Antipolis and Paris offices.   She specialised in Information Technology (IT) solutions and worked with clients in over 20 countries.   Rosemary had global responsibilities for Accenture’s technology practice, including management of the technology research office in Sophia Antipolis, France.   After her retirement from Accenture, Rosemary was an Executive Advisor to Fujitsu Services from June, 2008 to December, 2009. 

Rosemary has used her professional experience of 30 years in consulting to help charities and social enterprises in the UK, France and Ireland. Rosemary was a member of the Accreditation Committee of Youth Business International (YBI), which is based in London with programmes in over 50 countries from 2008 to 2023 and a class B member from 2012 to 2022.   These programmes assist disadvantaged young people to create their own businesses.  Rosemary served 6 years on the Board of CAMFED International, an organisation dedicated to girls’ education in several countries in Africa.  

Rosemary was a member of the global Board of "1001 fontaines" from 2008 to 2018 and is now Chair of 1001fontaines UK. 

In May 2020, Rosemary joined the Finance, Audit and Risk committee of Genio and the Board of the Genio Trust in December, 2024.

Barney Whelan retired from An Post as Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs in 2016. He is currently working on a number of exciting projects. Having spent many years in the aquaculture industry, he was responsible for public relations and brand communications at the ESB from 1992 to 2002. He subsequently held the position of Director, Sales and Marketing at safefood, The Food Safety Promotion Board. He is currently a Governor of the National Gallery and also sits on the Foundation Board of the National College of Ireland and the Board of Drinkaware. He has chaired a number of non-profit organisations over the years.

Dr. Donal de Buitléir is a member of the Policing Authority and a Board Member of the RCSI Hospital Group. Donal was a member of the Board of the Health Service Executive from 2005 to 2009. Previously he worked in AIB Group and in the Irish public service.  He was a member of a number of Government reviews in the areas of local government reform, integration of tax and welfare, business regulation, health funding and higher education. He is an Eisenhower Fellow.