Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist
In an era of global economic shifts, Dan will provide a deep-dive analysis of the landscape facing Ireland. Drawing on his extensive experience with the Economist Intelligence Unit and The Irish Times, he will share vital insights into the trends and policy issues that will impact the profession in the year ahead.
Mary Coghlan, Partner, EY Ireland (AI & Data)
Mary Coghlan is a Partner based in Dublin and the Irish firm’s leader for Data and Analytics. She helps organisations design and implement data strategies that support the crucial challenges they encounter, with a deep interest in the use of advanced analytics to support better outcomes.
Her depth of experience in delivery and analytics means she is ideally positioned to guide organisations through technological transformation.
Mary has a BA in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Oxford and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland. She also holds a medical degree (MB, BCH, BAO) from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland.
Paul Murphy, Managing Director, Martin J. Kelly & Co.
Paul Murphy is the Managing Director of Martin J. Kelly & Co. He is an ACCA member and a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA).
A leading authority on Irish tax, Paul has lectured with the Irish Tax Institute for over 25 years and is a co-author of their annual publication, Irish Taxation: Law and Practice. He is a frequent speaker at ACCA events, providing expert guidance on the evolving tax landscape.
Andrew Harbison, Director of Digital Investigations & Analytics, Corporate Enforcement Authority
Andrew Harbison is one of the most experienced practitioners in the fields of digital investigations and electronic discovery in Ireland.
Over the last 25 years, has successfully completed over 1,000 IT forensic and cyber incident response investigations as well as several hundred electronic discovery projects, including the largest ever conducted in Ireland.
He established the Irish IT forensic investigations groups in three separate professional services firms and has carried out investigations and supported legal cases throughout Europe and in Asia, Australia and the US.
Mr Harbison also has expertise in cyber security, data protection and incident management. He has published extensively on IT forensics, electronic litigation, cyber security, computer fraud, and data privacy, including several academic articles on electronic litigation and information retrieval.
He holds a BE in electronic engineering and two Master’s degrees, in business administration and computer science. He has worked as a lecturer in both University College Dublin (in digital forensics) and Trinity College Dublin (in operations management).
He also lectures on diploma courses at the Law Society of Ireland, the King’s Inns and for Interpol.
He is a member of Engineers Ireland, the IEEE, the Society for Computers and Law and the UK Academy of Experts.
Gerard Gill, Head of Bankruptcy Division, Insolvency Service of Ireland
Head of Bankruptcy Division in the Insolvency Service of Ireland, Gerard is responsible for managing the Bankruptcy Division in the Insolvency Service of Ireland and the administration of bankruptcy estates.
The Bankruptcy Division through the use of bespoke technology and applied intelligence delivers the efficient and effective management of assets in bankruptcy estates.
Philip Weldon, Managing Director, Titan Digital
Philip Weldon is the Managing Director of Titan Digital, a Dublin-based consulting firm specialising in digital transformation, automation, and AI for Irish organisations. With a portfolio spanning the public, private, and non-profit sectors, Philip focuses on bridging the gap between high-level strategy and measurable operational excellence.
Notably, he has led pioneering projects such as Ireland’s first automated HIV self-test platform and serves as a lead trainer and mentor for Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide. He is a recognised expert in helping leadership teams design and execute practical digital roadmaps that drive integrated growth.
Elaine Brady, Managing Partner, Barden
Elaine Brady is the Managing Partner of Barden Leinster and a leading expert in senior-qualified accounting careers and the executive search market. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Elaine built an international career with some of the world’s top recruitment firms before co-founding Barden in 2014. Under her leadership, the firm has grown into a nationwide team of talent advisory and recruitment experts.
A recognised authority on talent retention, diversity, and inclusion, Elaine frequently advises Boards on the construction of world-class leadership teams. Her entrepreneurial leadership has been recognised through the KPMG/Enterprise Ireland ‘Going for Growth’ and EY ‘Entrepreneurial Winning Women’ EMEIA programmes. A Dublin Chamber Ambassador, she was also the first runner-up for the 2024 PwC Image Business Woman of the Year Award in the Entrepreneurship category.
Kathryn Burns, Consultant, Mercia Ireland
Kathryn Burns joined Mercia Ireland in 2008 and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. With a career rooted in technical excellence, she trained at Horwath Bastow Charleton (HBC) before gaining specialised experience in the Corporate Finance department of Farrell Grant Sparks (FGS). Prior to joining Mercia, she served as a Technical Executive with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPA).
In her current role, Kathryn is a specialist Technical Consultant providing essential compliance and audit support to accountancy practices across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Her expertise encompasses the full spectrum of regulatory requirements, including audit compliance, ISQM standards, investment business, and insolvency reviews.
A trusted advisor to the profession, Kathryn supports firms in preparing for professional body inspections and contributes to Mercia’s extensive programme of CPD and technical products. Her core specialities include hot and cold file reviews, money laundering compliance, and advising on practice mergers and acquisitions.
Tom Murray, Partner, Friel Stafford
Tom Murray is a Partner at Friel Stafford and a leading authority on corporate recovery, turnaround, and insolvency in Ireland. A fellow of the ACCA and a member of both Chartered Accountants Ireland and CPA Ireland, Tom brings over 25 years of senior management experience to his role. He was one of the first licensed personal insolvency practitioners in the country and now leads specialist advisory mandates within Friel Stafford, a subsidiary of ifac, one of Ireland’s top ten accounting and advisory firms.
Beyond his practice work, Tom is a prominent figure in the Irish accounting profession. A past President of ACCA Ireland and a current Council Member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, he has served on global governance and standards boards, shaping the future of the industry. As a certified mediator with diplomas in Forensic Accounting and Taxation, he is a sought-after lecturer and technical contributor for Ireland’s leading accountancy bodies, specialising in CPD delivery for corporate finance, strategy, and forensic accounting.
Vic Angley, Tax Partner, AVA Tax Consulting
After almost 25 years specialising in tax, having previously worked with both PwC and Deloitte; in February 2025, Vic decided to establish AVA-Tax Consulting to provide commercially pragmatic, sustainable and innovative tax solutions directly to the many highly regarded independent advisors he previously supported during his time as Tax Partner with Grant Thornton and Forvis Mazars.
Vic is a highly experienced tax professional and has extensive experience working with both successful Irish private clients, as well as multinational companies on a variety of projects including:
•Tax planning, group re-organisation and structuring support for privately owned companies and groups
•Tax efficient exit planning for company founders and executives
•Succession and estate planning for individuals
•Revenue Intervention support across all taxes for advisors and directly for taxpayers
•Cross border tax planning for Irish companies expanding abroad
•M&A and tax due diligence support for companies in a variety of sectors including the Financial Services, manufacturing and retail sectors
•VAT advice on property transactions and intra-community trade
•Employee remuneration and share incentivisation schemes
•R&D Tax Credit and KDB claim support
During his many years in practice, Vic has advised a broad cross section of clients across a variety of industries in the ICT, life science, manufacturing, agricultural, retail and consumer products sectors.
He has written and spoken extensively for a number of organisations including the Irish Research & Development Group, Chartered Accountants Ireland, IBEC, Bloomberg and Sports Tech Ireland on broad variety of topics such as tax incentives for research and innovation, and succession planning for Irish family businesses
Vic is an Associate of the Irish Tax Institute (CTA) and holds an MBA from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
