Board Members

Career highlights Having previously worked for the Revenue Commissioners, Martin spent most of his career in Regulation both financial and otherwise as Registrar of Friendly Societies and subsequently as a senior official in the Central Bank of Ireland. Educational achievements Martin has a Bachelor of Law degree and is a Solicitor by profession. Board Experience/ Skillset Martin is an accomplished regulatory and governance leader, having previously served as Chairperson of Vhi Healthcare and more recently as Chairperson of the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) and as Interim Chairperson of the State Examinations Commission. Martin has also previously served as Independent External Board Member of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and as a Board Member of the Water Advisory Body (WAB), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Charities Regulatory Authority. Martin currently serves as a Board Member of Drogheda Port Company.

Career highlights Berna has an extensive publication record in planning and environmental law, public policy and governance. She co-edited the Irish Planning Law Factbook with the late James Macken SC and updated it annually until the 2024 Planning and Development Act began its passage through the Oireachtas. She also authored the second edition of An Introduction to Irish Planning Law in 2012, further cementing her reputation as a leading voice in Ireland’s planning and regulatory landscape. Educational achievements Dr Berna Grist B.L. is a barrister and chartered town planner, and an Adjunct Professor at University College Dublin’s School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy. She holds a PhD from the University of Ulster on Ireland’s legislative and regulatory development framework and has practised at the Bar since 1991. Board Experience/ Skillset Berna was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board upon its establishment in 1998, bringing early leadership to a new national regulatory body. She later served as a member of An Bord Pleanála from 2001 to 2006, contributing to major national planning decisions. In 2013, she joined the Expert Group advising the Minister for Housing and Planning on the successor to the National Spatial Strategy, providing strategic insight on long-term spatial policy. She has served on multiple State Boards and is currently a Director of Dublin Port Company, reflecting her strong governance capability, regulatory expertise and experience across complex public-sector organisations.

Career highlights Aodh is the CEO of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), leading national and EU-level representation for commercial fishing vessel owners across the Pelagic, Whitefish, Shellfish and Inshore sectors. Before joining the IFPO, he served as International Sales Director with Errigal Bay, where he developed global seafood markets with a strong focus on Asia, the United States and Scandinavia. Since taking up the CEO role in 2022, Aodh has overseen the IFPO’s central responsibilities under the Common Market Organisation, supporting sustainable stock management and maximising returns for its members. Educational achievements Aodh is a native Irish speaker and holds a primary degree from Trinity College Dublin, along with a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance and an MBA from the Open University. Board Experience/ Skillset Aodh has a lifelong connection to the seafood sector and has held senior roles across operations, sales and marketing. He has contributed to industry development through his service on the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA) and the Northwest Pelagic Advisory Committee. He also served as Chairperson of Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) from 2007 to 2011, demonstrating leadership not only within the marine industry but also in higher education governance.

Career highlights Charlotte is the co-founder and Managing Director of TechWorks Marine, where she has led the company’s growth into an internationally recognised provider of real-time marine data services. Her leadership has been acknowledged through the Digital Ocean Achievement Award (2017) and an Irish Times Innovation Award finalist nomination (2019). She has overseen numerous European Space Agency (ESA) projects in marine Earth observation and, as an EU Commission evaluator and regular conference speaker, is a strong advocate for data-driven marine monitoring solutions. Educational achievements Charlotte holds an Environmental Resources degree from Kingston University, a Master’s in Oceanography from the University of Wales, Bangor, and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Sales from TU Dublin, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary foundation across environmental science, marine research and commercial strategy. Board Experience/ Skillset With more than two decades of experience in operational oceanography, Charlotte O’Kelly de Gallagh brings deep insight into marine monitoring and offshore renewable energy. She has chaired both Women in Technology and Science (WITS) and the Lycée Française d’Irlande, reflecting her long-standing commitment to STEM education and gender equality. She currently contributes her expertise to national policy development through the DETE Offshore Wind Industry Forum and the DECC Expert Group on Data for Offshore Renewable Energy.

Career highlights Kate is a marine and rural resources specialist with over 14 years’ experience in marine resource management and more than three decades in senior leadership. As founder and Managing Director of Islander Kelp Ltd., she has built deep expertise across seafood, kelp cultivation and inshore fisheries planning. She supported Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) in developing EU FLAG strategies for all six Irish regions and, as Director of Initiatives at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, oversaw programmes assisting fishers in transitioning to catch-share management. Kate previously served as Head of Economic Development for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (then Coleraine) before being appointed CEO of the cross-border Irish Central Border Area Network in 2002, where she oversaw the implementation of INTERREG IIIA Programme Measures. She has also worked internationally as a contracted Director to the Cyprus Reconstruction and Resettlement Council. Over the past two decades, she has prepared numerous business plans, evaluations and LEADER strategies for a wide range of clients, reflecting her extensive experience in rural development, cross-border collaboration and strategic programme delivery. Educational achievements Kate Burns holds an MSc in Rural Development from Queen’s University Belfast, a Diploma in Community Development Practice from University College Galway, and a BSc in Economics and Politics from the Open University, reflecting a strong academic foundation in rural policy, community development and socio-economic analysis. Board Experience/ Skillset Kate has extensive governance experience, having served on the board of the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI), where she chaired the Science Strategy Committee. She completed eight years on the boards of Belfast Met College and the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority, and also chaired the Belfast Met Charitable Trust. She currently serves as Chair of the Leslie Foundation and is a board member of the Causeway Coast Maritime Heritage Group.

Career highlights For the past 20 years, she has worked in the Irish Civil Service gaining experience in public sector audit, procurement and risk management. She currently works as Director of Internal Audit and Risk in the University of Galway, providing assurance to the University President and Audit and Risk Committee on the adequacy of the organisation’s overall governance framework including its internal control system. Prior to this, Pauline worked as Head of Internal Audit in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, leading the audit function. She also served in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for over 10 years and, later, with the European Commission in the Department of Education and Skills. Educational achievements Pauline Cronin is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MSC in Economics and Policy, with a particular focus on corporate governance in the public sector. Board Experience/ Skillset Pauline brings a strong governance and financial oversight skillset to the Board, underpinned by her qualifications as an accountant and extensive experience in audit, risk management and internal controls. Her training in economics and policy further enhances her ability to provide rigorous scrutiny and strategic guidance at board level. She served as an external member of the Audit and Risk Committee from 2020 to 2024 and as its Chair from 2024 to 2026, strengthening her expertise in assurance, compliance and risk governance.

Career highlights Prof. Tim McCarthy is a senior academic leader in the Department of Computer Science at Maynooth University and a Principal Investigator at the National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG). With more than 30 years of R&D experience in Earth Observation, Geographic Information Science and Geocomputation, he has established a strong track record in delivering high-impact research. Over the past 15 years, he has led or co-led more than 30 externally funded projects at Maynooth University, securing €30 million in competitive funding. His current research spans sustainable land management, autonomous systems—including drones and U-Space—and maritime surveillance, with a particular focus on large-scale geospatial digital infrastructure. Educational achievements Tim holds a BSc in Geology and Mathematics, an MSc in Remote Sensing from University College London, and a PhD specialising in the integration of aerial video with GIS. He also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Corporate Governance at the Institute of Public Administration, providing a strong governance foundation to complement his technical and analytical expertise. Board Experience/ Skillset Tim brings strong expertise in digital data technologies and digitalisation, developed through senior leadership roles in research, technology, development and innovation at both national and European levels. His active RTDI portfolio includes co-leading the multi-million-euro Terrain-AI programme on sustainability and climate change, guiding the European Space Agency’s Atlantic Maritime Surveillance Pathfinder initiative, and leading EO-AI work in emergency management and autonomous systems. He has also supported the spin-out of three data-technology SMEs, demonstrating commercial awareness and innovation leadership that strengthens his contribution at board level.