Our Board

Julie Dickerson

Managing Director, SES

Email: Julie.Dickerson@ses.ie

Julie Dickerson was elected as President of Shannon Chamber on 9 Feb 2016.

Julie has been Managing Director of SES (Shannon Engine Support) – a wholly owned subsidiary of CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture between GE and Snecma (Safran) – since January 2013. Prior to joining SES, she gained progressive experience through GE Six Sigma and Operations in GECAS post joining in 1997 and was promoted to lead the GECAS Engine Leasing P&L in 2007. Julie gained project leadership experience at Standard Bank in South Africa and in credit control/ collections at 3M(tm) in the U.K. She was born in South Africa, where she gained a BComm (Hons) Economics and Business Administration from University of Kwazulu Natal and UNISA before moving to Ireland in 1996.

Kevin Thompstone

Managing Director, the Thompstone Group

Email: kevin@thompstonegroup.com

Kevin is ex officio President of Shannon Chamber, and also chairs the Chamber’s CEO Forum.

An experienced economic development practitioner and consultant, Kevin has successfully conducted assignments in Armenia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Jordan, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Uganda and the UAE. He served as CEO of Shannon Development from 2000 to 2008, where he worked for 23 years and served in key senior management roles. He has recently been advising government, investment agency and commercial clients on business  park, technocity and special economic zone projects in Armenia, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.

Helen Downes

Chief Executive, Shannon Chamber

Email:  hdownes@shannonchamber.ie

Prior to becoming Chief Executive of Shannon Chamber in 2008, Helen was HR Business Partner with Thomson Financial (Ireland) Ltd, where she managed day-to-day HR activities, including Health & Safety regulations, across multiple sites. Helen Downes has spearheaded many new Chamber initiatives to promote and encourage business growth and economic development in the Shannon area. Helen is also an active member of Chambers Ireland’s Human Resources Policy Council, and in October 2013, was elected to the Board of Chambers Ireland for a second time

Stephen Keogh

Managing Partner, Keating Connolly Sellors

Email: skeogh@sellors.ie

Stephen is a Director and the Company Secretary to the Chamber.

Stephen holds a degree in Accounting & Finance from Trinity College Dublin and has worked in a variety of business sectors. Stephen is the Managing Partner of a leading regional Irish Law Firm, Keating & Keogh, with offices in Limerick & Dublin. Prior to returning to the Mid-West region in 2009, Stephen spent 5 years with International Law firm Eversheds.

Stephen works closely with the CEO Helen Downes and brings a combination of his professional expertise and his broad practical business experience to the Chamber.

Claude Costelloe

Operations Manager, Zimmer Biomet

Email: Claude.Costelloe@zimmerbiomet.com

Claude Costelloe joined Zimmer Biomet Shannon in 2012 and has over 20 years’ experience in Operations Leadership roles in the Medtech Sector, with a particular emphasis on Continuous Improvement. Prior to that he has held leadership positions in the Engineering and Electronics sectors. He is an engineering graduate of the University of Limerick and a holder of a Black Belt in Lean. He is a strong advocate of CI as a key strategy to improve the competitiveness of the organization. At  Zimmer Biomet , Claude’s  focus has been to use CI not as a Project but as a way to run and improve the business which is reflected in improved Quality, Delivery, Lead Time and Cost. A Limerick native,  he is very keen to ensure the Mid West is a vibrant , growing ‘centre of excellence’ for Continuous Improvement as means of  sustaining and growing investment in the region. A keen sports fan , he is a former completive racing cyclist and has represented Ireland on a number of occasions in International Cycling.

Damian Gleeson

Partner – Audit and Assurance, Grant Thornton

Email: Damian.Gleeson@ie.gt.com

Damian’s primary focus is in audit and he has extensive experience working with subsidiaries of listed companies, multinationals and many significant indigenous entrepreneurial companies across a broad spectrum of industries including engineering, manufacturing, retail and motor retail, information and communication technology sectors. Damian has developed a substantial knowledge of the technology, manufacturing and engineering sectors while working with various clients. He also has considerable knowledge of current best practice in International Financial Reporting. Damian is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), has a diploma qualification in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). He is past President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce

Mark Nolan

Managing Director, Dromoland Castle Hotel

Email: mark.nolan@dromoland.ie

Mark has served as Managing Director of Dromoland Castle since 1996, adding the post of Managing Director of The Dromoland Collection in 2009. He works closely with the balance of the seven-member Board to maintain Dromoland Castle’s sterling reputation as one of Europe’s finest resorts and, most recently, to welcome the Inn at Dromoland to The Dromoland Collection. A graduate of the GMIT, Mark also sits on the regional advisory board of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation; the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance and Clare Tourism Forum.

Nandi O’Sullivan

Head of Communications, Shannon Group plc

Email: nandi.osullivan@shannonproperties.ie

Nandi is Head of Communications for Shannon Group plc. A communications’ specialist, Nandi has over 26 years’ experience in relationship building and a record of achievement in the delivery of major projects. Prior to taking up her current role, Nandi was Corporate Communications Manager for Shannon Development, the regional development semi-state company for the Shannon Region. In this role she led a comprehensive range of initiatives to effectively communicate and promote tourism and industry strategies. In addition to her role on the Board of Shannon Chamber of Commerce, Nandi is also a current board member of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC).

Mary Considine

Deputy CEO, Shannon Group

Email: mary.considine@shannonairport.ie

Mary is Deputy CEO of Shannon Group plc. Prior to this appointment she was Director – Shannon Airport with responsibility for the management, development and operation of the airport and its existing portfolio of lands and property on behalf of Shannon Airport Authority.

Mary has extensive experience in various sectors within the airport management business. Prior to her appointment as Director – Shannon Airport she held a number of senior roles in the airport. In 2012, she was appointed to both the Change Management Task Force and Aviation Business Development Task Force set up as part of the Government’s decision in principle to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority and bring it together with elements of Shannon Development to form a new entity to maximise the potential of the aviation sector within the region.

Mary led the successful separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority in 2012.

Ian Barrett

Managing Director, Care About You Ltd.

Email: ianb@cregg.ie

An accountant by profession Ian is currently Managing Director of Care About You Ltd, which is part of the Irish-owned Cregg Group which has offices in Shannon, Athlone, Galway and Cork: he was previously Managing Director of Resilience Health which was part of the TTM Healthcare Group of which he was previously Group Finance Director.. Prior to joining TTM Healthcare, Ian held Head of Finance roles with major multinational organisations (Alcoa, Samsung and Avocent); senior operational roles with Avocent (Head of International Operations) and Affinion International (Chief Operations Officer).

Ian’s familiarity with both large-scale multinational and medium-sized Irish organisations provides a valuable insights for Shannon Chamber Members – be it the challenges they face or the opportunities available  to them.

Ian has been a director of Shannon Chamber for over 10 years and has been responsible for developing the Chamber’s pre- budget submissions to Government. Ian is also a past President of the Chamber.

Brian Lohan

Managing Director, Brian Lohan Auctioneers & Financial Services

Email: brian@brianlohan.com

Brian has 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry in Ireland. He is a Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA), a Licencee of the Institute of Bankers (LIB) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP Professional). Brian is Managing Director of Lohan Financial Limited, a financial planning and wealth management business that specialises in Investments, group risk and self-administered pensions.

A certified auctioneer and valuer, Brian is a member of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (MIPAV).

David Brown

Finance Manager, IDEX Pump Technologies (Ireland) Ltd.

Email: dabrown@idexcorp.com

David is an accountant by profession and has spent his entire working career with US multinationals in Ireland, holding senior management roles in operations, customer services, compliance, and finance.

His working experience has and is in the electrical, electronic, and mechanical industries.

David is originally from South Africa but a long-time resident of Shannon and citizen of Ireland.

Edmund Jennings

Managing Director, CREGG Group

Email: edmund@cregg.ie

A microbiology and biochemistry graduate from the National University Galway (BSc, HDip in Ed, Dip QA.,) Edmund Jennings is managing director of the CREGG Group – a group of independent companies involved in automation, European sales, outsourcing, recruitment, and resources, that collectively trade under the Group banner.

A director of Shannon Chamber of Commerce, Shannon Foynes Port Authority, and Western Business Park, Shannon, Edmund’s non-business interests extend to active involvement in party politics, volunteer work with community development and sporting organizations.