Our Team

Paul Holden

Chairperson

Paul has been involved with development and implementation of science and technology policy since the 1980s, first with the National Board for Science & Technology, and subsequently with the Irish Council for Science, Technology & Innovation, the Discover Science & Engineering programme and ICS Skills, the not-for-profit company established by the Irish Computer Society to promote computer literacy. He has worked with major IT companies and indigenous startups, and, in Rédacteurs, the company he set up in 1989, provided consultancy services to Government, State agencies and private enterprise throughout Europe.

Fiach Mac Conghail

Board Member & CEO

Fiach is CEO of the Digital Hub Development Agency since October 2016.

He graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in Politics and Sociology (1988). He was Director and CEO of the Abbey Theatre (2005-2016) and was an Independent Senator in the Irish Parliament (2011 -2016). He completed an M.A. in Public Policy in University College Dublin in 2018. In 2020 he was awarded a Professional Certificate in Corporate Governance at the Institute of Public Affairs. Fiach is board member of European Movement Ireland and Technology Ireland. He is a member of Foundation Irlandaise which manages the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.

Austin Campbell

Board Member

Austin is Executive Director of the Robert Emmet Community Development Project (CDP) since 2019. There he holds responsibility for the management of community initiatives and programmes focussed on supporting the Dublin 8 community to reach its full potential. Prior to joining Robert Emmet CDP, he held a role as a resettlement officer in homeless services. During this time, he co-founded and served as a director of My Streets Ireland, an organisation that works towards creating educational and employment opportunities for the homeless community through walking tour guides throughout Dublin.

Austin holds a BA in Anthropology and History from Maynooth University and a Higher Diploma in Public Relations and Strategic Communication from DCU. He has won a number of awards for his atypical delivery of social enterprise programmes and dedication to charitable work. In 2019, his involvement with My Streets Ireland was recognised with the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Award in the Innovation for Change category.

With an abundance of knowledge of innovation for the not-for-profit sector, Austin frequently speaks widely on improvement in the charitable and social economy sectors and has spoken in a TEDx talk focused on ‘Accessible Education for Sustainable Communities’.

Stephen Casey

Board Member

Stephen is an experienced executive and non-executive director having served on the boards of various businesses in the technology and investment sectors. In addition to the Digital Hub Stephen is tax counsel and advises upon renewal energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa and was previously CFO for several software businesses and an investment fund. Stephen holds a diploma in corporate governance from UCD Smurfit School.

Brian Keogh

Board Member

Brian is a Chartered Civil Engineer, a European Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers in Ireland. He retired from John Sisk & Son Ltd in 2012 after 40 years’ service in the Construction Industry. He served on the Main Board since 1990, where he held the position of Director of Civil Engineering and Director of Health & Safety, Quality & Environmental Management. He served on the board of several Sisk associated companies and joint ventures and has worked-on projects in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Germany and Poland. Brian was a member of the Procurement Board for the National Broadband Plan from 2017 to 2019. He is a Board member of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and is Chair of the Digital Hub Development Agency Property Committee.

Darina Kneafsey

Board Member

Darina is an experienced non-executive director and currently serves on the boards of The Higher Education Authority and the Saolta (University Healthcare Group). She has 25 years’ experience in senior leadership positions within international companies including Digital Equipment and Intel. She held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Trinity College Dublin for several years. Darina also works with several companies — both start-ups and established organisations across several sectors and technologies. She is a Chartered Engineer with an Engineering degree from University College Dublin, a post graduate Diploma in System Analysis from NUI Galway. Darina holds an MBA from Trinity College Dublin.

Richard Shakespeare

Chief Executive of Dublin City Council

Richard Shakespeare is Chief Executive with responsibility for the

• The day-to-day operations of the Council.
• Implementation of council decisions.
• Working with the elected representatives (Councillors) and council staff to implement DCC's vision for a creative and sustainable city.

Mr Shakespeare is a qualified Landscape Architect and Engineer with over 30 years’ experience in Local Government across a range of different strategic and operational functions.

Before taking up the position of Chief Executive he held the position of Assistant Chief Executive with responsibility for the Planning and Property Development Department and Culture, Recreation and Economic Services here in Dublin City Council.

He has also previously worked for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council as Director of Municipal Services.