Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Castlebar Town reaches Final for Digital Education Category
Castlebar Town was shortlisted in the 2022 Digital Education category of the .IE Digital Town Awards for the Digital West Conference (@digitalwestbiz). This category is for digital projects in the areas of education, training and development at all levels in the town.
Many thanks to our category sponsors Western Development Commission, Connected Hubs, Vodafone Business and AIB Merchant Services for their continued support.
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Introduction
As the digital media landscape rapidly evolves with the introduction of new technologies such as AI, VR, AR, analytics, automation and a movement towards high definition video communication, companies are finding it increasingly hard to attract and maintain talent.
This is the seventh year of this event in the West and it is just one in a number of initiatives planned as part of the creation and rollout of a digital strategy in the West.
The first phase of the National Digital Strategy, 2013 focused on digital engagement and how Ireland can benefit from a digitally engaged society. It set out a clear vision and a number of practical actions to help increase the number of citizens and businesses engaging online through industry and enterprise, citizen training, schools and education. The government is now developing a new National Digital Strategy. This is in response to technological change over the past six years, and any opportunities or challenges it presents. The changes related to the pandemic in 2020 have rapidly accelerated this digital transformation which has affected virtually all aspects of society.
Digital West Schedule 2024
MC for Digital West 2024
School of Business ATU Galway-Mayo
Dr Meghann Drury-Grogan is Head of Department for Enterprise and Technology at the School of Business, Atlantic Technological University in Galway City, managing and teaching on multiple undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, developing programs and strategic relationships with industry and academic partners, and building research capacity within the school.
Dr. Orla Flynn
Uachtarán/President of ATU
Dr Orla Flynn was appointed inaugural President of Atlantic Technological University in April 2022, having served two years as President of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. Prior to this Dr Flynn was Vice President for External Affairs at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) for six years, and previous academic leadership roles in CIT included Head of CIT Crawford College of Art & Design and Head of School of Humanities.
Dr Flynn commenced her academic career as a Lecturer in Computer Science, holding undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Mathematical Physics and Computer Science from University College Cork, an MA in Management in Education from Waterford Institute of Technology, and a PhD from the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick. She is a current Director on the Board of HEANet and has previously held Director positions on both Cork and Galway Chambers of Commerce.
Dara Calleary
Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation
Minister Calleary is responsible for promoting responsible and sustainable trade, ensuring fair and better regulation for all businesses, and that markets work effectively for consumers and for the economy as a whole. He also has a specific focus in the continued digital transformation of enterprise and ensuring Ireland maintains or improves its position of 5th in the DESI, and remains a digital frontrunner at the heart of Europe.
Dr. Muslim Syed
Lecturer ATU, Responsible AI Enthusiast | Expert Witness | AI Policy & Governance | Researcher & Academician
Dr. Muslim Syed, a Lecturer at ATU, Galway, is a passionate advocate for Responsible Artificial Intelligence. Specializing in responsible AI, and other emerging technologies. His research focuses on the ethical and legal aspects of AI and technology, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and societal values. Dr. Syed is passionate about helping businesses and organizations improve their processes and profit, leveraging his expertise in AI and technology within EU regulations and compliance.
Dr. Syed has offered expert witness consultancy to the United States Trademark and IP Patent Office on digital twins and building monitoring systems. He’s recognized globally, with keynote speaking roles, editorial contributions to journals, and mentorship of PhD and Master’s students, foreign evaluator and examiner.
Brian Hanly
Co-Founder & CEO Brightbeam
Brian Hanly is the co-founder and CEO of Brightbeam. Brightbeam helps enterprises gain advantage through AI by transforming how humans and technology collaborate to deliver superior experiences and unparalleled productivity. Brian is passionate about helping companies and employees be the best they can be, he has set Brightbeam’s mission to “Be the most helpful company in the world”.
Brian is also the co-founder of Ticketsolve, a SAAS ticketing platform, and Emergn, a Digital Transformation and Product Engineering specialist.
Alan Heaney
Lely Mullingar & Efficient Farm System, Part Time Farmer
Company owner, entrepreneur & investor in Agritech/Robotics.
Co-owner/founder of Lely Mullingar, Lely Kilkenny, Efficient Farm Systems etc. with 65+ employees specialising in agritech, robotics and automation for dairy and beef farms.
Part time farmer, ultra cyclist, ultra marathon runner and HYROX competitor
Graduate of UCD (Degree in Agriculture Science) and Trinity College (MBA). Raised over €227,000 over 6 ultra-charity cycles covering 8,700km across 5 different countries in just 25 days ie. 348km per day.
GAA & LGFA coach and mentor of many young people
Yvonne Comer
Multi Award Winning Entrepreneur/ IRFU Union Committee Member / Former Rugby International/ RugbyDAO- Fan in Residence / CAPM
Yvonne Comer is a former rugby international and has been a member of the IRFU Board for 3 years, where she drives strategic advancements in rugby across Ireland. As the former CEO of RugbySmarts, she worked on revolutionising video analytics with a platform that uses AI and computer vision to analyse matches. She is currently consulting in both the soccer and digital accessibility industries.
Yvonne is also a board member of Vision Sports Ireland, advocating for inclusivity in sports. In recognition of her innovative contributions, she was awarded the National Businesswoman of the Year – STEM in 2022. Her work reflects a dynamic blend of leadership, technology, and a passion for sport.
Graham Baitson
AI/Technology Consultant & TikTok Effect Creator | AI Awards Judge, Conference Speaker, Technologist, Innovation Strategist, Product Creator, and Digital Influencer
Graham is a pragmatic leader, technologist, and conference speaker with extensive experience in AI, emerging technologies, and innovation. He has led global teams in both start-ups and multinationals, driving strategic transformation in the areas of AI/ML and automation. With a passion for creating scalable solutions and fostering high-performing cultures, Graham has held key roles that shape the future of industries through cutting-edge technologies.
Muireann Fitzmaurice
Award Winning Business Marketing Coach
Muireann Fitzmaurice runs the award-winning business MarketingCoach.ie. With over 15 years of extensive experience in sales and marketing roles at leading multinationals, including Intel, Unilever, and Britvic, Muireann set up her own company in 2011. The marketing consultancy and training firm that has impressively trained over 10,000 business owners in the past decade. Known for her dynamic training sessions, Muireann has also held lecturer positions at prestigious institutions such as Smurfit Business School, TU Dublin, UCD, and the Kemmy School of Business in the University of Limerick.
Her commitment to innovation in marketing is evident from her recent international training on Branding with Marty Neumeier in Vienna, as well as her academic achievements which include a certificate in Green Marketing from the Sustainability Institute and a certificate from the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. Muireann has developed an on demand online course on Green Marketing designed specifically for marketing professionals and also runs live workshop training on the topic. MarketingCoach.ie is a supporter of the NetZeroIreland community.
Muireann is a keen user of AI for marketing and in her business more broadly. She is very practical and will show you how you can Adopt useful AI tools into your everyday work flow, saving you time and money.
