Dara Connolly Email & Phone Number

Ireland

County Dublin, Ireland

Common Purpose is a global social enterprise that provides unique and innovative leadership development programmes for people from across the public, private, arts, sports and not-for-profit sectors. Common Purpose have been bringing leaders on experiential journeys in Ireland for over 30 years, providing leaders with the inspiration, skills and connections to become more effective leaders. Common Purpose’s 100,000 alumni worldwide are enabled and equipped to solve complex problems in organisations and across society. Through a unique and innovative Peer to Peer experiential learning model we :* deliver programmes for senior leaders who hold established leadership roles.* run programmes for emerging leaders in the early-mid stages of their career.* partner with leading universities and global organizations to run leadership programmes for students.We measure our impact through the eight leadership competencies:1.Lead Beyond Authority2.Grow Cultural Intelligence3.Thrive in Complexity4.Confront Blind Spots5.Work in Collaboration6.Build Relationships7.Think the Unthinkable8.Leverage Diversity

Dawson St , Dublin 2

Young Social Innovators (YSI) is a successful and unique social enterprise that has been leading the way in social innovation education in Ireland for over 15 years which fires young people’s passion to change the world for good! Key Responsibilities and achievments: • Devise and implement a business development plan which incorporates program delivery, income generation and sponsorship opportunities to achieve a sustainable business model for YSI.• Grow, retain, develop and ensure regular quality relations with private and public sector partners • Research, meet and influence potential public and private partners, clients and funders including relevant sectoral, national and international bodies.

Ireland

Overseeing feasibility study and business plan (funded by Leader) for the development of structured accredited education courses for those with disabilities and an artisan dairy production industry for Camphill and also with Kilcannon Industries

Ballymount Drive, Dublin 12

ReCreate's mission is to make unusual and unique arts materials and educational supplies accessible and affordable to everybody in Ireland.The educational mission is to increase creativity and lateral thinking, while at the same time raising awareness in children and adults alike the green benefits of reusing materials.On a corporate level ReCreate is linking creativity to innovation through its extensive team building & Corporate Training programs while bringing high profile CSR opportunities to its business partners.Responsibilities and achievements:* Winner of the Impact Award from the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland 2016, the Dublin City Enterprise Award 2016, Biz To Arts Community Impact 2017 and South Dublin NGO of the Year 2017* Awarded as one of the top 4 innovative Social Enterprises in Ireland in 2015 by the Social Innovation Fund and Pakman award for Community Education from Repak in 2016 and 2017.* Establish and manage a 5,000 sq ft depot known as the Warehouse of Wonders for storing and sorting the materials for distribution nationally* Oversee national marketing campaign to create awareness of ReCreate* Market and grow membership nationally (over 2,000) from pre-schools, schools, third level institutions, arts and theater organisations, community and special needs groups* Develop corporate partnerships with businesses and source new materials* Growing turnover within 2 years from start up to over €450 K per annum from a wide diversity of income streams while managing 6 professionals, 16 part time artists and offering work experience to over 20 others * Divert up to 300 tonnes of materials annually from landfill.

Dublin

Saplings aim is to support individuals with a diagnosis of autism and their families; assisting them to achieve their full potential and participate in their family and community life, through the provision of holistic evidence based services, celebrating each individuals dignity, uniqueness and right to an optimal education.Responsibilities & Achievements:• Oversee all management ,legalities and recruitment of the school• Facilitate and manage the extensive fundraising required to maintain an appropriate level of services for the children• Extensive lobbying for the direction of education and care of autistic children in Ireland as well as advocacy to ensure fair services received by all families

Dublin

Company focuses on Cultural Development in Temple Bar and beyond .The role incorporates providing subsidised spaces to cultural organisations, managing a large commercial portfolio, running markets and programming events on TBCT's spaces including Meeting House Square which is the first outdoor venue in Ireland to have a retractable cover. Company is self sustaining model where the revenue it generates goes back into developing and marketing the area. Responsibilities:• Oversee all business development aspects the business of TBCT Ltd.• Manage the property portfolio • Responsible all legal aspects of the company including all litagation, tenants agreements and debt collection. Achievements:• Successfully project managed various projects such as:- Rejuvenation of the West End of Temple Bar incorporating a successful mix of cafes and niche Irish businesses including the Smock Alley Theatre- Co project managed the redevelopment of Meeting House Square including Ireland's first outdoor retractable roof - Redevelopment of all of TBCT’s spaces to allow for increased commercial use to expand the business model of the company securing sponsorship and strategic partnerships with a number of entities - Managed the programming of over 100 events a year in the public spaces owned by TBCT• Maintained financial stability at all times allowing TBCT to continually reinvest in Temple Bar as Dublin’s Cultural Quarter• Maintained near 100% capacity in 94 property units through various initiatives such as festivals, events and pop ups shops • Facilitated the emergence of up to 30 start ups in the area, providing them with properties, strategic management, promotional expertise and cash flow assistance.• Part of the team that developed Culture Night, establishing a strong model that went from Dublin City Centre to almost nationwide within 5 years

Temple Bar Properties Ltd was the company empowered to oversee the regeneration of the area of Temple Bar into Dublin's Cultural Quarter and was set up as a private limited company operating under all aspects of the Companies Act . The business model was to invest in the cultural infrastructure of the area as well as investing in already established entities such as The Irish Film Centre and the Projects Arts Centre . This investment included structural improvements to roads, public spaces ( Meeting House Square, Temple Bar Square, Cows Lane ) and public art in the area. This set up the base for the full regeneration in the area as the company developed in parallel residential and retail properties. Responsibilities:• Managed all elements of finance for TBP Ltd with a team of 4• Oversaw all business development and legal aspects of the company • Researching different opportunities to expand TBP Ltd’s revenue base and business portfolio including sponsorship and grants• Explore all elements of TBP Ltd’s extended contacts to explore synergies and create initiatives to increase Temple Bar’s brand as Dublin’s Cultural QuarterAchievements:Successfully oversaw projects such as:- Introduced pop-up shops program in Temple Bar- Redesign of Temple Bar’s West End , project included:• Develop and present the plan to secure funding • Vetting all business plans for prospective tenants• Provided financial expertise where required to prospective stakeholders.• The project included the securing an anchor tenant for the area, The Smock Alley Theatre . - Attracting commercial hires into TBP’s public spaces to diversify the business model of TBP- Created new fashion and craft markets in the West End of Temple Bar now known as the Designer Mart to act as a magnet to the area- Oversaw marketing initiative to attract new businesses to TBP’s units

19 East Essex St , Dublin 8

Sustainable Ireland is a workers co-operative was set up originally run the Convergence Festivals to promote active environmentally conscious ways of living .It grew into an organisation with an educational and retail arm as well as being events led organisation to disseminate information in a user friendly way to the greater public . Now under the umbrella of Cultivate (www.sustainable.ie ) it is now a 'practical sustainability' organisation focused on active education. Responsibilities & Achievements:• Worked on many aspects of the organisation including financial direction and business development in order to expand the business model • Established the innovative Cultivate Centre in Essex St, Dublin 2, now located in The Greenhouse, Trinity St, Dublin 2• Chairperson of the cooperative from 2005 to 2007• Grew the organisation from employing 3 part time to 12, expanding the business model to incorporate consultancy, education (on-line and in situ classes) and a retail shop/information centre

East Essex St , Dublin 2

The development of the Temple Bar area is recognised as the one of the most successful urban regeneration projects in Europe. It was accomplished with a budget of £200 M made up of £100 M in loans (fully repaid) and another £100M in ERDF and Exchequer grants and that in turn attracted another £100 M from the commercial sector. My initial role in the company was to oversee the completion of the development of the area. Today it has a rent roll of around €2M but has supplementary income of approximately another €500 K from markets, sponsorship and various other income sources Responsibilities and Achievments • To oversee a team of 4 to manage all financial aspects of the development of Temple Bar ,Dublin's Cultural Quarter as well as the day to day running of the company• Ensure all regulatory elements and grant documentation were completed to draw down the balance of the £100M funding allocated to the area • Ensure all aspects of the loan agreements were in order to maintain cashflow to ensure the development could be completed within budget and on time • Manage extensive audits by Comptroller General and EU to allow for the complete handover of all assets to the company

Dublin

Zomax provided logistical and supply chain services to Microsoft in its office in Ballsbridge, Dublin .Among those services was a call centre that employed 150 which managed all the orders for Microsofts European and Asian operations Responsibilties and achievments:• Oversaw the outsourced Financial Services (team of 18) of Microsoft European Operations for technical CDR sales• Services to Microsoft included management of sales tracking and financial analysis system, posting of all orders and collection of funds• Responsibility for recruitment and training of all financial services team members • Designed new sales tracking system for Microsofts European Operations • Successfully co-project managed the implementation of a SAP financial analysis module

Apeldoorn Area, Netherlands

BG Turnkey Banta provides a comprehensive combination of printing and digital imaging solutions to leading publishers and direct marketers, including advanced digital content management e-business services. Banta's global supply chain management businesses provide a wide range of outsourcing capabilities to the world's largest technology companies. Services range from component procurement, product assembly and packaging to inventory control and global distribution and customers include Microsoft , Apple and Sun Microsystems Responsibilties • Manage all financial systems • Responsibility for designing and installing sales tracking system • Prepared all management accounts and annual financial accounts

Diploma Of Education, Leadership Coaching

Post Graduate Diploma In Innovation, Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies, Distinction

Post graduate diploma in Innovation

The Power Mba, Mba , Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Innovation And Business Transformation

Project Management, Diploma In Project Management, Distinction

Chartered Institute Of Management Accountancy, Business/Commerce, General, Honours

Activities and Societies: Soccer, gaelic football, rugby, music CIMA

Diploma In Business Studies, Business Administration And Management, General, Distinction

Matrix, Organizational Leadership

Diploma In Leadership Coaching