My role is focussed on optimising the visitor experience of Ireland’s heritage and cultural resources to drive tourism and economic benefits at a local, regional and national level. I manage a programme of capital development projects in partnership with local authorities around Ireland supporting them towards successful implementation.Recently completed projects include the delivery of major new visitor attractions including;o Mount Congreve House and Gardens, County Waterfordo The National Famine Museum at Strokestown House in County Roscommon o The Butler Gallery, KilkennyFor each project I managed the development of exhibitions, retail, restaurant, design of new spaces and/or buildings, conservation of historic buildings, business plan, operational plan, promotional plans etc.Currently developing concepts for a new, much needed, visitor attraction of scale in Cork City, in preparation for concept testing and subsequent detailed development of selected concepts.Recently led the development and launch of an innovative new grant scheme aimed at incentivising private sector engagement in the development of Sustainable Tourism in Ireland’s midlands as part of a just transition away from fossil fuel extraction (of peat) and towards a carbon neutral sustainable future. https://www.failteireland.ie/Identify-Available-Funding/Just-Transition-Fund/investment-grant-aid-scheme.aspx

Working with private and public sector stakeholders around the country to develop and deliver strategic destination development projects, including for example; • project managed the €25 million Strategic Partnership between Fáilte Ireland and the Office of Public Works (OPW) to improve the visitor experience of Ireland's most important heritage attractions including Newgrange, the Rock of Cashel, Dublin Castle and Dún Aonghasa.• In partnership with the OPW I commissioned ambitious masterplans for 2 of the most significant heritage assets in state ownership, Dublin Castle and the Phoenix Park• Project Managed the development of Fáilte Ireland's €60 million Capital Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects, managing internal stakeholders and using international research to agree the strategic outcomes before developing the scheme. • Project Managed the gathering of international insights on projects which have had a transformational impact on tourism in destinations all over the world to inform Fáilte Ireland development policy. • Procured the design and managed the delivery of Interpretation panels and brand markers at 189 discovery points along the Wild Atlantic Way • Development of trails and orientation infrastructure for the Mayo Galway Blueway • Dublin Discovery Trails (walking trail routes, scripts and app) through a process of consumer research and development• The Great Western Greenway Interpretation and Orientation plan Developing specific calls for proposals to invite innovation and build participation and engagement around strategic projects, including; • "New Ideas in Ancient Spaces" grant scheme, a grant scheme to catalyse for development of heritage experiences within the new Ireland's Ancient East destination brand area. Established a mentoring scheme to help project promoters bring their projects to fruition. • Dubline Development Fund • Sharing our Stories funding scheme for animation of visitor attractions and destinations

1. Managed the Fáilte Ireland Festivals Initiative which supports the development of festivals and events to generate tourism, animate destinations, showcase culture and improve the visitor experience. The initiative had an annual budget in excess of €4 million with approximately 220 funded events generating in excess of 1.2 million bednights each year. Key elements of this programme included: • Funding Programme set up and management;• Economic Impact Assessment, establishment and monitoring of KPIs for individual events and for the overall programme;• Content Marketing re festivals and events; • Client management; Point of contact for 60+ clients;• Training provision; Organised training events and resources in response to industry needs.2. Innovation / Event Programming and Development; Managed the strategic development of new events in response to market opportunities including; • NYE Dublin ’12 and 13 Developed a major new annual event for Dublin (from conception to delivery through sourcing of funding, event programming, procuring production, promotion and post-event evaluation). In its second year NYE Dublin acted as the opening event of The Gathering and was attended by 54,000 people, generating an economic impact of Euro 5.8 million. • Development of a new Dublin Festival Season proposition, brand and campaign including significant international promotion.

Projects include:1. Science Gallery, Dublin. Co-curator and Producer of LIGHTWAVE, the very successful launch exhibition/ festival for the newly opened Science Gallery, Dublin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmP0ZLmN5O8 , http://www.sciencegallery.com/ . Aug 2007 to Feb 2008.2. York’s Grand Tour. Project Managed the initial planning stage of "York’s Grand Tour" for York Museums Trust, which turned York city centre into a huge open-air gallery with full size replicas of famous paintings from the National Gallery in surprising outdoor locations. Jan - Apr 2008. http://www.thegrandtourinyork.org.uk/ 3. Woodlawn House and Estate, County Galway; An appraisal of development options (for a historic estate) for CHL consultants, April – June 2008.4. The Ford factory, Marina Park Industrial Estate Cork, an initial examination of opportunities for heritage interpretation and tourism development, for CHL consultants, June 2008.

1. Programme Management: An externally funded 3 year programme of investment in the tourism product (managed funding relationships, reporting, suppliers, publicity and integration of new tourism product into destination marketing). NB: Towards the end of this project York won the title; European Tourism City of the Year. 2. Strategic Tourism Experience Development: Managed the Illuminating York Project; a unique initiative to grow overnight visitor numbers by making the city-centre more exciting and safer during the evening. The project involved commissioning 12 cutting edge public art installations in historic settings, permanent architectural lighting of York’s famous historic buildings, establishing a spectacular annual festival of light (The Illuminating York Festival).3. Heritage Interpretation and Development projects; • "2000 years in 2 miles", commissioned conservation plan, interpretation plan and implemented interpretation scheme for York City Walls, one of the UK’s largest archaeological monuments; • Exploring York; Developed a series of 9 (heritage themed) self-guided walking trails, map guides and an accompanying website. • Commissioned interpretive panels for 12 historic city centre churches;• The Keys to the City; With York Theatre Royal developed a theatrical night-time promenade play reinterpreting the History of York.4. Event Programming and Management; York Festival of Food and Drink, Residents First Festival, Illuminating York and The Alfresco Film Festival.5. Tourism Action Planning: York After Dark; an Action Plan for the Evening Economy / After dark visitor experience in York, developed through visitor research and industry consultation, 2007.6. Visitor Research; including Destination benchmarking, visitor satisfaction and economic impact studies.7. Bid-writing and fundraising via Heritage Lottery Fund, Regional Development Agency (Yorkshire Forward).

• "Stories from the River of Time"; An interpretive plan for The Blackwater Valley Heritage Trail.• Community workshops on best use of local natural and cultural heritage resources,.• Building heritage awareness; organised 17 events for ‘Heritage Week 2002’ including children’s competitions, lectures, storytelling, exhibitions, guided walks and open days.• Funding; Distributed Leader+ funding and sourced Heritage Council funding for further community-based projects

Website and online GIS development for archaeological and cultural research projects Australia, China, and Cambodia

GIS mapping and analysis for a number of Infrastructural and Environmental consulting contracts

On-site archaeologist at a number of excavations, pre development monitoring and post ex mapping and analysis

Assistant to Tomás O’Leary and Art MacCormack (Dep. of Forestry, Univ. College Dublin) both on their research and commercial consulting contracts.