Cybersecurity and AI fundamentals

Eoin Byrne – Cluster Manager and founder of Cyber Ireland

Eoin Byrne is the Cluster Manager and founder of Cyber Ireland, Ireland’s national cybersecurity cluster hosted at Munster Technological University, Cork. Since its inception in 2019, Eoin has led the development of the cluster, connecting industry, academia, and government to drive innovation and growth in the cybersecurity sector. He has led several national and European cybersecurity projects, inputs to the government on cybersecurity industrial policy, and is recognised as a Cluster Expert by the European Commission.

Paul Delahunty – Chief Information Security Officer – Stryve

Paul Delahunty is Chief Information Security Officer at Stryve, a leading Irish multi-cloud and cybersecurity company and ICTTF Cyber Security Company of the Year 2022. As CIO and IT Leaders “Security Leader of the Year” 2023 and 2024, and Tech Excellence “CIO of the Year” 2024, Paul has established himself as one of the top Information Security experts in the country. A certified CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and DORA Certified Compliance Specialist (ICTTF) with over thirteen years of experience in information security, Paul started his career as an engineer with Ericsson before venturing into the start-up world as Operations Director with moQom. More recently, he worked as an Information Security and Audit Manager for Hostelworld, before joining the rapidly expanding team at Stryve. As a founding member of the Southeast Cyber Ireland chapter, Paul shares his knowledge helping to build a cybersecurity community across the country which links with Cyber Ireland’s national activities. He is also an active ICTTF (International Cyber Threat Task Force) member and is a regular contributor to the national conversation on cybersecurity in print media, radio and television.

Jason Scanlon – Chief Information Security Officer – CISO Numata Business IT

With over 25 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity, Jason Scanlon serves as a Chief Information Security Officer with a global Managed IT Services Provider called Numata. He has extensive experience across multiple sectors including MedTech, life sciences, and manufacturing. Having designed and delivered IT and Security solutions for clients in these highly regulated industries, Jason brings real world experience in Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) and secure adoption of technology. As Lead in the CISO Ireland Forum and member of the ITAG Cybersecurity forum (Cyber Ireland’s west chapter), Jason is a frequent speaker at industry events. He holds an Honours Degree in Business Computing from TUS Midlands/Midwest, an EC-Council CISO certification, and a professional diploma in cybersecurity from UCD.

Stephen Parsons – CEO – VISO

Stephen Parsons boasts over two decades of leadership experience in IT and Cybersecurity, having held pivotal senior management roles across diverse sectors, including financial services, construction, healthcare, and distribution. As CEO of VISO, he leads a team of cybersecurity experts who provide virtual CISO services to organisations in Ireland and the UK, including those in the manufacturing.

Dr. Patrick Cronin – Senior Programme Manager for Digitalisation – Irish Manufacturing Research

Patrick has over 17 years experience delivering research and development projects for novel digital technologies in manufacturing processes. With a focus on process engineering, he has worked in industry and on large research programs across food, pharma, med device and semiconductor.

Brian Andrews – Fractional vCIO – Andrews Duffy

Brian Andrews works with regulated financial organisations on IT governance, risk, and operational resilience. He helps boards and executives meet regulatory expectations across DORA, NIS2, IT risk, outsourcing, and security through clear governance-led outcomes. His role sits deliberately between management, IT providers, and assurance—providing independent challenge, structure, and oversight where accountability often breaks down. Acting as a fractional vCIO in a governance capacity, he supports strategy, outsourcing decisions, systems and security oversight, and resilience planning without assuming operational control. His work focuses on converting complex technical and regulatory requirements into board-ready evidence, decisions, and defensible assurance. Through Andrews Duffy, he provides independent governance, oversight, and assurance services on behalf of boards and senior management.

Jan Carroll – Founder / Managing Director – Fortify Institute

Jan Carroll is a cybersecurity and AI strategist and educator dedicated to bridging the gap between policy and real-world practice. As founder of Fortify Institute, she develops and delivers CPD-accredited training aligned with EU regulations including NIS2, AI Act, the Cyber Resilience Act, and ISO standards, empowering both small businesses and executive leaders to build operational resilience. A certified trainer with EC-Council, PECB, CompTIA, and the Cloud Security Alliance, Jan also lectures on cybersecurity, ethical hacking and AI Governance at UCD Professional Academy and delivers postgraduate programmes. Her training and consulting work supports a wide range of sectors, from micro-enterprises to boardrooms. Recognised as Most Inspiring Woman in Cyber 2024, Jan regularly speaks at national and international conferences and is an active mentor and advocate for Ireland’s growing cybersecurity ecosystem.

Jacqueline Kehoe – Programme Manager – Munster Technological University

Jacqueline Kehoe is programme manager of Cyber Skills Ireland’s leading experts in cybersecurity education. Building on her extensive career in software development Jacqueline is committed to expanding the cyber resilience of Ireland through the provision of micro-credentials and job role specific programmes. upskilling. Jackie worked as a senior researcher in the Nimbus Centre leading national and European projects in the areas of upskilling workers in digital transformation skills for Industry 4.0. Prior to joining the university Jackie had a long career in software development holding senior positions at all levels both technical and management. These positions provided her with experience in broad range diverse sectors including transportation, the national lottery, telecommunications and financial systems. Jackie has a BSc (Hons) in Applied Mathematics and a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Engineering from the University of Limerick. She is currently working towards her Professional Doctorate in the area of the co-design of cybersecurity Micro-credentials with industry.

Dwane Shelton – Senior Safety, OT Cybersecurity & Alarm Engineer – exida IRL Ltd

Dwane Shelton, CFSP, CACS, CMSE, ILP, is a Senior Safety, OT Cybersecurity & Alarm Engineer at exida IRL Ltd with over 15 years of operational experience across the medical device, life sciences, power, oil and gas, and automotive industries. He specializes in functional safety, OT cybersecurity, and alarm management, delivering gap assessments, risk assessments, SIL/PL analysis, and compliance with key international standards including IEC 62061, ISO 13849, IEC 61511, IEC 62443, and ISA 18.2/IEC 62682.

David Bermingham – Director of AI – Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre

David Bermingham is Director of AI at the Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre, where he leads the National AI Studio — an initiative dedicated to accelerating AI adoption and innovation across Ireland’s manufacturing sector. With extensive experience in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and industrial automation, David is responsible for spearheading research, industry collaboration, and hands-on AI programmes that help manufacturing SMEs leverage cutting-edge AI solutions for greater productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness.

Kiran Manwar – Siemens Industry Software Consultant – Kaizen PLM

Kiran Manwar is a Siemens Industry Software Consultant at Kaizen PLM, specialising in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Industrial IoT (IIoT). He has led multiple end-to-end PLM implementations, supporting organisations in streamlining their engineering and manufacturing processes through Siemens digital solutions. He has successfully delivered IIoT initiatives that convert operational data into actionable insights, enabling improved efficiency, enhanced visibility, and data-driven decision-making. Combining strong technical expertise with solid business acumen, he collaborates closely with industry leaders to implement digitalisation and AI strategies that address real business challenges and deliver measurable value.

Ramy Ebeid – Digital & AI Engagement Lead – CeDAR

Ramy Ebeid is the Digital & AI Engagement Lead at CeADAR, Ireland’s National Centre for AI. He helps businesses adopt AI technologies to drive innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness, and is a frequent speaker on AI applications and digital transformation strategies.

Leonie Victoria Stieren – Senior Consultant for Secure Societies and Human Factors Applied – Deep Blue

Leonie Victoria Stieren is a Senior Consultant for Secure Societies and Human Factors Applied at Deep Blue, specializing in Disaster Risk Management and Human Factors and Safety Engineering. Since joining Deep Blue in 2024, she has focused on human performance and safety. Notably, she is currently developing specialized training on human factors in cybersecurity as part of the CYRUS project. A native German speaker fluent in English, Leonie combines technical expertise in occupational health and safety with a dedicated focus on building organizational and community resilience.