With more than 33 years of experience in health services, non-profit organisations, and the private sector, Aislinn Gannon is a respected leader in public sector digital transformation in the UK and Ireland. As Client Director at 4OC, she empowers clients through people-centric service designs and ensures digital solutions have a positive impact on staff and end users.

Previously, AislAislinn Gannon, Client Director, 4OC

inn held senior leadership roles, including Digital Health General Manager at the HSE, Health Informatics Director at Health Bridge Technology, and UK Director for SilverCloud Health, where she specialised in digital behavioural systems, large-scale transformation, and national digital health strategies. She has also held key positions within the NHS, shaping digital change at scale.

Aislinn is a thought leader in digital transformation and holds two MSc degrees in Digital Transformation and Health Informatics. Along with this, she has more than 20 publications on digital innovations. She is a 2024 Women in STEM Health Technology Award Winner and specialises in human-centered, outcome-driven transformation  

As a judge for the Public Service Digital Transformation Awards, Aislinn ensures that innovation is valued not just for its technical feasibility but for its real-world impact on public services.

Allan Chapman is a leading figure in the technology communications sector, having established Comit Communications in 1997. Comit is Ireland’s specialist technology focused PR and digital communications agency.

Allan’s strategic insights and innovative approaches have propelled more than 150 technology companies, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to high-potential startups, towards significant growth.

Allan’s passion lies in crafting unique and authentic brand identities for tech businesses, through clear, impactful communications that resonate with audiences. 

His tenure as EMEA campaign manager for Oracle saw him managing substantial direct marketing campaigns across over thirty countries, where he pioneered some of the industry’s most cutting-edge digital campaigns.

Allan also led marketing for Cornel and Software Dimensions, where he honed his skills in the communications and software export markets. His international experience includes positions in the UK and US, further broadening his global perspective.

Allan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Limerick and has furthered his education with Postgraduate Diplomas in Marketing Strategy from the IMI and in Enterprise Development from the Dublin Institute of Technology. 

Brendan Ring is a member of the National Cyber Security Centre where he has led on external relations with Government, critical infrastructure providers, business, and the public. He is currently working in the Department of  the Environment, Climate and Communications on the development of cyber security policy and legislation.

He previously worked in the Department of Transport where he led the Aviation Security Unit for a number of years, introducing a number of initiatives to increase security nationally and internationally. He also served in the Department of Health during the Covid 19 pandemic working on health protection, enabling the safe relaxation of restrictions on our economy and society. Within the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, he played a leading role on a number of public service reform projects in Shared Services, Public Procurement and Capability Reviews of Government Departments.

He is a Barrister-at-Law and holds a Masters in Public Management, and also holds relevant postgraduate qualifications in the areas of innovation, leadership and digital policy.

Cathal Lee is a Senior Advisor in Government Affairs, Strategy and Corporate Affairs.

An experienced Board Member and Non Executive Director (INED), Cathal is an advisory council member of the Global Economic Summit, an advisory board member of Asia Matters and is a graduate of University College Dublin with an MA in History of International Relations and a BA in History and Politics. He is a graduate of the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) University and represented Ireland at the 9th Asia-Europe Young Leaders Symposium held in Beijing, China.

Cathal has over 20 years’ industry experience in public affairs and corporate communications, having previously served as a political adviser in the Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) and then managing public affairs for the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). Until 2019, he was Chief Executive Officer of LeeCommunications, a company he established to provide public affairs and corporate communications support to a large number of organisations and businesses. Most recently Cathal was Managing Partner with Instinctif Partners, the international business communications consultancy.

Over the course of his career Cathal has advised businesses of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to high growth technology start-ups, as well as business associations, member organisations, non-governmental organisations and political leaders on public affairs strategies and corporate communications.

Cathal co-founded EnergyCloud, a social enterprise founded to help divert surplus renewable energy to those in fuel poverty or at risk of fuel poverty.

Cathal is a former Board Member of the National Youth Council of Ireland and previously represented Ireland as a member of the European Youth Parliament.

Jakub Christoph is the CEPIS and ITPE Secretary General since September 2021. He coordinates the work of both organisations to promote IT professionalism by fostering professional standards and experience sharing among IT professionals; community.

He previously held the position of Regional Development Manager for Europe and MENA in ICDL Foundation. His role involved coordinating activities of ECDL/ ICDL Operators, advocacy for digital literacy and its certification in Europe and MENA region.

He is a passionate advocate of user digital skills and professional competence development. He was a member of ET2020 Working Group DELTA, which is European Commission platform to discuss digital competence in education.

Jakub also participates in works of EURid Strategic Committee. His professional interests include tackling digital social and gender gap as well as modern means of communication.

Lorraine Smyth is a distinguished leader in health technology and digital transformation, with over 23 years of experience in the Health Service Executive (HSE). Her career spans key roles across Digital Transformation, Procurement, and National HR, with a consistent focus on delivering impactful change in the healthcare sector.

As a co-founder of the HSE Digital Academy and the HSE Digital Transformation Team, Lorraine has been instrumental in shaping national digital health strategy. She currently collaborates with multiple National Clinical Programmes, leading the redesign of care pathways to integrate digital technologies and e-enablers that place patient care at the centre of service delivery.

Lorraine has led numerous high-impact national digital initiatives, including the award-winning COVID Patient Monitoring App, which also formed the basis of her MSc in Digital Transformation in Healthcare (University of Limerick). This project earned her the Best Student Project at the Irish Healthcare Awards in 2021.

Her leadership and innovation have been widely recognised, receiving accolades such as:

• Digital Transformation Leader of the Year and Innovator of the Year at the Women in IT Awards (2021)
• Women in STEM Award for Health Technology (2023)
• Businesswoman of the Year – STEM, Network Ireland Wexford (2023)
  She has also been nominated for the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year – STEM Professional (2025).

In addition to her MSc, Lorraine holds a Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality. She is a board member of Amnesty International Ireland. Passionate about innovation with purpose, Lorraine champions a patient-centred approach to digital transformation—ensuring that every advancement serves to enhance the quality and equity of healthcare delivery.

Mary is an experienced ICT and business leader with a track record in education, certification, professional development and standards. She is the current Chair of CEN/TC 428 (ICT Professionalism and Digital Competences), and the former Secretary General of the Irish Computer Society (ICS), where she oversaw the ICT professionalism and digital inclusion policy and initiatives, running 8 national conferences annually. She initiated the Irish Digital Jobs and Skills Coalition, and managed the professional and advocacy activities of HISI (Healthcare Informatics Society of Ireland). She has extensive experience representing the IT profession in Ireland, Europe and globally, advising on European and national skills policy, standards, and professionalism with particular interest in eHealth. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, and is an accredited company director (Institute of Directors (Ireland). She has worked on several national education initiatives, promoting ICT as a teaching and learning tool, as well as being a partner in numerous EU funded projects. She is a delegate to the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) ICT SCC, and a director of the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS).

Maxine Radcliffe RN NP DTN MPH FRSPH is an experienced Nurse Practitioner and leader with over twenty years of experience of working with marginalised and excluded groups in diverse settings and teaching on crisis management in healthcare. She has extensive experience of clinical systems and workflow design for managing complexity at scale.  She has spent the last 5 years in designing and operationalising clinical workflows using digital tools under crisis conditions for the Irish Health system. Notably Covid care for Roma and Travellers and the Irish National Transit Centre Health response for Ukraine War and subsequently Inclusion Health Primary and Urgent care responses.

Maxine is currently a second stage PhD scholar at UCD (Nursing Midwifery and Health Systems: Understanding women’s experiences of homelessness) supervised by Assoc Prof Kate Frazer and Prof Thilo Kroll. Maxine is also a Research Associate at the IVI Maynooth University with Prof Martin Curley and where she is working on the application of digital health infrastructure as a clinical force multiplier.

Sabahat “Saab” Khan is a globally astute, goals-driven senior executive with extensive expertise in strategic planning, technology management, product management, financial management, and organizational development. As the Assistant Chief Executive Officer and Chief Information Officer at the Local Government Management Agency, Saab is responsible for overseeing Information Technology and Cybersecurity services, and implementing the Local Government Digital & ICT Strategy 2030, focused on driving the digital transformation of the 31 local councils in the Republic of Ireland, ensuring the implementation of best-in-class cybersecurity frameworks and incorporating emerging technologies to enhance government services. With a proven track record of leading large-scale business and technology transformation initiatives, Saab collaborates with all levels of the enterprise, including the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, to drive operational efficiency, risk management and cost containment.