Darragh O’Brien was appointed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in June 2020. He is an elected TD for the constituency of Dublin-Fingal.

Fidelma is a Commercial Real Estate partner and heads Beauchamps’ specialised Housing Group.

She is the go-to expert expertise in complex conveyancing and is an acknowledged market leader in the acquisition, development and management of social and affordable housing.

Fidelma works with local authorities, state agencies, Approved Housing Bodies, developers, home builders, lending institutions, pension funds, charities, sporting bodies, as well as institutional investors.

As a result of her extensive experience, Fidelma has a unique insight into the key legal, commercial and social issues around social and affordable housing and mixed-tenure housing provision and a deep understanding of the unique and complex challenges which arise in the sector. Fidelma has well-developed client relationship management and project management expertise and experience and regularly collaborates with Beauchamps construction, banking and procurement teams to deliver bespoke advices particular to the housing sector.

She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and recognised as a leading individual by Legal 500.

Fidelma and her housing team have been acknowledged for their contribution to Irish society with the Public Sector Excellence in Business Award for ‘Best Legal Team’ for 6 successive years.

Kate English is a Director, Head of Real Estate Research at Deloitte. With an undergraduate and master’s degree in economics, Kate analyses the real estate market through an economic lens, conducting data driven research across both the residential & commercial property markets in Ireland. Having previously worked as the Chief Economist, Head of Ireland Research & Insights at Cushman & Wakefield and a Senior Economist/Researcher at Sherry FitzGerald, Kate’s experience in real estate spans 8+ years. She is an expert in current and historical market trends and is a frequent commentator on global macro-economic indicators providing domestic market context to such, demographics and supply/demand dynamics.

Declan Dunne has been the Chief Executive Officer of Respond, an Approved Housing Body and service provider with approximately 17,000 tenants across 7,000 homes in Ireland, since August 2016. Respond currently have 2,700 social and cost rental home in construction on large mixed tenure schemes. Declan previously served as non-executive director of the Ballymun Regeneration Board, overseeing a €1 billion masterplan.

Declan has extensive leadership experience, including chairing the Housing Alliance (a collaboration of seven of Ireland’s largest Approved Housing Bodies) and the Homeless Network in the past, and serving as a director for various economic and development organisations. He has contributed to education and child welfare through roles at the National Education Welfare Board and the National Childcare Coordinating Committee. In January 2024, Declan received the Distinguished Leader Award from the Ireland United States Alumni Association, presented by U.S. Ambassador Claire D. Cronin.

Angela Ryan is a Senior Manager in the Asset Management and Sustainability Directorate of Uisce Éireann, Irelands national utility for water services. Angela currently manages the Asset Strategy team which includes Forward Planning, Environmental Strategy, Water and Wastewater Asset Strategy. She has a strong strategic, regulatory and environmental background, and has recently delivered the 25-year strategic plan for all public water supplies in Ireland, the National Water Resources Plan.

Angela’s team works closely with external bodies such as the Office of the Planning Regulator, the Land Development Agency, the Regional Assemblies and Local Authorities to ensure that growth and housing targets are built into our plans and are facilitated through infrastructure delivery.

Angela is a nominated member of EurEau, the European Federation of National Associations of Water Services, and has also served on Governmental working groups for the development of legislation on water abstraction, and steering groups for the development and promotion of nature based solutions. She has also represented Uisce Eireann during drought periods on the National Emergency Coordination Group.

Angela has a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, an MSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering and is a chartered engineer with Engineers Ireland. She has 25-years’ experience in engineering services, private consultancy, public sector and utilities, including 10 years in Asset Management.

Paul Sheridan is the Director of Main Contracting Services in the CIF. As part of his brief Paul represents the Civil Engineering, Master Builders and General Contracting sector all of whom are
essential to building the infrastructure that supports FDI, housing for all and Ireland’s economic growth. Paul is also responsible for Procurement, Tendering and Contractual Policy in the CIF, in
particular, Public Procurement of Infrastructure under the NDP.
Paul is a Chartered Chemical Engineer and holds a Master’s in Business Practice from the IMI alongside a postgraduate diploma in Construction Law and Contract Administration.

Paul began his career as a Contracts Manager in the Water and Waste-Water Industry with Earth Tech and Veoila. He previously worked in the Tendering and Contracting Department in the CIF
where he represented Mechanical and Electrical Contractors before working as a Senior Development Executive with Rohan Holdings in the Industrial Property Development sector. Before re-joining the CIF, Paul worked with Engineers Ireland and the Royals College of Surgeons in areas of policy development, advocacy, strategy, business excellence and third level professional education
and accreditation.

Tom is a Senior Investment Manager at Octopus Energy Generation – one of Europe’s leading renewable energy and energy transition infrastructure investors. OEGen has over €7.5bn of assets under management and is an active energy infrastructure investor in Ireland.

Tom works on the Energy Transition investment strategy and leads the electricity network investment activity for OEGen – most notably the investment in the UK Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), Eclipse Power Networks. The Energy Transition investment strategy is focused on accelerating investment in the infrastructure beyond renewable energy generation that will accelerate net zero. This includes a key focus on the intersection of electricity networks, low carbon heat for buildings and industry, and data centres.

Dara Deering is CEO of Home Building Finance Ireland an organisation set up by the State to lend directly to housebuilders for all types of commercially viable schemes. Dara has extensive experience in Financial Services having previously served as Executive Director and Head of Retail Banking at KBC Bank Ireland plc.

During that time Dara led the launch and implementation of a new Retail Bank, broadening the range of products and services available, and offering a new banking alternative for Irish consumers. Prior to her time in KBC Dara held a number of leadership positions in the retail financial services industry. She holds an MBA from Smurfit Business School and a Bachelor of Science Management from Trinity College Dublin.

Pat Farrell is CEO of Irish Institutional Property (IIP), the voice of internationally backed institutional property investors in Ireland. The mission of IIP is to promote the development of a sustainable world class real estate sector in Ireland which benefits members, the economy, communities, and wider society. IIP members manage c.€20bn of Irish property, directly employ almost 6,000 people, indirectly employ a further 23,000 people and IIP tenant companies employ more than 36,000 people. Through these investments IIP members are facilitating the funding of the majority of private market new residential supply and are critical enablers of Irish economic development and growth. IIP’s membership include four of the largest 20 stocks on Euronext Dublin (formerly known as Irish Stock Exchange).

John is a Managing Director at Kennedy Wilson, joining the European business at inception in June 2011 when Kennedy Wilson acquired the Bank of Ireland Real Estate Investment Management platform.

John is responsible for debt origination, capital raising and business development across the European business with a focus on the UK and Ireland. He has experience across the investment, debt and asset management teams in both London and Dublin at Kennedy Wilson and brings 20 years of experience in Real estate.

Previously, John worked at Bank of Ireland within the Real Estate Investment Management team. He holds a Post Graduate Degree in Entrepreneurial Business and a BA in Economics from University College Dublin.

Chief Executive of Pearl Property Managers since 2019. Pearl provides equity investment for residential developments throughout Ireland. Through their initial fund (Pearl Residential Equity Fund), Pearl provided equity that willdeliver over 2,000 new houses with a GDV of c.€1bn.

Pearl’s launched its second fund, the Irish Homebuilding Equity Fund, in partnership with Bank of Ireland and ISIF, in June 2024.

Previously CEO of LNC Property Group from 2000 – 2019 with responsibility for all assets acquisitions and disposals. Built up £500m+ commercial real estate portfolio.

Retired in 2023 as Non-Exec Chairman of UK Commercial Property REIT, an authorised closed ended Guernsey registered investment trust listed on the LSE.

Member of Chartered Accountants Ireland.