Linda Biesty

Lead, University of Galway

Declan Devane

Lead, University of Galway

Manon Hubert

Project Manager, University of Galway

Carol Burke

Awards Ceremony Logistics Guru, University of Galway

Xuenan Pang

Award Ceremony Workshop Lead, University of Galway

Thomas Conway

Training and Events Support Officer, University of Galway & Steering Group Member

Alanna McLoughlin

Finance Support Manager, University of Galway

Dara Glynn

Principal, CBS Primary, Ennis & Steering Group Member

Ray Mclnerney

Principal of Ennis National School & Steering Group Member

Iseult Mangan

Primary School teacher, Cloghans Hill, NS, Co. Mayo & Steering Group Member

Fiona Wall

Primary School Teacher, Scoil Mobhi, Dublin & Steering Group Member

Catherine Doolan

Director, Laois Education Support Centre & Steering Group Member

James Griffin

James is a scientist who uses maths to help doctors find better treatments. He is an Assistant Professor and Medical Statistician at Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, designing fair tests (trials) to improve medicine, especially in surgery, pain relief, and rehabilitation – including an experiment to see if robots can perform operations better than humans!

He also helps medical students and works to support staff at Warwick Medical School. 

Away from the office he can usually be found wrestling his three small children at home. 

Iseult Mangan

Iseult Mangan is the Regional Projects Coordinator for Teen Turn, an organisation dedicated to providing hands-on STEM experiences for girls.

She is a former principal of Cloghans Hill National School, where she led her students to victory in the 2017 START Competition.

With extensive experience in education and a passion for fostering curiosity and innovation in young learners, Iseult continues to support initiatives that empower children through science and research.

Aisling Murray

Aisling is an experienced teacher at every class level, including SET. She has obtained a Master’s degree in Digital Media Development for Education.

Aisling enjoys keeping up with current trends and watching out for innovative ideas and strategies that have a positive impact on the world of education.

She is the ICT Co-ordinator for her school and has organised many initiatives, such as Girls in Stem, Road to Code, and Tech Week and is currently participating in the pilot edition of the Microsoft Dreamspace Ambassador Programme.

Her class won the START competition in 2018.

Mohamad Saab

Mohamad is a professor who helps train nurses at University College Cork.

He loves science, technology, and helping people. He uses cool tech like virtual reality and AI to make healthcare better, especially for young cancer survivors.

He’s done lots of research and loves supporting new ideas.

Derek Stewart

Born too many years ago in Ayr, Scotland, Derek C Stewart, OBE, now lives in Nottinghamshire. After being successfully treated for throat cancer in 1995, he began working to make sure patients’ voices are heard in research. 

Derek was once a teacher working with young people who needed extra support. He later helped set up the first national group in the UK to make sure patients’ voices were heard in cancer research. 

He is an Honorary Professor at the University of Galway and works with the HRB-TMRN to help make health studies better. Derek also leads work on research transparency in the UK and supports organisations that make research open, fair and useful for everyone. 

Shaun Treweek

Shaun is a researcher who is really interested in how to design clinical trials.

He wants to make sure researchers don’t waste time doing things they don’t need to.

He also wants to make sure the results help people make better decisions about their health.

He’s been doing this for over 25 years, which is longer than almost everyone in the room has been alive. That means he’s really old!

Siobhan Creanor

Siobhan is a researcher who loves finding answers to important questions that help people stay healthy and well. She believes great research starts with a great question and a great plan, and she works with patients, the public and other researchers – real “team science.”  

She began her career over 25 years ago helping in dentistry research. One of her first studies was about ways to that support children who felt worried about having a tooth taken out – something lots of us can relate to! 

Frances Shiely

Frances is a researcher who likes helping people ask good questions and test them fairly. She helps plan trials by thinking about who takes part and whether the results will help the right people.

She grew up on a farm, played basketball, became a science teacher, and later learned about clinical trials at university.

She believes learning never really stops and enjoys playing traditional Irish music on the piano accordion.