Chartered Director Programme Faculty

Eileen Gleeson is a Chartered Director (CDir), the Programme Director for the Chartered Director Programme in Ireland and a member of the Professional Development Advisory Committee (PDAC). Eileen has been a director of 16 companies over the past thirty years in business, at chair, non-executive and executive levels. She has advised some of Ireland's leading business and political leaders on communications and public affairs, including a seven-year period as Adviser to President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. Eileen has served as a non-executive director on State boards, plcs, financial services organisations and family businesses.

Jim Breslin advises leaders, boards and governments on strategic decision-making, innovation and governance to accelerate their business transitions. He holds a range of directorships and advisory roles across the private, not for profit and public sectors including as Chair of Renewable Energy Ireland (a partnership between Ireland’s leading sustainable energy associations) and as a Board member of the Expert Oversight Body of the Defence Forces, St.Vincent’s Healthcare Group, Ashdale Care and others. He was recently appointed by Government to Chair the Local Democracy Task Force. He enjoyed a 30-year career in the Irish senior public service including as Secretary General of three different Government Departments. His qualifications include a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, an MSc (Econ) from Trinity College, a Certificate in Business and Climate Change from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge and a Diploma and Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors. He held a Policy Leader Fellowship at the Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge.

Carol Bolger is a Chartered Director (CDir) and course leader on the Governance and Diploma modules of the IoD Chartered Director Programme. Carol is also an IoD Ireland Board Assessor and is the presenter on the IoD Workshop, 'Getting Board Ready'. A Certified Bank Director, Carol has extensive experience from senior roles in Business & Corporate Banking at Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. She now serves as a non-Executive Director at BCM Global ASI Ltd and is Chair of the Audit Committee of the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine. She is a Patron of Chapter Zero Ireland and a member of the Balance for Better Business Review Group. Previously, she was Chair of An Post, Chair of Utexam Solutions Ltd and served on the boards of The Coombe Women & Infants Hospital, the Health & Safety Authority, and the Institute of Banking. She holds qualifications in Finance, Strategy, and Innovation from UCC and an Advanced Diploma in Executive Coaching. Carol is a Fellow of the Institute of Banking and previously held the position of Vice President.

Imelda Reynolds is a Chartered Director and a practising solicitor with over thirty-five years’ experience. She is a course leader on the Governance module of the Chartered Director Programme. Imelda is Chairperson of Beauchamps, a top Irish commercial law firm where she previously served as Managing Partner. Imelda is a Council member of the Institute of Directors Ireland and a former President of the Institute. Imelda chairs the Professional Standards Board of Chartered Accountants Ireland. She is a Trustee of The Iveagh Trust, a Board member of St Vincent's Hospital Group and a member of the Audit & Risk Committee of the Garda Board.

Simon Haslam CDir drives IoD Ireland’s Chartered Director Programme on strategy and is the Programme Lead for Strategy at the Institute of Directors UK. Armed with an MBA from Durham University Business School, a PhD from Strathclyde Business School, and two decades of consulting experience in Ireland, Simon brings a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to our workshops. This, alongside his role as a non-executive chairman in the transport industry, adds real-world insight, enriching his ability to share practical learnings with workshop attendees. Simon is also co-author of the book ‘Strategic Decision Making: A Discovery-Led Approach to Critical Choices in Turbulent Times’ and is a visiting professor at Durham where he leads the Strategic Management module of its Global MBA programme.

Davina Saint is a Chartered Director and a course leader on the Diploma module of the Chartered Director Programme. Davina Chairs the board of Nearwater Capital Markets and is on the board of three BlackRock's fund ranges in Luxembourg and on the board of BlackRock's Irish Fund rand. She is on the board of Stripe Technology Europe Limited and chairs its Audit Committee. She also chairs the Risk Committee for Northern Trust's Fiduciary company in Ireland. She is a Director of the Dublin IFSC Inner City Trust and a director of Irish National Opera. Davina is a graduate of the London School of Economics, a qualified Solicitor and a Certified Bank Director. She was a senior executive with the BNP Paribas group for 20 years.

Caroline Kirrane has over a decade of experience working in financial markets. After completing her undergraduate degree in France, Caroline began her career working in a hedge fund in Paris. She then returned to Dublin, working in US-based proprietary trading firm Susquehanna. She has held positions in Dexia and FinTech start-up Eagle Alpha and has also worked as an economist with the Central Bank of Ireland, advising senior policymakers on financial market developments. Caroline has an undergraduate degree in European Business and French from Dublin City University. She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Trinity College Dublin and is a CFA Charterholder.

Karen Morton is a Chartered Director and Marketeer with 25+ years of executive and non-executive director (NED) experience and is a course leader on the Governance and Diploma modules of the Chartered Director Programme. Karen is currently a Non-Executive Director at Golf Ireland, Shaws Department Stores and Fanagan’s Funeral Directors. Karen’s previous board experience includes Non-Executive Director on the board of daa plc, Irish Chamber Orchestra and Water Safety Ireland. Karen has Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee experience and chairs several committees. Karen spent 10 years in Leadership roles at Dell including CMO of Dell Financial Services. Karen previously worked in British Airways, eir and Monster.com.

Talita Ferreira is a Chartered Director and is a course leader on the leadership aspect of the Chartered Director Programme. Talita is also a non-executive director and Chair of Audit on multiple UK-regulated bank boards. She is the former CFO and CHRO of BMW UK Ltd. and BMW Financial Services Ltd. and has led and implemented award-winning cultural transformation programmes in multiple industries. Talita published her first book, “The Authenticity Dilemma Resolved®”, in 2016. She is currently writing her second book, “Seven shifts to the transformation of Great Leadership”, based on the research from the interview series Global leadership Hypothesis – what makes a great leader. Talita is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a fellow of the Institute of Directors (“IOD”). She delivers Finance, Strategy and Leadership training for directors at the IoD and has created “Finance Inspired 4 Success”, a training platform for finance professionals to improve leadership and team dynamics.

Joan supports delegates throughout the programme, ensuring a smooth and successful journey for them from modules through to exams. Joan is involved in all programme communication and administration. Her background is in Marketing and Communications, with over 20 years’ experience at a senior level in financial services. She Holds a B.Sc. (Mgmt.) and M.A. from Trinity College Dublin and a Diploma in Advanced Marketing Techniques awarded by the Dublin Institute of Technology.