Permission to Proceed: The Board’s Role in Earning Public Trust

Fiona Ross is an exceptionally experienced public and private sector Chair and Non-Executive Director. In 2023, Fiona was appointed by the Irish Minister of Finance to serve on the National Treasury Management Agency. At the NTMA Fiona Chairs the NTMA Investment Committee which has responsibility for almost ten billion euro invested through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. She has Central Bank of Ireland authorisation (UCIT and MIFID) and serves as Chair of wealth manager Evelyn Partners Europe, and is a non-executive director at JK Funds and SphereInvest. Fiona also holds a number of Irish Government and UK Government board appointments including Chair of the National Pediatric Hospital Development Board and Chair of the Metrolink Programme Steering Committee. In the UK Fiona was appointed to Non-Executive Director roles at The Scottish Government, Network Rail and the Northern Ireland Office. Fiona began her career as a stockbroker in the City of London and spent 25 years working in all areas within Capital Markets in Dublin, London, Eastern Europe, and the United States.

Padraic Kissane is a Financial Advisor and Principal of Padraic Kissane Financial Services, with nearly four decades of experience in the Irish financial services industry. He is also a founding member and current director with the Irish Banking Culture Board. Widely recognised for his work on tracker mortgage issues, Padraic has been a prominent advocate for consumers affected by banking failures. His work has included representing consumer interests through media engagement and appearances before the Oireachtas Finance Committee. Drawing on his experience of both financial services and consumer advocacy, Padraic brings a distinctive perspective to corporate governance, accountability and public trust. He believes that boards must understand the consequences of their decisions for the people ultimately affected by them, and that the true strength of an organisation's trustworthiness is revealed when its actions are challenged. How organisations respond in those moments can strengthen public confidence or undermine trust that may take years to rebuild.

Laura Magahy is Head of Public Sector Consulting at Forvis Mazars in Ireland, where she leads programmes that help public and not‑for‑profit organisations deliver transformative change. With over two decades at CEO and board level, she specialises in organisational culture audits, governance reviews, and strategic change initiatives - from client representative roles to large‑scale stakeholder engagement - across health and wellbeing, the circular economy, urban renewal, and the creative industries. She is also Executive Chair of CreativeBoardroom: Collaborate4Climate. Previously, Laura served as Executive Director of Sláintecare at Ireland’s Department of Health, guiding cross‑government health reform; founded and managed M‑CO, a multidisciplinary strategic design and project delivery consultancy; and was Managing Director of Temple Bar Properties Ltd, overseeing Dublin’s flagship urban regeneration. She also founded and directed Arran Street East, a craft and design studio. Laura is a Fellow and Past President of the Institute of Directors in Ireland, a Past President of the International Women’s Forum, an Honorary Architect of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, and a Chartered Director and IPMA Level A Certified Projects Director.

Frank Curran is Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, a position he has held since 2022. He previously served as Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council and Leitrim County Council. In his role, Frank is responsible for the strategic and operational management of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. He works with elected members, staff and other stakeholders to promote the sustainable development of the county, with a particular focus on housing, community development, climate action, infrastructure and economic development. His approach emphasises partnership and long-term planning to create liveable places and respond to the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. A civil engineering graduate of University College Dublin, Frank holds an MSc in Environmental Protection, an MA in Local Government Management and a Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction from IoD Ireland.

At IoD Ireland Dr Caroline Spillane CDir leads the strategic direction of a 3,600-membership body dedicated to supporting directors while advancing high standards of governance nationally. Caroline has held several senior leadership roles including as Director General of Engineers Ireland, the all-Ireland professional body for engineers, CEO of the Medical Council of Ireland, the independent statutory regulator of over 25,000 medical practitioners and Assistant National Director of the Health Services Executive. Caroline is also an experienced Non-Executive Director and Committee Chair serving as a board member of ESB Networks and Irish Manufacturing Research. She is also a member of the Advisory Group to Balance for Better Business, an independent business-led Review Group established by the government to improve gender balance in senior leadership in Ireland.