From Strategy to Implementation: What Boards Need to Enable, Challenge and Govern

Orlaith Blaney is Executive Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at state water utility, Uisce Eireann. Her Executive leadership role is to inspire trust and confidence in the brand, formerly known as Irish Water. She leads an integrated team of strategic communications professionals across Corporate Affairs, Stakeholder Engagement, Internal Communications, Project Communications, Brand, Marketing, Digital which is fully aligned to the Uisce Éireann Corporate Strategy and to the Water Services Strategic Plan and Water Services Policy Statements. Uisce Éireann reports to its principal shareholder; the Department Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and is responsible for a capital investment plan of €12.3 billion over the next 5 years. It has significant statutory regulation responsibilities which includes its oversight by the economic regulator; The Commission for the Regulations of Utiltiies (CRU) and its Environmental Regulator, (EPA). In 2025, Orlaith led the Corporate Affairs strategy to secure essential funding and make the business case for the Water Supply Project and Greater Dublin Drainage both urgently needed to support housing and economic growth. Orlaith was formerly CEO of McCann Dublin, an integrated communications agency. She was formerly President of the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI) and is a fellow of IAPI and a fellow of the Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII). She is a Non Executive Director on the Board of St Vincents Healthcare Group (SVHG) and she previously held Non Executive Board positions at both Guaranteed Irish and Unicef. An advocate for female leadership, she is a member of the prestigious International Womens Forum (IWF).

David is President of IADT, Ireland’s only institute of art, design and technology, with a specific focus on the creative, cultural and technological sectors. As the home of the National Film School, the Institute is a lead partner in establishing a European University for Screen Arts and Media. Widely recognised as Ireland's campus for the creative industries, David is currently advancing the Institute’s strategic vision to become a specialised University for the Creative and Cultural Industries. Previously, he was Head of the Faculty of Film, Art & Creative Technologies at IADT and Senior Lecturer and Programme Chair of the BA (Hons) Visual Communications at IADT. Under his stewardship, the programme was recognised as being amongst the top 100 Design Schools in Europe by DOMUS Magazine. David is the principal and creative director of Atelier Projects, an independent design practice in Dublin, Ireland. The studio is among the most decorated and awarded Irish design studios, with numerous national awards and international recognition for the quality of its work. Through education, advocacy and the output of his studio practice, David has significantly influenced and contributed to the reputation of Irish graphic design over the last two decades. In 2007, he initiated the three x 3 internship programme for graduates of Irish design schools (www.threex3.com) and in 2012 co-founded the 100Archive (www.100archive.com) to record and capture the history and practices of Irish Graphic Design. In 2010, he was the first Irish designer to be inducted into the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI – www.a-g-i.org) – a community of the “world’s best designers”. He was a member of the AGI Executive with responsibility for Education (2012–2016), and was Vice-President and International Secretary (2016-2019). In 2024, David was honoured with the prestigious Catherine Donnelly President's and Lifetime Award for his contribution to Irish Design and Creativity from the Institute of Creative Advertising and Design (ICAD). He was a professional advisor and member of the Steering Group for the year of Irish Design 2015 (ID2015); a member of the National Design Forum (convened by the Minister of Business, Enterprise & Innovation); a founding member of Design Educators Ireland (2018) the representative body of third level design education institutions in Ireland; and he is currently a director of the Technological Universities Association (TUA). He recently concluded his term as Director and Chair of the Board of EduCampus Services DAC, having successfully overseen the merger of the company with its parent, HEAnet, in January 2026.

John O’Connor is a Board member of the Land Development Agency (LDA), the State’s affordable housing delivery body and chairs the Investment Committee of the LDA. He has extensive knowledge of and experience in the Irish housing and construction sectors. He has significant experience in policy development and implementation in relation to social, cost rental and affordable housing. He was the CEO of the Housing Agency and prior to that CEO of the Affordable Homes Partnership; and Executive Manager of the Housing & Communities Department in Dublin City Council. He worked in the construction and manufacturing sectors before moving to the public sector. He holds degrees in both civil and structural engineering along with qualifications in project management and organisational governance. He Chaired the Housing Commission and is a board member of the Pyrite Resolution Board and a member of the Programme Board for International Protection.

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.