Policy Advisory Council

Mairead Hennessey

Mairéad Hennessy is the owner of Taxkey, a specialist tax practice founded by Mairéad in 2016. Taxkey provides strategic and proactive tax advice to SMEs and their owners. Mairéad is a Chartered Tax Consultant (CTA AITI) and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland (FCA). She also holds a Bachelor of Business and Law (BBLS) from UCD a Masters in Accounting (MAcc) from Smurfit Business School. Mairéad is a frequent contributor of tax technical articles and tax webinars for a number of accountancy bodies. Mairéad is a director of TerraNutriTECH, an award winning AgTech company based in Co. Kildare. She acts as Treasurer and is a Board Member of Rare Diseases Ireland. Mairéad has been serving as Vice President of Kildare County Chamber since November 2019, having previously served as the Chamber’s Secretary. Mairéad recently joined the Kildare Local Community and Development Committee (LCDC) as the representative for County Kildare Chamber.

Aaron McAleenan

Aaron McAleenan, Managing Director Elsatrans Transport and Logistics, Naas Enterprise Park. Lives in Kill, Co. Kildare. Married to Sinead and father to two teenage daughters. Aaron enjoys Golf, Walking and Travel when permitted. Educated in Castleknock College Dublin and CBS Naas. Love of the haulage industry from a young age, career started as a HGV driver learning the demands of the industry across Ireland, UK and Europe. The interest then extended to the supply chain and logistics sectors. Various Management roles followed in Transport Operations, Business Development and Logistics Management which gave a solid base and experience from which to start his own company. Aaron founded Elsatrans Transport and Logistics in 2004. Currently employing 65 colleagues operating from 3 Sites in Naas Enterprise Park covering over 80,000sqft. The company has a strong transport fleet and over 10,000 pallet spaces of racked storage providing specialised Logistic, Storage and Transport Services. Providing end to end supply chain solutions to our clients in both the Ambient and Refrigerated sectors. Clients include Retail, FMCG, Manufacturing, Food Processing and Logistics Companies with the majority of Elsatrans clients and Suppliers based in the Kildare area.

Anthony Alexander

Anthony Alexander is the General Manager (site lead) for INIT Innovations in Transportation Ltd (INIT) in Maynooth. Anthony originates from Australia and has 25 years’ experience in the software industry, with the last 13 years here in Ireland. Headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, INIT provides IT solutions for public transport operators and authorities to manage and operate their business end-to-end, including software and hardware solutions for transport planning, automated vehicle location and realtime passenger information (as used by Dublin Bus for the last 11 years), smartcard and contactless ticketing, depot and personnel management, analytics and electromobility, among many other things. Anthony set up the subsidiary 3 years ago, the first outside Germany to employ software developers working on our core products, initially to expand our software development capacity and service our growing markets. This has been hugely successful given the talent pool available in Ireland. Anthony is also responsible for business development and project delivery for Irish customers, including Dublin Bus and National Transport Authority. You’ll find Anthony living up in the Dublin Mountains, enjoying running and cycling, many kids and many more pets.

Brian Purcell

Brian Purcell is the owner/founder of Big Picture Communications and has over 25 years experience working in the public and private sectors as a PR and Media Relations consultant, Public Affairs Specialist, Marketing Director and as a broadcaster as well as podcaster. He has devised communications plans, marketing strategies and B2B connections for global plc's, commercial semi-states, large private companies and SMEs and has media-trained many leading Irish business leaders, broadcasters and politicians. As a media expert he has appeared and acted as spokesperson for many different industries on both national and regional level as well as guesting as an expert commentator on national and regional media. An experienced broadcaster, Brian had a central role as a judge in the Irish version of "The Apprentice" TV programme. The award winning programme became the largest and most successful locally produced programme ever for Virgin Media. He has also co-presented the early morning breakfast show on one of Ireland's most successful radio stations with the second highest share of voice in the country. In the recent past Brian also presented the weekly business podcast for the Irish Independent which reached 140,000 plays and downloads per month. Brian has represented his county, Kerry, in hurling, and Ireland in showjumping at an amateur level.

Ciaran Murray

Ciaran Murray is an Executive Manager in Arrow Group. The Arrow Group is a Queally Family holding company with interests in Ireland, UK and USA operating in the food and beverage industries as well as the Cold Storage and logistics business. He has worked for over 40 years along side Peter and John Queally sharing their wealth of skills and experiences with him in developing businesses within the group which is now the biggest privately owned Agri-Food Business in Ireland. His record shows a particular skill of identifying opportunities and delivering value across the entire organisation. His experience has involved leading teams to many successes in generating value for shareholders across a range of different business throughout the group including cold storage, warehousing, logistics and property development in retail, office and industrial projects. Ciaran is married with 4 children and 1 granddaughter. He has a keen interest in mountaineering, polar trekking, Golf and holds a Helicopter licence.

Conor Brophy

Conor is the managing director of a cluster of companies based out of Naas Industrial Estate, namely Boston Access, Boston Training and Facilit8. Following his completion of his degree in Accountancy and Finance Conor worked for several years in AIB Grafton Street. Conor achieved his MBA in Smurfit Business School and set up Boston Timber in London in 2008. He moved his business back to Naas in 2013 and expanded to hire, sales and erection of scaffolding. Boston Training was born out of recognising the need to provide industry specific training in a cost effective manner. FAcilit8 is a facilities management company which is employed by private and commercial customers for electrical, plumbing and general property maintenance. Conor is incoming Director of Youths Rugby in Naas Rugby Club where he coaches underage teams. Conor has strong roots in the Kildare community and has a vested interest in the progress of the county.

Dave Merriman

Dave Merriman is the co-founder and Manging Director of T&I Fitouts Ltd and a native of Straffan, Co. Kildare. A Bolton Street DIT graduate, Dave setup T&I Fitouts in 2010. Dave has established T&I as an industry leader with a blue-chip client list from a vast array of industries, in both the public and private sectors. The Construction Industry Federation have ranked T&I as one of the top three specialist fitout contractors in the country for the last four years. Dave instils his own principals in T&I and the team - integrity, diligence, hard work and an unwavering attention to detail. This passion for the finished product sets the tone in all Dave’s business dealings and ventures. Combining business and pleasure, Dave is at the forefront of the nett carbon movement and an enthusiastic member of the Irish Green Building Council. Appreciating the natural world through hiking, running and cycling, along with a passion for being part of the solution and not the problem, Dave was driven to establish T&I Carbon Neutral. Dave sees this Carbon Engineering division as the next step in his career as it embodies the culture of corporate social and environmental responsibility which he has fostered in T&I.

Domnick Ward

Domnick is the MD and founding partner of Crystal Air Ltd and is responsible for business development and key client relationships. A graduate of Building services Engineering from Bolton Street and a Diploma in Management from Waterford IT. His hands on approach keeps the team focused on new products and promotes innovation to find better engineered solutions while maintaining a healthy environment. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry Domnick still enjoys the challenges here and abroad with input into our offices in Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Holland and Finland. Over 100 staff are employed directly by Crystal Air. Following the success of developing a new market in sustainable energy, thermal storage for cooling systems, a new lab has been set up at our office in Clane to allow R&D on heating solutions and capturing waste heat using Phase Change Materials (PCM). Crystal Air PCM is part of Crystal Air Renewable Energy (CARE) offering decarbonisation of fossil fuel heating and cooling systems using residential and commercial heat pumps. An active member of IRI and member of ASHRAE and a past chair of F-Gas IRI sub group and founder of FGR in Ireland. He also enjoys travelling and is known to play a round of golf, where he served for three years as the Honorary Secretary at The K Club.

Donnchadh Murphy

Donnchadh is the Site Leader for the Pfizer Newbridge tableting facility. Newbridge manufactures products for patients in the areas of Mental Health, Women’s Health, Anti Coagulation, and Immunosuppressants. Donnchadh is a Kildare local, having started in Newbridge in 2005 as a Mechanical Engineer and since then has worked across multiple roles in Engineering, Operations and Supply Chain. Donnchadh is an alumni of Technological University Dublin (Bolton Street), holds an MBA from DCU and has more than 20 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Evan Arkwright

I have enjoyed a variety of roles working for the Curragh Racecourse since 2002. I am currently employed as Racing and Sponsorship Manager where my role includes managing a large portfolio of national and international sponsors and partners. I am also responsible to deliver, implement and develop the overall horse racing programme. Previously I have worked in management roles in Weatherbys Ireland and the Emirates Racing Association in the UAE. In addition to be my Directorship of County Kildare Chamber, I am an active member of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and Director of Kildare Failte, the tourism authority for County Kildare. I live in County Kildare and married with three children.

Frank Kelly

Frank Kelly is Dealer Principal of Sheehy Motors Naas & Audi Naas part of Sheehy Motor Group. The Naas site employs over eighty people and represent Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, ŠKODA and Audi brands. Mercedes-Benz is also part of the group through its Carlow branch. The Naas site has won national awards including Volkswagen Dealer of the Year, ŠKODA Dealer of the Year and numerous retail awards including the Kildare Chamber Retail Excellence Award. Sheehy Motors are proud to have many connections with local Sporting and Business organisations including Kildare Chamber of Commerce. We are particularly proud of hosting the very successful Kildare Chamber Business Expo over many years and it is the only occasion where the vast site including the three showrooms host a single event. We see the Chamber as a vital resource for Kildare and Sheehy Motors are delighted to have so many members of the Chamber as customers and friends. With a growing demand in the world of electromobility, we have invested heavily in an extensive infrastructure including a substation to provide the necessary platform that will be necessary for the extensive range of electric vehicles we have which we are glad to say will also grow exponentially over the next number of years. As one of the largest motor groups in Leinster, we fully understand the need to strike the balance between the new cleaner combustion engine vehicles, Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and electric vehicles (EV). Cars that are suitable for everyday driving in a new era.

Gerry Prendergast

Gerry has had a wide career in the construction and development industries . He was a senior executive with Ascon for many years leading many high profile projects. He has been at the centre of the development of Millennium Park including the design, development and implementation of the business park’s infrastructure attracting many new clients including the Kerry Group. He has also developed a number of high quality residential schemes in the Naas area. Gerry is always keen to learn and develop and holds an MSc in change management and organisational behaviour, a diploma in corporate governance and a diploma in executive coaching . Gerry has been at the centre of the development of two of Naas’s leading sports clubs . He has helped to bring Naas RFC to senior status and is a former Treasurer of the Club . He has been a leader in the development of youth and team golf in Naas GC as well as the golf course itself and he was also Captain of the Club and manager of All Ireland Final teams. In other community work Gerry was heavily involved in the refurbishment of Caragh Church.

Luke Hanahoe

Luke is the President of County Kildare Chamber and the Managing Partner of Hanahoe & Hanahoe Solicitors. Luke has been a member of County Kildare Chamber for 11 years and was honoured to be elected as President 2019. Luke has also been a solicitor in Hanahoe and Hanahoe for the last 11 years and has been managing partner for the last five. Hanahoe and Hanahoe is a general practice law firm, with a particular emphasis on property law and commercial litigation. Hanahoe & Hanahoe operate offices in Naas & Dublin, with their primary office located at 16 North Main Street, Naas. Luke is always delighted to be involved with any Chamber initiative, but is particularly excited by the Policy Advisory Council and working with some of the most influential business leaders in the county . Luke acts for a number of Developers and Builders and as such he as a keen interest in the Local Area Plan, the County Development Plan and any other policy initiative effecting the county. Luke is married to Kate and has two boys, Charlie and Elliott. He is born and bred in Naas and has finally persuaded his wife after 11 long years to move from Dublin. Luke is also an avid rugby fan, whose happiness can sometimes be irrationally attached to the fortunes of Ireland and Leinster.

Rebecca Doolin

Sasha Kerins

Sasha heads the Grant Thornton Kildare regional office which now consists of 50+ staff members and continues to grow. The office offers a selection of services e.g., tax, audit, financial services, employer solutions and transaction advisory. Sasha has previously worked in both industry and practice and has gained a vast range of experience she can bring to clients. She advises across a variety of sectors but principally food and agriculture, real estate and technology. She has extensive experience advising privately held businesses and multinational businesses on corporation tax and succession planning as well as working with international tax clients on international corporate re-organisations and structuring. Professional qualifications and membership • Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) • Member of the Irish Taxation Institute (ITI) As a member of the Irish Taxation Institute’s branch network, Sasha liaises with the Revenue Commissioners on behalf of practitioners in Kildare. She regularly lectures and presents on topical tax issues to both industry and professional bodies. She currently chairs Horse Racing Ireland’s Audit & Risk committee in a voluntary capacity, sits on the Grant Thornton European Tax Advisory Council and in the past has led Grant Thornton’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) programme “EMBRACE”.

Will Coonan

Member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Will is an experienced property advisor with a wide variety of experience. In 1997 Will joined Coonan Property and worked in second hand residential property sales and lettings for three years. He then moved to the development land department which at the time was just a small division within the company. The department grew to be very a successful sector within the company and now provides a full consultancy service from sales to acquisitions, valuations and development appraisals assisting in bringing the projects from a green field site to the finished development. Will has been heavily involved in the new home sector for the past 15 years and manages a successful team selling new developments throughout Kildare, Meath and the greater Dublin area. As Dublin continues to expand there is still a strong demand for Coonan Property services and the firm has become the leading new home specialists in the greater Dublin area presently marketing over 20 schemes with sales in all ongoing.