Speakers

Kevin has a strong track record of achievement throughout his career in financial services. As CEO of CUDA, Kevin is responsible for overall delivery of the strategic plan, including advocating with Government, Regulators and Oireachtas Committees. Kevin has a successful track record driving change, having implemented The Solution Centre, secured new opportunities for credit unions and participated in multiple policy makers. Prior to CUDA Kevin established and managed a Customer Contact Centre, Business Innovation Centre, Bancassurance Business that included both front and back office operations, as well as successfully leading core business functions, including the Residential Mortgage Business, when at EBS Building Society.

Kevin participated in the Commission on Credit Unions, was a director on ReBo, and represents CUDA at the Credit Union Stakeholder Group and the Financial Industry Forum. He holds the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a fellow of the Institute of Bankers (FIB).

Gerry McConville, CEO, Capital Credit Union and Chair, CUDA Management Committee

Gerry McConville is Chief Executive Officer of Capital Credit Union, one of the largest community credit unions in Ireland, with assets of almost €300 million and over 50,000 members.

He has successfully steered Capital Credit Union through a series of mergers with seven other credit unions over the last decade.

Gerry has over thirty years’ experience in the credit union movement and has been to the forefront of many collaborative developments within the sector, including the formation and development of The Solution Centre. Gerry plays a leadership role in several credit union collaborative projects, including specialist lending, core IT system development, and insurance services. He is a director of two credit union service organisations, Flywheel IT Services and CUIS Marketing Programme CLG.

Gerry is Chair of the CUDA Management Committee. He is Vice President of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Board of Management of Dundrum College of Further Education.

Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, and TD for Dún Laoghaire

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance. She was appointed to this role in December 2022.

She is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Constituency, elected in February 2020. She is Vice Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party and Spokesperson for Equality. She is also Vice Chair of the Justice Committee as well as being a member of the Public Accounts Committee and the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee. She was also a member of the Special Dáil Committee on Covid prior to its disbandment into sectoral Committees.

Previously she was a Councillor for the Killiney-Shankill ward. Since first being elected as a public representative, she has prioritised families experiencing homelessness and domestic abuse awareness. She has supported, and personally assisted a number of homeless women with small children to find appropriate accommodation. She has also worked closely with Coercive Control Ireland to raise awareness of this issue. Coercive Control became a criminal offence in January 2019.

Since being elected as a TD, she has continued to work for her constituents at a national level, drawing on her decade of experience working in Government on policy and legislation. Reducing carbon emissions by protecting and developing public transport facilities and better recycling and waste management are also part of her local agenda.

Cathal heads up The Solution Centre, where he has successfully brought innovative product and technical solutions to market and grown utilisation. In addition, Cathal has authored numerous whitepapers in areas such as FinTech, Revolving Credit and Sustainability. Prior to CUDA, Cathal worked at ReBo, The Credit Union Restructuring Board. Cathal served as chairperson of Tralee Credit Union, giving him a unique insight into the needs of credit unions on an individual, Irish and global basis.

Mark turns big research questions into relevant key findings and big ideas into products for a changing world as one of North America’s top cooperative finance thinkers. His critical thinking shows through in his approaches to innovation and research on consumer behavior.

As CEO of Filene, he leads a team of brilliant thinkers, who deliver research and innovation to inspire people to understand the opportunities for cooperative finance to transform communities and lives.

An internationally recognized consumer finance expert published in dozens of publications, Mark has lectured to audiences up to 4,000 in locations across Asia, Australia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. He has advised the US Department of the Treasury and lectured in a variety of academic settings, including Harvard Business School.

Mark is an attorney licensed to practice law in Colorado and Arizona, formerly of the firm of Montgomery, Little & McGrew. He also held executive posts with Arizona State Credit Union and CUNA Mutual Group. He served on the board of directors for Summit Credit Union, the largest credit union in Wisconsin, for ten years.

An accountant and tax expert by training, Laura pivoted her career to focus on renewable energy and sustainable finance. She has worked with many companies in the sustainable energy sector on international M&A transactions, finance and corporate structures.

A leading expert in her field, she has in-depth knowledge of the global sustainable finance landscape and has used this knowledge to raise awareness and build engagement in Ireland around the jobs and business opportunities linked to this sector.

She speaks, writes and advises on a broad range of sustainable finance topics. Laura previously worked with KPMG, Airtricity, and Sustainable Nation Ireland.

Neil has worked with CUDA since 2017 on a range of technology, representation, and training initiatives. In addition, Neil runs Key Capital (Estonia), an advisory firm providing technology, commercial and regulatory advice to European financial institutions and FinTech companies. Neil began his career with Royal Bank of Scotland and ABN AMRO advising companies on funding, risk, and liquidity management, later serving as Partner at Aalto Capital, arranging equity and debt funding for FinTech companies.

David Kielty is Deputy Registrar within the Registry of Credit Unions responsible for supervision. David has extensive experience within the Central Bank in different roles and also in the private sector.

Stewart Agnew, BSC, QFA, CUA & CUG is CEO of Blanchardstown & District Credit Union. With over two decades of credit union and financial sector knowledge, Stewart is a natural leader who champions positive change and growth for Blanchardstown & District Credit Union and the wider community of Dublin 15. Educated at UCD and University of Ulster, Stewart's focus is firmly on building and sharing his expertise and experiences within the Credit Union sector with his team so that Blanchardstown & District Credit Union will continue to offer relevancy, a life time value and operational excellence to its existing and prospective members into the future.

Previously, Stewart held the role of Lending Operations and Development Manager with Dundalk Credit Union.

Billy Doyle is CEO of Dundalk Credit Union. Billy has over twenty five years experience in the Credit Union sector with previous roles including those of Strategy Co-Ordinator at Dublin City Council Credit Union (Dubco) and CEO of the Credit Union Development Association (CUDA). Billy was appointed by the Minister For Finance as a member of the Commission on Credit Unions established in 2011 by the Government to review the future of the Credit Union sector.

Billy has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Smurfit Business School, University College Dublin (UCD); a Master of Science Degree (MSc) in Investment & Treasury from Dublin City University (DCU) and a Degree in Public Administration from the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) / Trinity College Dublin and also holds the Credit Union Advisor (CUA) designation from the LIA / UCD Business School.

Resides in Mountbellew Co Galway with wife Colette and three adult children Ruairí, Eimear + Conor.

Business owner (supply + installation of pvc windows + doors) since 1995 based in Oranmore.

First involvement with credit union as a director of Moylough Mountbellew Cu 2000-2016. Performed roles as a Sunday teller, treasurer, v chair and chair for two terms.

Following a successful TOE, joined St Jarlath’s CU in 2016 as a director. To date has served as Board secretary, Chair of audit, member of risk committee, remuneration committee, V chair and currently in 2nd year as Chair.

Sheila Hennessy has been a Director of Dubco Ireland Credit Union since 2015 and was elected Vice Chairperson following the AGM in 2020. She is currently chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees and has also served on the Credit Control Committee and Risk/Investment Committee. Sheila has been employed with Dublin City Council since 1986 and was 26 years in the Housing Department. She has now taken up a new post as Senior Executive Officer in the Planning and Property Department. In her own words “ As a member of Dubco Ireland since 1987 and a Director since 2015, I have witnessed many challenges. However, the unprecedented growth and new initiatives across the entire Credit Union Sector has also brought positive challenges, innovative thinking and creativity as to how we provide services. Members and their needs continues to be the focus of our core business and strategic planning”