Ann Doherty 

Ann is Chief Executive Officer at the Port of Cork Company and has over 30 years of leadership experience in the public sector. Prior to joining the Port, she served as Chief Executive of Cork City Council for a decade, where she led major urban development initiatives, including Ireland’s largest boundary extension.

Ann has also held key national roles, including nine years as a National Director with the Health Service Executive (HSE), overseeing strategic planning and healthcare initiatives. She is Chairperson of Mercy University Hospital and has served on multiple boards.

A strong advocate for sustainability, Ann played a pivotal role in Cork’s designation as one of the ‘100 EU Net Zero Cities.’ She holds an MBA from London South Bank University and a Chartered Director qualification from the Institute of Directors.

David Browne

David began his career with Dornan Engineering and following this joined the Port of Cork Company over 22 years ago. In the Port, David began his career in the Engineering Department where he worked for 15 years as an Electrician. David then worked as Assistant Health & Safety Manager for 5 years. David has since transferred to the Commercial Department, where he is Business Development Manager and Community Liaison Officer. He has been a member of the Port of Cork Company Board of Directors since 2017. David studied Occupational Health & Safety at UCD, and in recent years has obtained a HDip in Safety Health and Welfare at Work, as well as an M.Sc. in Occupational Health from University College Cork (UCC). He also has a Diploma in Employment Law from Technological University Dublin and will be returning to UCC in the coming months to study for an MBA.

Gillian Keating

Gillian is a partner with one of Ireland’s leading law firms, RDJ and leads their Corporate and Commercial Department. With over 25 years’ experience Gillian is ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers for her transaction and advisory work.

Gillian is an Adjunct Professor in the College of Business and Law at University College Cork (UCC) and in 2017 received an Alumni Achievement Award from UCC.

Gillian is a co-founder of the highly successful and award winning I WISH (Inspiring Women in Stem) social enterprise. I WISH is an initiative to inspire young women to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

From 2013 to 2019, Gillian was a member of the Governing Body of UCC and chaired the Audit Committee. Gillian is a past president of Cork Chamber of Commerce. As well as being a board member of Port of Cork Company, Gillian currently chairs the Board of the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital.

Joan McGrath

Joan was appointed as a Director of the Board in 2021 and brings her HR and business expertise along with her board director experience spanning many years. She is currently a Director of the Board of the Irish Aviation Authority and of Tobin Consulting Engineers. She runs a small consulting business and enjoys lecturing part-time.

Philip Smith

Having qualified and worked as a professional engineer for many years, Philip has spent most of his latter years as an investment banker, advising in international Mergers and Acquisitions and a variety of other corporate finance assignments. Currently, he owns and runs his own corporate finance firm, Penrick Advisors, as well as acting as advisor to the global investment banking firm Alantra. Philip was first appointed to the board at the Port of Cork at the beginning of 2018, and reappointed for a second term in 2021.

Barry Synnott

Barry is Group CEO, Member of the Board of Directors of Boyne Valley Group (2018- present) a Branded FMCG company. He was appointed as a Director to the Board of Port of Cork Company in 2019. Barry worked with Kerry Group for 16 years in Managing Director roles across EMEA and 10 years with International Flavours and Fragrances (IFF) in Managing Director roles across Europe and North America.

Celine spent her early career as an investment banker specialising in Mergers and Acquisitions in London and New York with Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers. On returning to Ireland in the early 2000s, her focus moved to renewable energy finance with SWS Energy and then Merrion Capital where she was a founding partner of the Cork office.

In 2010, she took up a role in University College Cork where she ran a successful research group focused on renewables investment and was a Senior Lecturer in Finance. She has published widely and is a regular speaker at conferences. She is a guest lecturer on a number of sustainable leadership programmes with a focus on Environment, Social and Governance.

Celine is a director of University College Cork’s 1500-bed campus accommodation company since 2018. She chaired the board of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in Cork and Kerry from 2018-2021 and sat on the Audit and Risk committee. She chaired the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee of Cork charity Deaf Enterprises from 2015 to 2018. She has been a member of ComReg’s Audit and Risk Committee, the Irish electronic communications regulator since May 2023. She is the owner-director of family businesses in the energy sector.

Celine holds an undergraduate finance degree from Dublin City University, a master’s degree in finance, a postgraduate diploma in Statistics from Trinity College Dublin, and a PhD in energy finance from UCC. Celine completed the Institute of Directors diploma in company direction with distinction in 2020.