Noel Mitchell, Managing Director

Noel Mitchell has over 15 years of international conference management experience, both as a PCO and as the association host and a published scientific speaker. This brings the balanced perspective of both the role of the conference organiser, and the needs of the association and delegates.

In addition to a PhD in Experimental Physics, Noel is a Certified Meeting Manager with Meeting Planners International, the highest international qualification in the industry. Noel is a former Council Member of IAPCO and also works as a consultant to the conference industry and to the International Epilepsy Congress Secretariat (International Bureau for Epilepsy/International League Against Epilepsy).

Siobhan O’Hare, Director

Siobhan O Hare graduated from DIT with a BSc in Management in 1992 and spent several years working in the Conference and Banqueting departments of key Dublin City Centre Hotels, finally joining Ovation in 2004 as Operations Manager, PCO Department. Whilst with Ovation, Siobhan gained extensive experience in the Association Conference area, managing many landmark events for in excess of 3,500 delegates over a four year period. Siobhan completed an MSc in Executive Leadership in 2009 and has now joined forces with Noel Mitchell in the running of Keynote PCO.

Leone Mitchell, Director

After graduating with a PhD in Biochemistry, Leone worked as a business consultant in the IT and telecommunications industries and as a project manager in the events industry (2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games and other projects). In addition to working as a part-time lecturer in Trinity College Dublin, she is qualified as a Microsoft Office Specialist (Master) and is a professional editor and proofreader.
Leone is a Director of the company and manages our abstract systems and other scientific services.

Mary-Rose Rushe, Operations Manager

Mary-Rose Rushe graduated from UCD with a Bsc in Geology. She spent several years working in the hospitality and tourism trade. Joining Platinum One Group in early 2001, she gained extensive experience as Delegate Services Manager and Project Manager with over 7 years in the Association Conference field for conferences with up to 1000 delegates. Mary-Rose joined Keynote PCO in January 2009 as Operations Manager.

Louise Crawford, Project Manager

Louise Crawford graduated from DIT with a Bsc in Tourism Marketing in 2001 and went from there to Disneyland Resort Paris where she worked in the Product Development department for 2 years. Upon returning to Ireland in 2003 Louise started work in the Marketing Department of Joe Walsh Tours and later took over the role of Marketing Manager. In 2007 Louise joined the Congress Secretariat for the International Epilepsy Congresses where she was responsible for the contracting and sales of delegate accommodation for congresses in excess of 3,000 delegates before joining Keynote PCO in February 2009.

Rachel O’Hare, Project Manager

Rachel O’Hare graduated from UCD with a BA in History and Greek and Roman Civilization. She spent several years working for Bank of Ireland in their customer relationship unit. In early 2006, she joined an all-Ireland event management agency, which later merged with the foremost global event and communications agency in the world. Since 2008, she held the position of Project Manager, in the association conference department, for conferences with up to 1,200 delegates. Rachel joined Keynote PCO in September 2010 as a Project Manager.

Geraldine Byrne, Finance Director

Geraldine Byrne is a BComm graduate of UCC and a qualified Chartered Accountant, completing her accountancy training with KPMG in Cork. After completion of her training contract, she was appointed financial accountant with Coca- Cola Distributors Ireland where she remained for 4 years. She subsequently joined Johnson & Johnson Medical Ireland as Finance Manager and, over 13 years of rapid growth for this business, held various senior positions with responsibility for Finance, customer service, operations and projects. She commenced work with Keynote in September 2009.

Brenda Wynne, Account Executive

Brenda Wynne graduated with a BSc in Event Management from Dublin Institute of Technology in November 2009. While studying for her degree, Brenda completed work experience with Ovation/MCI in Dublin working on such projects as EACS 2005 (European Aids Council, 3000 delegates), EORNA 2006 (European Operating Room Nurses, 2500 delegates), WSAVA 2008 (World Small Animal Vets Association, 3000 delegates). Brenda also worked on large scale events such as Special Olympics in 2003 and the Ryder Cup which was held in Kildare, Ireland in 2008. Since graduating, Brenda worked with Keynote as part of the on-site team at the World Down Syndrome Congress which was held in DCU in August 2009 and since then, has joined the team assisting project managers on projects including VICAS 2010, ICCBM13 and TERMIS 2010 among others.

Irina Galimova, Project Assistant

Irina Galimova is an Event Management student in the Dublin Institute of Technology. She is currently working with Keynote PCO as a project assistant for the upcoming months. Since starting her studies in DIT, Irina has worked with various companies on a variety of events such as: Google European Sales Conference, HEAnet National Networking Conference, EvenTech Ireland 2009 . She is also working in the Convention Centre Dublin and is looking forward to starting her developing her career in the PCO industry.

Carol Byrne

Carol Byrne’s career in the hospitality industry began with a stint with Tourism Ireland in the late ’80s when she lived in Milan. Carol went on to work as an Italian-speaking national guide in Ireland before finding employment with a well-known tour operator and DMC. Since then Carol has worked with the world’s largest airline as the Italian Team Supervisor and Reservations Manager with a large international chain of independently-run hotels, and as part of an award-winning Irish DMC for 5 years. In 2009 Carol made the move to go freelance and since then has worked on a number of high-profile events in Ireland, including the World Down Syndrome Congress in August of 2009 run by Keynote PCO. Carol is delighted to be associated with Keynote and very much looks forward to their continued collaboration in the future.

Susan Roberts

Susan Roberts has been involved specifically in Event and Conference Management and Public Relations and Marketing industry for over 25 years. Having previously been a partner in one of Northern Ireland’s leading event management companies, she more recently has been providing freelance consultancy and support services for specific organisations and societies within the medical, educational and employment sectors. Susan’s expertise and knowledge during her career has included working as Director for the Special Olympics Games Ireland which were hosted in Belfast in 2006. Susan also provides Public Relations and Marketing services and was previously account manager for the Magners brand working in conjunction with Hollywood & Donnelly based in Belfast (now known as Britvic Ireland). Susan has worked for various organisations over the years gaining knowledge from all sectors including government agencies, private sector, public sector, community organisations and charities.