Paul McCormack

CONFERENCE CHAIR, CEO HYDROGEN IRELAND ASSOCIATION

A research & innovation specialist Paul has many years of extensive skills and experience in developing, leading and delivering international projects. As a Green Hydrogen proponent Paul is passionate about tackling the climate crisis, generating energy security and building resilient communities with hydrogen as the catalyst for change.

A founding member of Hydrogen Ireland Paul is currently leading several international projects including GenComm, H2AZEL and H2CAT, Paul is helping accelerate the EU clean hydrogen journey, develop innovative sector coupling opportunities, establish alternative pathways to net zero and stimulating industry to pivot to new green economy models

His vision is to rise to our energy challenges and use this opportunity to; ensure green hydrogen is commodified, build a stronger resilient global green economy, deliver global energy security and ensure a just transition for all.


Amanda Daly

PINSENT MASONS

Amanda is a business development professional with over 20 years’ experience in Marketing Communications and Media Relations departments of multinational financial institutions and professional services organisations in London, and in Dublin. Amanda worked in one of Ireland’s largest law firms for 7 years, before joining Pinsent Masons in 2019. Amanda spends much of her time in business development for the energy sector, and works closely with Energy Partner Garrett Monaghan.


Gearóid FitzGerald

GAS NETWORKS IRELAND

Gearóid FitzGerald is the Hydrogen Commercial Manager with Gas Networks Ireland and is responsible for the programme management and advocacy for the development of hydrogen clusters, repurposing of the existing network to transport hydrogen in the future.


Hannah McKeown

CATAGEN

Hannah works within CATAGEN's marketing and commercialisation function, supporting the commercialisation and communication of the ClimaHtech system of advanced decarbonisation technologies. CATAGEN is currently engaging with early adopters and is sourcing key scaling partners across several industry segments to identify and develop successful business models and commercial offerings for its hydrogen and e-fuel projects. Hannah conducts pre-commercialisation research to validate product concept, develop and launch strategies, and identify and attract scaling partners for the ClimaHtech suite of technologies. Hannah also organises and facilitates site tours and visits of the ClimaHtech Net Zero campus from potential partners, government bodies, and industry associations. She studied at Queen's University Belfast achieving a first class honours in BSc International Business with French, after completing a consultancy module with CATAGEN focused on internationalisation and market entry strategy. Hannah was then awarded a full scholarship to attend UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School for MSc Project Management, and was awarded with the UCD Ken Meates Medal for the highest grade of 2022/2023.


Edward McGuire

ESB

Edward McGuire is Hydrogen Project Director, Origination and Policy with ESB Generation and Trading. Prior to joining ESB in 2023, Edward served for fourteen years in the Irish Defence Forces where he held various leadership roles both at home and overseas.


Garrett Monaghan

PINSENT MASONS

Garrett Monaghan has consistently been one of the most active renewables and project finance lawyers in Ireland and works across several inter-related disciplines including energy, project finance, corporate/M&A and private equity. Garrett specialises in the development, acquisition, disposal and funding of energy and infrastructure assets. In addition to renewables and infrastructure, Garrett has worked on early phase hydrogen-related projects including offshore wind and green ammonia production. Garrett has also worked in-house within investment banking and energy trading (extending to gas, power, green certificates and commodities trading).


Anne Toner

HYDROGEN IRELAND

In 2015, Anne founded PRR Associates Ltd, a company specializing in strategic business and project development whilst simultaneously managing numerous BEIS and EU-funded projects. In 2021, she joined H2Irl as a Growth Strategy Advisor, spearheading the organization's global expansion and accelerating the hydrogen economy's adoption across the island of Ireland.

Anne, a fierce clean energy advocate, propels the net-zero transition and cultivates sustainable economic growth through inventive business strategies. In excess of 20 years’ experience across both the public and private sectors, she has partnered with top global enterprises to advance clean energy initiatives from the regional to the global.


Ali Saberi Mehr

University College Dublin

Dr. Ali Saberi Mehr is an Assistant Professor at University College Dublin, specialising in energy systems engineering. His research focuses on renewable energy and hydrogen technologies, including hydrogen storage, Power-to-X solutions, and techno-economic analysis of emerging energy systems. He has contributed to several high-profile projects, such as the EU-funded "DEMOsofc" project, which demonstrated the largest 174kW SOFC system installation in Torino, Italy, and the SFI-supported "HyLIGHT" project, which explored hydrogen’s role in decarbonisation on the Island of Ireland. Currently, he is actively involved in the SFI-supported "RESR" project, investigating ammonia-borane as a hydrogen storage medium.

Dr. Saberi Mehr's expertise extends to hydrogen storage across various scales, with a particular focus on geological hydrogen storage. His research integrates techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and multi-objective optimisation in Power-to-X applications.

Beyond research, Dr. Saberi Mehr is deeply engaged in academic leadership and professional development. He was the Academic Chair at the Hydrogen Ireland Conference in November 2024 and has been appointed Academic Chair for WHTC 2025. Also, he serves as a Board Member of the ASHRAE Ireland Chapter, contributing to advancements in energy and sustainability.

His editorial experience includes roles with MDPI Energies and Energy Engineering journals. As an educator, he is committed to excellence in teaching and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). At University College Dublin, he lectures in Thermodynamics II and III, equipping both undergraduate and postgraduate students with critical knowledge in energy systems engineering.