Ad Net Zero Ireland Presents: Pathway to Progress

With over 15 years’ experience, Peter has been part of some of the largest agency names in Ireland including TBWA and Publicis, working on brands including Heineken, Electric Ireland, VHI Healthcare and Pfizer. Peter has been the brand lead for Indeed’s Ad Net Zero team since becoming affiliated in 2023 and works with a range of colleagues in different areas of the business to drive sustainable practices and information sharing to inform future plans across their brand activity.

Gareth has been Managing Director of Havas Media Ireland since 2018.

Gareth has been in the industry for 18 years with an extensive background in media trading and investment, working on such clients as Hyundai, Domino’s, Diageo, Tesco, Musgraves and Horse Racing Ireland.

In 2022 Gareth helped launch Havas GENUS into the Irish market, Havas integrated sustainability network.

Thomas is Strategy Director at PHD Media with nine years’ experience across media and creative strategy. Having previously worked in the overseas aid sector, and now working across a range of consumer and public sector clients, he is passionate about bringing his range of experience into his leadership role on sustainability within PHD Media and the wider sector.

Ciara Breen, marketing manager for Škoda Ireland has close to ten years of marketing experience within the automotive industry. Responsible for brand and product communications, Ciara helped to develop the award winning Škoda brand campaign “Made for Ireland” which received a gold Effie award in Ireland as well as a European silver Effie award. Ciara was responsible in repositioning Škoda in Ireland making it a top 2 brand today. Ciara also manages event and sponsorship strategies as well as public relations.

Matt Bourn is Director of Communications for the Advertising Association, the trade body that brings together advertisers, agencies, media owners and tech companies from across the UK advertising industry.

He oversees the association’s communications on key policy areas and helps to steer the industry’s work around Public Trust, Talent & Inclusion and Climate Action, including the formation of Ad Net Zero.

With 25 years’ experience, previously he was Managing Director of Braben, working for companies such as Sky, Channel 4, Disney, and Sony.

In 2024, Kogan Page published Sustainable Advertising that Matt co-authored with Ad Net Zero Chair Sebastian Munden, which sets out a manifesto for the world’s advertising industry to help build a sustainable economy and support a better future.

Senior Brand Manager, Heineken® Ireland

Michelle is currently responsible for the strategic development, planning and execution of Heineken®‘s Moderation, Innovation and Music projects. Over the last decade she has worked across Heineken® Ireland’s portfolio with responsibility for brand management and customer and channel marketing (Off Trade). Previous to Heineken® Ireland, she held marketing positions with Sony Playstation, Sky Ireland, Ryanair and Bewleys. The successful launch of Heineken 0.0%, the Heineken® Greener Bar and Heineken®‘s FORMULA 1 global partnership are amongst some of her most recent projects; with more exciting initiatives planned for 2024 and beyond. 

Shane leads the executive team at MII, the national representative body for professional marketers in Ireland. Shane has held senior positions, nationally and internationally in both agencies and client companies and is a former director of the ASAI, Visiting Professor at the University of Ulster, External Examiner at the TU Dublin and is a former board member and President of IAPI.

Claire Hyland, Head of The Youth Lab, THINKHOUSE

Claire has twenty years’ experience working within the marketing industry, at a local and international level. As head of The Youth Lab and board-member at THINKHOUSE, she works with C-Suite Leaders and their teams to transform and empower organisations to shift their mindset and adopt new ways of looking at the world, through the lens of the next generation.

Claire is proud to have led THINKHOUSE’s recent B Corp certification, establishing it as a recognised business for good.  In addition to her work on Action Group 1 for Ad Net Zero, she is the Chair for Sustainable Media Ireland.  She holds a first class honours in Business from NUI, Galway and a distinction in Business Sustainability Leadership from TU Dublin.

Sandra Doyle; Sales Director of Global Media & Entertainment (Ireland) Limited.

Sandra holds a B.A in International Marketing & Japanese (DCU) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and P.R (Fitzwilliam Institute).  Sandra gained valuable experience with the Hopkins Group before joining Global in 2004.

Sandra is a passionate advocate for sustainability both within Global and as well as across the Outdoor Advertising Sector in Ireland.

Global is responsible for marketing and managing the CIÉ Group’s Outdoor advertising estate which includes Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann and they have long term partnerships with Croke Park and the GAA in the management of their stadia advertising inventory.

David Heaney; Head of Integrated Marketing, Diageo

David Heaney has spent the last 25 years looking after brands in the FMCG, Telecoms and Drinks sectors, having worked in local, regional and global roles he has been very fortunate to work across some of the most exciting brands and campaigns such as Arthurs Day, Guinness NitroSurge, Guinness Rugby, Baileys, O2 Rugby, The O2 and launching the Smithwicks Experience Kilkenny.  In his currently role he heads up Integrated Marketing Communications at Diageo Ireland. His view is that the next decade of marketing will be the most exciting but also challenging as we enter the decade of action and a new era of marketing.  He points out he is no sustainability expert but as marketers it is our duty to lead the charge to ensure our brands and the planet are in better shape for the future.

Colette Henry; Strategic Communications Director, Droga5

Colette is an experienced Strategic Insights & Communications Leader, passionate about creating positive change.  She leads on sustainability in Droga5 Dublin, is one of the leaders of Purpose Disruptors in Ireland and completed a Postgrad in Sustainable Development in 2021.  Over the last 20 years, she has powered businesses on all five continents through a diverse career in communications, brand strategy, innovation, sustainability and customer research.