Friday 17 April
This year as part of itag’s AtlanTec Festival ‘Human Intelligence Driving Transformative Innovation’ we will be hosting an AI hackathon. The two-day event will bring innovators, tech enthusiasts, and industry leaders from across the West together to develop cutting-edge AI solutions that tackle real-world challenges.
For more information visit: https://atlantec.ie/atlantec-ai-challenge/
AtlanTec AI Challenge will be a full day event, held at the School of Computer Science, University of Galway. Teams will collaborate from 9.30am to lunch. Followed by presentations from 2pm – 5pm. Winning teams will be selected by our AI expert judging panel.
Friday 17 April
Prof Padhraic Smyth, University of California Irvine
Speaker:
Padhraic Smyth
Department of Computer Science
University of California, Irvine
Abstract:
There is significant interest in using AI models to augment (or even replace) human decision-making across a broad range of application areas from autonomous driving to diagnostic medicine to code generation. A realistic scenario in many applications is one where AI agents and humans work together to solve tasks, given that full autonomy is often not ideal from a variety of perspectives (safety, legal, cognitive). In this general context, I will discuss recent work from my research group on modeling and understanding of human-AI collaboration, including online learning of policies for assigning tasks to human and AI agents, and the role of uncertainty in human-AI collaboration.
Monday 27 April
Sara Davidson
In this virtual session, Sara’s keynote “Be an Excellent Leader Who Serves” will showcase how to unlock your true leadership potential and nurture a “steady rhythm of humanisation” within your teams.
Details coming soon!
Wednesday 6 May
itag’s Product Management Forum in collaboration with Galway’s Product Management Meetup explores the theme of Human Intelligence Driving Transformative Innovation by grounding the conversation in the everyday realities of product practice.
The centrepiece of the evening is a panel discussion – “Re-imagining Product Processes” – that brings together practitioners across Product Management, Product Design, Technical Writing, Analytics, and Tech/Product Ops. They’ll share first-hand experiences of how AI-driven workflows are redrawing traditional role boundaries, and what that means for teams navigating the shift.
Location: Datavant L07 Event Space – Doors Open [6PM] – Event Start [6:30PM].
David Murray & Kat Rejkiewicz Genesys, Donna Mitchell & Orla Mears Datavant
Moderator: Arik Elberse, Ancient Oak Ventures
This panel discussion brings together practitioners across Product Management, Product Design, Technical Writing, Analytics, and Tech/Product Ops. They’ll share first-hand experiences of how AI-driven workflows are redrawing traditional role boundaries, and what that means for teams navigating the shift.
Wednesday 21 May
AtlanTec will host a special Leadership Event on the 21st at the Hardiman Hotel.
- Dinner
- Wisdom in Action Leadership Insights from Dr Sarah Kiernan Assistant Dean, Executive and Professional Education at University of Limerick.
- Panel Discussion
- Audience Roundtable
Limited spots available and the event is invite only so if interested in attending please email ccawley@itag.ie
The event will take place from 5pm – 8pm.
Thursday 7 May
The Intelligent Sport Ecosystem – leveraging data pipelines and AI to support sports performance and operations.
Focusing on the Intelligent Sports Ecosystem, our third Digital Innovation for Sport event at ATU Galway brings together leaders from sport, technology and research to examine how data and AI are transforming modern sport.
Through real-world insights and examples, discover how intelligent systems can optimise operations, elevate performance, and create new pathways for participation, engagement and commercial growth.
Thursday 7 May
This event will be held by itag’s Digital Women’s forum.
Details coming soon!
Dr Melrona Kirrane, DCU Business School
What makes someone truly compelling at work? It’s not just competence – it’s how others experience you.
In this engaging and thought-provoking talk, Dr Melrona Kirrane explores the psychology of leadership presence and the subtle dynamics of power in modern organisations. Drawing on cutting-edge research and real-world insight, she unpacks how leaders build credibility, manage impressions, and navigate the often invisible rules that shape influence.
From executive presence and self-awareness to political skill and interpersonal impact, this session offers a clear, practical framework for anyone looking to strengthen their authority and effectiveness at work.
Dr Kirrane is a nationally and internationally recognised scholar of Organisational Psychology with a particular expertise in leadership. She designed, developed and delivers ‘Let’s Lead!’ the flagship leadership development programme for women at DCU Business School with 250+ attendees to date. She is author of the 5-year (2015 – 2019) ‘Leadership Pipeline survey’ which documented the trajectories of women’s ascent into senior management across Ireland. Endorsed as a high-quality lecturer and organisational consultant, Melrona was named as a “Top Ten Woman of Influence” in 2017. Melrona held Visiting Professor positions at the Technical University of Vienna and Danube University, Austria for five years and was a recipient of the prestigious Erskine Fellowship at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand in 2020. She is Professor of Leadership at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh since 2013.
Moderator: Audrey Bleach, Cisco
Tuesday 12 May
You’ll hear directly from Customer Success leaders actively navigating this transformation as they explore:
- How Customer Success operating models are evolving from Traditional > Scale > AI powered
- Practical AI & Automation use cases, and where human touch is superior to AI.
- The importance of Digital CS, Education, community, and AI for all customer segments
Chaired by: Andrea Manning, Acorn Life DAC
Speakers & Panellists:
Seán Reid, Head of Customer Success at Supermetrics, Ranked #1 Voice in Customer Success in Ireland
Dee Donohue, Manager of Digital Customer Success at Genesys
Valerie Potter, Snr Manager Progressional Services at Cloudbees
Catherine McGrath, Director of Customer Success, TitanHQ
You’ll hear directly from Customer Success leaders actively navigating this transformation as they explore:
- How Customer Success operating models are evolving from Traditional > Scale > AI powered
- Practical AI & Automation use cases, and where human touch is superior to AI.
- The importance of Digital CS, Education, community, and AI for all customer segments
Tuesday 12 May
The Insider Intelligence Summit is back for its spring edition. If you’re responsible for protecting your environment, you don’t need more noise—you need clarity on what’s actually happening and what to do about it. This day is built around that. How attacks really occur, what we’re seeing across environments, and what that means in practice.
break down how cyber attacks actually occur and share proprietary research to give you real insider insight into the threat landscape that you can actually apply.
Dave Silke, Managing Director for EMEA and APAC at Centripetal, will open the day as we mark Centripetal’s fourth anniversary at Platform94—reinforcing our belief that Galway remains a centre of emotional, technical, academic, and creative intelligence.
You’ll spend the day in focused sessions alongside peers dealing with the same realities—cutting through noise, comparing approaches, and getting clearer on what’s working and what isn’t.
Across a series of focused sessions, you’ll hear directly from experts at Centripetal as we bring together business owners and IT and technology leaders from across Galway, Connaught, and Ireland.
We believe in building a community based on shared intelligence—and we’d welcome you to be part of it.
Dave Silke will open proceedings as we mark Centripetal’s 4th anniversary at Platform94 reinforcing our belief that Galway remains the home of emotional, technical, academic and creative intelligence.
• When Ireland’s Infrastructure... - Chris Handscomb
• From Exploit to Defense... - Nithin Ravi and Esme Newell
• Practical Tips... - Eamonn Larkin and Cormac Kelly
• Life after the Lecture Hall... - Adelle Desouza
*Concurring Sessions.
Drawing from Centripetal’s access to the world’s largest collection of threat intelligence, this session will deliver a uniquely informed perspective on the evolving cyber threat landscape in Ireland. We will present deep insights into the most pressing and persistent risks facing national infrastructure across Ireland. The session will explore how threat actors—particularly state-sponsored and criminal groups—are conducting sustained reconnaissance operations, probing for vulnerabilities in OT environments, and deploying malware to compromise operational systems. Join us in taking you through Ireland’s CNI current cyber posture and what can be done.
2. From Exploit to Defense: The Rising Role of AI
with Nithin Ravi and Esme Newell
Most cyber attacks don’t begin when they make the headlines. By the time they’re visible, the groundwork has often been in place for weeks or months—built on known vulnerabilities and intelligence that already existed, but wasn’t acted on in time. And increasingly, both attackers and defenders are using AI to accelerate that process—though only one side tends to get the attention.
In this session, we’ll walk through how attacks actually unfold in practice—from early reconnaissance and initial access through escalation and impact. You’ll see how attackers operate, how AI is being used to enhance each stage of the attack chain, and where the warning signs are often missed. We’ll also explore how defenders are using AI to identify patterns, detect anomalies, and respond more effectively.
3. Practical Tips to Keep Your Children Safe Online
with Eamonn Larkin and Cormac Kelly
This interactive workshop is designed to empower parents of children aged 8-12 with practical tools to help keep their kids safe online. Attendees will gain hands-on guidance in setting up Google Family Link, implementing free DNS filtering on home networks, and enabling effective parental controls across devices. The session focuses on simple, actionable steps that parents can apply immediately, regardless of technical ability. Through live demonstrations and guided participation, parents will leave feeling more confident in managing screen time, filtering content, and fostering safer digital habits for their children in an increasingly connected world.
4. Life after the Lecture Hall: Employability Workshop
with Adelle Desouza
This session is designed for students preparing to move from academic life into the working world. Whether you’re completing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, the focus is on helping you navigate that transition with more clarity and confidence.
You’ll get practical guidance on the job search and application process—from CV preparation and interview techniques to understanding what employers actually expect once you step into a role. The aim is to give you advice you can use immediately, not general theory.
Whether you have a clear path in mind or are still figuring it out, this session will help you make more informed decisions and position yourself more effectively in a competitive job market.
Wednesday 13 May
Wednesday 13 May
Details coming soon!
Chaired by: Pauline O’Reilly, Irish District Energy Association
- Niall Muphy is an engineering manager in Cisco Systems in Galway. He has authored one book on safety for software controlled systems. From 2020 to 2024 he was a Galway City Councillor and campaigned for a more sustainable environment through city development plans and city policy.
- Michael McCarthy is director of Cloud Infrastructure Ireland (CII) having previously served as CEO of the Irish Solar Energy Association [ISEA]. Michael holds extensive experience of environmental-related legislation within the Oireachtas through his service of 14 years as a TD and Senator including as Chair of the joint committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and the chairing of the public consultation on the pre-legislative stages of the Climate and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
- Pauline O’Reilly Pauline O’Reilly is the CEO of the Irish District Energy Association, which promotes district heating and cooling in Ireland. Prior to taking up this role Pauline served as a Senator, city councillor, and Chairperson of a political party.
Details coming soon!
Wednesday 13 May
Joe Boyle, HPE and Malachy Lavelle, Altuent
Ronan Hennessy and Donagh Brennan, RedHat
Sharon Conroy Datavant, Joe Boyle HPE, Ronan Hennessy and Donagh Brennan RedHat
Moderator: Malachy Lavelle, Altuent
Thursday 14 May - AtlanTec Conference Morning
Mark Little, Journalist & Entrepreneur
Abstract: Mark Little will explore innovation in uncertain times, examining trends reshaping organizations, flatter structures, and predictive AI. He’ll highlight energy and infrastructure challenges for Ireland and beyond. He’ll emphasize empathy and decentralized leadership. Crucially, he’ll address how agentic AI augments human judgment, enhancing decision-making at the frontier of leadership. If needed, he’s open to adding insights on fostering trust or combating disinformation—both key to the tech community.
Bio: Mark Little, is a renowned journalist and entrepreneur, with a wealth of experience in digital media, tech and entrepreneurship. As the founder of Storyful and co-founder of Kinzen, an AI media technology platform that combats the spread of misinformation, Mark has spent his career at the intersection of tech and democracy. A former RTÉ foreign correspondent and TV presenter, Mark’s presence will be a huge draw to the tech conference, offering a deep dive into trust, safety, and the future of public media.
Dr Lollie Mancey, InsTech.ie & UCD Innovation Academy
Dr. Lollie Mancey is an internationally acclaimed anthropologist and futurist dedicated to decoding the intersection of technology and human culture. Currently the Head of Innovation for InsTech and a former director at University College Dublin’s Innovation Academy, she blends academic excellence with entrepreneurial success as a director of three businesses. A dynamic storyteller and Dublin Story Slam Champion, Dr. Mancey is a prominent media personality, co-presenting RTÉ’s Futureville and collaborating with NASA on systemic shifts. Whether demystifying AI ethics on global stages like the Pendulum Summit or advocating for underrepresented founders, she empowers leaders to navigate digital transformation with a human-centered, inclusive strategy for the future.
Prof Paul Buitelaar, Deputy Director of Data Science Institute, Insight Research Centre
Host Elaine Murphy Site Lead CVS Ireland
Angus Nelson, Kuma Partners
Abstract:
When every organization runs the same AI, the outputs converge. The strategies rhyme. The differentiation disappears. Drawing on work with senior executives inside 74 Fortune 500 organizations, Angus Nelson makes the case that human stability is performance infrastructure… and in an AI-optimized world, it’s the last competitive advantage that cannot be replicated.
Lightning Talks: Emer Fanning CVS Health, Davitt Connolly SAP & Brendan Allen SENUS
TrustLens: Clarity in the Age of Digital Deception
The team, comprised of
Rory Ward, John Quinlivan, Ebin Sleeba, Olivia Joyce, and Smitesh Patil from CVS Health – developed an AI-powered YouTube analysis
platform. Unlike standard tools that offer a simple “true or false” score, TrustLens uses AI to examine Youtube video authenticity, extract factual claims, and
analyse context.
Thursday 14 May AtlanTec Conference Afternoon
Stephanus Meiring Rent the Runway, Cillian Myles Datavant, Robert Headon Cisco, & Peter Roche Genesys
Lightning Talks followed by panel discussion moderated by Fiona Veazey, Fidelity Investments.
- Stephanus Meiring (Rent the Runway) – “AI-Assisted Engineering, Done Right. Putting structure around the speed.”
- Cillian Myles (Datavant) – “From Code Completion to Engineering Participation”
- Robert Headon (Cisco)
- Peter Roche (Genesys) – “Engineering Power Steering: Two Years of AI Development”
Francis Yates, Stormy
Eamonn Larkin Centripetal & John Tallon Storm Technology, Veronica Breene Intuity Technologies