List of Craft & Creative Sector Mentors
Aideen Bodkin is an entrepreneur and business mentor specialising in design & craft, design thinking, product development and sustainability. Having run two successful business in fashion design and bespoke uniforms for a European Airline, Aideen is the founder of a business developing a software solution to help reduce online garment returns. Aideen specialises in business structure, strategic planning for business growth and sustainable product and business development. Her experience includes business development, exporting, preparation for trade shows, and creating and growing brand identity. Aideen is passionate about design innovation and heritage crafts, and she advocates for sustainability and slow fashion
Aisling Hurley has over 10 years experience of creative leadership, with a comprehensive understanding of global market dynamics (co-founder teamwoodcraft.com). Has led creative projects and teams for international brands such as Laurence Lewellyn Bowen, British Airways, HSS, Menarini, Covalen. Pioneer in fusing AI with creative processes, enhancing innovation and efficiency. She has designed digital marketing campaigns that resonate across diverse cultures and is experienced in fostering cohesive team development through the strategic use of technology and creative methodologies. In her role as a design strategist, Aisling has developed numerous industry-focused initiatives that drive growth and innovation across a broad spectrum of companies, from start-ups to multinationals. Her expertise includes shaping strategic direction for the implementation of business, product, and service innovations for industry partners. She lectures in various universities including SETUs MBA where she leads programmes that apply strategic design methodologies and her designer’s framework to stimulate innovation and creative problem-solving. She is also the host of The SME Community Podcast. Key Skills - Digital Marketing Science, National & International Markets, Innovation & Creativity, Business Strategy, Emerging Tech Trends including AI, AR, XR, Corporate Governance.
Caroline Nesbitt is an exceptional brand consultant and project manager who brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the areas of branding business, social media and digital marketing, and in the food & beverage and craft & creative sectors. Caroline established her creative agency ‘Designedly’ in 2017, which is now regarded as one of the leading brand agencies in the country. Throughout her career, Caroline gained extensive experience working on brand projects across various industries. She collaborated with clients ranging from small businesses to large corporations, creating visually captivating campaigns, literature, packaging, point of sale and digital solutions across web and social media. With an in-depth understanding of design principles and her ability to think strategically, Caroline consistently delivers design that conveys the desired message to target audiences. Caroline is a Brand Mentor with Local Enterprise Offices is Counties Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Louth, Monaghan, Wexford and Kilkenny, mentoring SME’s across varied sectors in brand acceleration, digital marketing and online presence.
Christian Shaw. Product Design Consultant Christian graduated with First Class honours in BA Industrial Design (Engineering) in Manchester in 1984, following studies at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology. For a number of years he worked as a product and interior designer with the national design service for Ireland (Kilkenny Design Workshops) and in 1989 helped to form Kilkenny Design Consultancy as a private concern. His Christian faith has helped to shape the conviction that design should be elegant, functional and worthwhile, attributes seen throughout the created world. His track record includes product design for multinationals (including Krups, Ferno and Abbott) as well as many smaller indigenous companies and individual entrepreneurs. With an interest in sustainable materials and wide experience of processes, he has harmonised styling, ergonomic and engineering demands in consumer, healthcare, electronics, food, industrial and giftware sectors, and has helped generate intellectual property for a number of clients
Colm Reilly. Dr. Colm Reilly is an experienced professional with a track record of significant outcomes and international experience in SME Development, R&D, International Trade and Entrepreneurship. In the past 15 years, Colm has worked as a senior executive in a global consulting organisation where he has been responsible for delivering the commercial results. In this role, he was asked by clients to create new operations that he has operated for many years. Many of the operations he created were the first of their kind with no existing template – These and other projects have required new strategies and solutions, within existing organisational structures, to new and developing challenges of significant complexity that have required a blend of people, process, and commercial skills. Colm has also founded three SME companies – Aviareto, Eureto and BiotherapeuticsMD which still currently operate.The operations created are known for their innovation and creativity but more significantly the delivery of the results expected whilst operating within existing constraints and a changing, and uncertain, external environment. Colm has worked with SME programmes in the USA (Virginia, Georgia), Italy, Germany, and Spain in developing practical approaches to business challenges recognising the real constraints of time, money, size and human capacity. This experience has informed Colm that in an accelerated technological environment, it remains people who matter most – whether this is in large corporations, SMEs, or start-up organisations. He believes that this is the essential ingredient in connecting strategy and implementation. Whilst processes create conformity and technology seems to have no limitations, it is the deployment with people that makes the difference. Colm has constantly worked on improving his communications skills and currently operates supporting SMEs in bringing their intentions and strategies into operational reality in terms of what people do, how they are motivated and the appropriate technology they use to do this. He is the author of three books on SMEs – The Information Paradox (how SMEs need to use Information Technology), Managing Value Price and Profit and No Frontiers – How SMEs can export (2025).
Cyril & Niamh Byrne the visionary owners behind Ruby Rouge and Varoom Ltd, bring their extensive expertise to their new business consultancy. With a proven track record in building successful ecommerce, retail, and tech businesses, they are dedicated to guiding clients toward sustainable growth and innovation. Niamh and Cyril’s hands-on experience in these sectors equips them with unique insights and strategies tailored to each client's needs. Their consultancy offers comprehensive advice on digital transformation, market expansion, and operational efficiency. Partner with Niamh and Cyril to unlock your business’s full potential, leveraging their industry knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit. Let their passion and expertise help you navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape.
Kate Hickey is a Business Consultant and Executive Director of the Ireland Canada Business Association and Director of the Valentia Cable Foundation. As a Consultant to Department of Trade Newfoundland for ten years Kate provided strategic trade consultancy services to over 95 Canadian SME’s. Previously Marketing Manager with Laura Ashley, Kate has proven skills in retail marketing, branding, PR strategies and buyer engagement. As Experienced Marketing Director and Consultant for Enterprise Ireland Kate works with CEO’s of early stage companies focusing on Strategy and Export Market Development. Equipped with an MBA from Smurfit School of Business Kate works with clients in implementing market entry and sales strategies and is a mentor and trainer with DCCI.
Mary White is an Irish and EU Trademark Attorney, who manages the Dublin office for leading brand advisory firm, Stobbs. She has a lot of experience in helping start-ups and scaling-up SME companies with their intellectual property and how to align it with their business growth strategy. She can assist with trade mark applications, oppositions, and disputes concerning business names and domain names. Mary works with a number of Local Enterprise Offices around Ireland as a mentor specifically helping with small businesses in food and drinks, craft, technology, engineering, software, and more. At Stobbs we believe IP is for all sizes and shapes of business – it can help with achieving vital funding and helping you gain credibility with investors. It also helps maintain your competitive edge in the marketplace and can help you by opening up opportunities to license your product or service – or to scale your business internationally. Mary is also a member of the technical committee on Innovation Management of the National Standards Authority of Ireland and has contributed to the development of the ISO 56000 framework of standards which offer organizations of all sizes guidance on how to implement, maintain, and improve innovation management systems.
Micheal O’Neill. If you’ve been wondering, “Can I turn my knowledge and expertise into a digital product, membership or subscription that I can sell online?” the answer is absolutely YES. Building an online business that sees you profit from the value you provide—rather than the hours you work—isn’t just possible; it’s easier than you might think. But many people struggle to get started and are worried that they will waste time, effort and money trying to figure it out. That’s where I come in. As Ireland’s only dedicated digital business growth specialist, I’ve helped hundreds of business owners like you across the world turn their expertise and knowledge into a profitable online course, membership, subscription, or coaching programme. I will guide you every step of the way — from growing your email list to crafting your online offer, building your product, and launching it to national and international audiences. You don’t need to figure it out alone. Let’s work together to launch your digital offer so you can experience the joy of leveraged recurring online income.
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Ruth Larkin is a serial industry entrepreneur, having founded and scaled multi-million euro businesses in a number of sectors including, international distribution of luxury consumer products and manufacturing and global sales of municipal vehicles. Her focus is on market validation, market entry strategy, commercialisation, expansion, management and strategy. She has extensive experience in professional services, consumer goods, retail and distribution, design and manufacturing, health, fitness and wellbeing, fintech and cosmetics.
