TEDxGalway

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Bárbara Oliveira

  Bárbara Oliveira is the Chief Clinical Officer and CoFounder of Luminate Medical, a start-up developing affordable, patient-friendly technologies to reduce chemotherapy side effects. A biomedical engineer with an MEng from NOVA University Lisbon and a PhD from the University of Galway, she specializes in breast cancer diagnostics and oncology innovation. Bárbara has led multiple first-in-human clinical trials, including Luminate's work on minimizing hair loss and peripheral neuropathy. Her multidisciplinary approach bridges academia and industry, and her contributions have earned her the MIT Innovators Under 35 Europe (2023) and the European Prize for Women Innovators - Rising Innovator (2024).

• Cathy O'Boyle

  Cathy O'Boyle is an award-winning leader whose career spans healthcare, consulting, and med-tech innovation. After successfully exiting her optical business of five years, Cathy expanded her expertise across the healthcare and innovation sectors. She holds a BSc in Optometry and dual master's degrees in Clinical Vision Science and Bioinnovation, and completed the prestigious Standford BioDesign affiliated Biolnnovate programme at the University of Galway. At Luminate, Cathy leads strategic initiatives, including the Lotus home infusion programme. She works closely with patients and clinicians to uncover and address unmet clinical needs. Known for her personable and collaborative leadership, Cathy is passionate about driving patient-centered innovation in healthcare.

• Clare Murphy

  Storyteller Clare Murphy has been a leading voice for Ireland's vibrant storytelling tradition on the international stage. She catalyses every group she encounters, from 5 – 5000 people. She has performed in over 20 countries, and requested to speak at Embassies, Universities and international gatherings, her performances and talks spark wonder. Clare runs training programmes and residencies; working with limbless veterans, the NHS, firefighters, NASA scientists, the All Blacks, and refugees. She uses Story to swiftly inject resilience and curiosity into any environment. Clare's work is centered around using Story to re-humanize humans for almost 20 years.

• Daragh Sheridan

  Daragh Sheridan is an experienced sport psychologist, high-performance leader, and executive coach with over 20 years’ experience working at the intersection of business and sport. His career began as a professional footballer with Aston Villa FC before transitioning into key HP sport leadership roles in Ireland and New Zealand. Daragh has extensive experience providing tailored performance support to world class leaders at the Olympic level in Ireland, New Zealand and North America. He has developed expertise designing and delivering high impact training involving a range of military, policing and corporate partners. Daragh specialises in leadership development, coaching effectiveness and high performance culture. He currently lives in Galway, Ireland with his wife Jeanne and 3 children.

• Eímear Noone

  Eímear Noone is from Kilconnel, Co Galway. She made history in 2020 by becoming the first female conductor to perform at the 92nd Academy Awards’ ceremony. She was also nominated for an Ivor Novello award for Best Original Film Score. As one of the world’s premier composers of games scores, Eímear is responsible for some of the most enduring soundscapes on World of Warcraft and other best-selling video games. Through her music on World of Warcraft, Eímear’s music has reached over a 100million people and continually inspired players to invent and build new worlds for nearly fifteen years. Her composition portfolio of over thirty film and video-game titles have received multiple industry accolades including the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Video Game Score.

• Gavin Collins

  Gavin Collins is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and associate professor of Microbiology at University of Galway, where he investigates the use of complex microbiomes for environmental solutions. He is a former Charlemont Fellow (Royal Irish Academy), and Ireland-Canada University Foundation Fellow, and is a European Research Council laureate. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and visiting professor at the University of California Berkeley, where he is also a member of the International Bioeconomy and Macroalgae Center.

• Kevin Murray

  Kevin's path to pain research started in the clinic. As a physiotherapist working across Ireland over, he treated hundreds of patients and noticed something striking: people with nearly identical injuries often had completely different pain experiences. This observation led him to a fundamental question: what makes some people more sensitive to pain than others? Now pursuing his PhD at the University of Galway under Professor, Kevin is investigating the endocannabinoid system—a biological network that helps regulate pain, stress, mood and numerous other bodily functions. His research explores whether differences in this system might explain why people experience acute pain so differently, and how we might leverage this knowledge to improve outcomes for people living with pain. A Mayo native who graduated from the University of Limerick with a BSc in Physiotherapy in 2022, Kevin brings his clinical experience into the lab, keeping the real-world impact of his research front and centre.

• Mei-Ling McNamara

  Mei-Ling McNamara is an award-winning investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker. She is the Editorial Director of Investigate Europe, a cross-border team of reporters and editors conducting in-depth investigations across Europe. She has worked as a reporter, editor, producer and director for international media outlets including the Guardian, The New York Times, Al Jazeera English, CNN International, Channel 4’s Unreported World and the BBC World Service. Her in-depth investigations often focus on human rights, corporate and tech accountability, environmental crimes and criminal justice issues. Mei-Ling holds a PhD in Trans-Disciplinary Documentary Film at the University of Edinburgh and has held numerous positions as a journalism professor in the US and Ireland. Member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), the Society of Professional Journalists, the Freedom of Information Coalition, and the Foreign Press Association.

• Paddy Duffy

  Paddy Duffy is a TV producer and broadcaster, originally from Donegal but living in Glasgow. In a TV career ranging over 15 years, his work has ranged from popular formats like Top Gear, quiz shows like University Challenge, and BAFTA-nominated political documentaries such as Inside Obama's White House and Trump Takes On The World. His most recent development project was the landmark feature documentary The Last Musician Of Auschwitz, broadcast by the BBC on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camps. He's a familiar voice on radio across Ireland being a columnist for Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1, BBC Radio Foyle and Radio Ulster, Newstalk. Outside of work, Paddy is an avid competition quizzer, and a captain of the Irish international quiz squad. He's also a panellist on the legendary Radio 4 programme Round Britain Quiz, but before all that, he worked as a youth worker with the Donegal Youth Council, SpunOut.ie, European Youth Press, and the HSE's Youth Participation Project.