Brian Mooney – How to select your Career path

Educated at Oatlands College (1961-71), Brian entered UCD in 1973 studying Politics, Economics, and Philosophy, graduating in 1976. He returned to serve as a teacher and Guidance Counsellor at Oatlands College for 43 years. Following his retirement in 2019, Brian was appointed by “Standard Life”, as Ireland’s first “End of Career Guidance Counsellor” to support those approaching retirement in ensuring that they develop a sense of purpose, a fulfilling second life, balancing their personal, emotional, psychological, social and financial needs.

• He has been a regular columnist and analyst on educational matters for the Irish Times for the past twenty years.

• He was appointed to the “Education Finance Board” on its establishment by the Oireachtas to manage a fund of €12.8 million on behalf of the former residents of institutional care. He served for six years in this role.

• Brian was appointed to lecture on and co-ordinate the Higher Diploma in Religious Education at UCD, from 1986-2002, while continuing to teach religious education, commerce, and business studies at Oatlands College.

• Elected President of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors in 2001, a position he was re-elected to in 2004-2006.

• Had several books published over the years, including “Start Your Career Journey Here”.

• Managing Editor of “Ireland’s Yearbook of Education” for the past eight years.

• Awarded an honorary Ph.D. in Education by the National University of Ireland (NUI) in November 2019, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to Irish education.

Seán Kelly Schools Liaison Officer with Atlantic Technological University (ATU).

With extensive marketing, communications and student recruitment experience spanning over ten years, Seán visits schools nationwide and attends career events to showcase the many CAO opportunities across ATU’s nine campuses in the west and north west. Seán recently completed a Masters in Professional Leadership to compliment a community engagement opportunity for ATU students in Uganda every summer.

Mary McMahon Senior Manager & Product Owner, Fidelity Investments Ireland.

Mary McMahon, a Galway native, holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin, a Diploma in Software Engineering from ATU, and a Higher Diploma in Primary Education from Hibernia College. She is certified as an AWS Cloud Practitioner, Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Registered Scrum@Scale Practitioner. Mary began her career in technology, working with AIB, Saville Systems, and Intec Billing. In 2010, she pivoted to primary education, spending nearly a decade teaching—an opportunity that allowed her to be more present during her children’s early years. In 2020, Mary returned to the tech industry, earning her Scrum Master certification and joining Fidelity Investments. She now leads agile product development, focusing on cultivating an agile mindset to deliver and sustain complex products and services. Mary is a key contributor to Fidelity Ireland’s Work Experience Program, Root2STEM, which inspires secondary school students to pursue STEM careers through immersive learning. Mary has also been involved in projects with the CSlinc team at TU Dublin, developing Computer Science courses in Cloud Computing and Cybersecurity, now available to secondary schools across Ireland. Outside of work, Mary enjoys traveling and coaching camogie at her local club, Castlegar GAA.

Sarah Geraghty - Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach, University of Galway

Sarah is Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach at University of Galway and has over 15 years’ experience in student recruitment in the higher education sector in Ireland. This talk will introduce students to University of Galway and explore the range of undergraduate courses available. It will cover courses, careers, the student experience and campus life.  It will also showcase student and graduate journeys and how a University of Galway degree leads to exceptional employability with global impact. 

Miriam Walsh, GRETB Guidance Counsellor Full-time & Part-time courses, Apprenticeships and traineeships.

Miriam Walsh works as a Guidance Counsellor in Further Education and Training (FET) and is based in Galway City and Connemara working for Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB). She has been working with GRETB since 2017 as a Guidance Information Officer and since 2023 as a Guidance Counsellor. Prior to her current work in GRETB, she has worked in media, radio broadcasting, training and digital marketing. She has a BA in English and Media and Communications from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, a MA in Journalism from University of Limerick and a Post Graduate Diploma in Guidance Counselling from NUI Maynooth. She is passionate about provision a space for people to assist people on their educational journey, helping people to identify their own strengths and working with marginalised communities and young people through her work in GRETB.

Rayna O’Connor - BSc (RGN), PgDip (Clinical Education), MMEd (Medical Education), PGDip Nursing Education (RNT), PgDip H

Rayna O’Connor is a dedicated Registered Nurse Tutor at the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Education (CNME) in Galway. Trained at Queen’s University Belfast, Rayna brings more than 20 years of diverse nursing experience, including 14 years in Critical Care. A keen advocate for continuous professional development, her extensive post-graduate qualifications include a Master’s Degree in Medical Education and three Post-Graduate Diplomas in Clinical Education, Healthcare Simulation, and Nursing Education. She now collaborates with the dynamic CNME team, driving the advancement of post-graduate nursing and midwifery education and training across local, regional, and national levels. Rayna is deeply passionate about person-centred leadership, coaching and mentoring and advancing the nursing profession through evidence-based educational research. Today, Rayna will be talking to you about choosing a dynamic career in nursing and midwifery, entry requirements and various routes into the profession.