Team & Governance Structure

BlockW is the trading name of BlockWeb CLG, a registered company incorporated in 2023 (CRO number 734154). As a not-for-profit entity the company is currently awaiting final approval of its application for charitable status.

Members of BlockWeb CLG’s Board of Directors are:

Professor Joyce O'Connor, Chair and Co-Founder
Alan Haugh, Company Secretary
John McGarrigle Treasurer
Dr Irina Tal

Professor Joyce O'Connor

CHAIR AND CO-FOUNDER OF BLOCK W

Professor Joyce O'Connor is a global Eisenhower Fellow and the Founding President of the National College of Ireland (NCI). She is recognised as a leading academic and researcher. Throughout her career, Professor O'Connor has championed access to education. Recognising the importance of early learning in the area of disadvantage, she established the Early Learning Initiative in NCI. She chairs the Digital Group of the  Institute of International & European Affairs (IIEA) and the Digital Policy Forum.

Dr. Irina Tal

Dr. Irina Tal is an Assistant Professor at the School of Computing, Dublin City University (DCU), Academic Lead MSc in Blockchain – Distributed Ledger Technologies (partly funded by Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet) and a LERO (lero.ie) Funded Investigator. Irina has done Postdoctoral Research work at DCU on a H2020 EU project in the development of technology-enhanced learning and STEM learning content using novel technologies and methods in delivering this content in primary and secondary schools.

 

John McGarrigle 

TREASURER OF BLOCK W

John McGarrigle, Treasurer of Block W is a former Registrar and Company Secretary at National College of Ireland, Prior to joining the College, John held senior management positions in several multinational organisations, including as Director of Finance for MVCI Europe, part of the Marriott International Inc. hotel group, and as Group Financial Controller with the McInerney Group during that group’s restructuring. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a graduate of Trinity College Dublin.

 

Alan Haugh

Company Secretary of Block W

Alan Haugh, Company Secretary of Block W is Deputy Chairman of the Labour Court, a Barrister and an Associate Lecturer in Law at the Soutrh-East Technological University. He has operated as an Employment Law specialist in A&L Goodbody LLP, and has previously held senior positions at Irish Business Employers Confederation and the National Employment Rights Authority.

BLOCKW’S GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE ALSO COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING:

Advisory Steering Group

The Advisory Steering Group is actively involved in delivering BlockW’s Mission and Vision and includes:

  • Maria Flannery, Partner & Head of Digital Assets, KPMG Ireland
  • Paula Kelleher, Certified Bank Director and Ireland Country Counsel forCitibank Europe plc
  • Mary Gordon, Deputy Registrar at the Institute of Bankers (IOB)
  • Sorcha Mulligan, Venture Partner and Founder of SMEChain

Academic Advisory Group

The Academic Advisory Group helps keep BlockW abreast of current and future developments in emerging technologies and works to facilitate and encourage research. Members include:

  • Dr Susan Rea, Director of Research at the Nimbus Centre at Munster Technological University (MTU)
  • Dr Irina Tal, BlockW Board Member
  • Professor Joyce O’Connor, Chair and Co-Founder of BlockW

Ambassadors

The Ambassadors’ role is to highlight the work of BlockW and to continue an active association with its work, mission and vision. Current Ambassadors are:

  • Dr.Alessandra Sala, Sr. Director of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at Shutterstock and Co-Chair of UNESCO Women for Ethical AI, President of Women in AI
  • Mai Santamaria (FCA), Head of Financial Advisory at the Irish government’s Department of Finance