Programmes · Mentoring
Work with someone who has faced a similar challenge.
IRDG mentoring pairs people doing R&D and innovation in member companies with senior practitioners who have already made the journey — through the structured Cross-Sector Mentoring Programme, and through one-to-one mentor matches around a live challenge.
The programme
A cross-sector programme for mid-career RD&I professionals.
The Cross-Sector Mentoring Programme pairs mid-career people working in research, development and innovation with senior practitioners from other member companies. Each mentor brings a different blend of experience and perspective, and the pairing deliberately looks beyond your own sector — a different viewpoint is usually the point.
Mentees review the mentor panel and select five people they could work with, which is what makes a good match likely. A pairing then runs for up to six months, with the time commitment kept honest and small.
Who it is for
Who it is for.
Mid-career, inside a member company
You work for an IRDG member company, have at least four years' experience, and can commit to the structure and timing of the programme.
Register interest →Senior practitioners with a strategic remit
You work for an IRDG member company, bring ten to fifteen or more years of professional experience and a strategic remit in your organisation. Previous mentoring experience is not essential.
Offer to mentor →The commitment
The time commitment.
The programme is designed around people with full-time delivery jobs.
- Pre-mentoring briefing session
- 2 hours, once
- Mentoring conversations — preparation, the conversation and follow-up
- 1–2 hours a month, for a maximum of six months
- Programme evaluation survey
- 30 minutes
How a cycle runs
The 2026 cycle, stage by stage.
The 2026 cycle is under way. Interest registered now is held for the next cycle — and the standing mentor match further down runs at any time of year.
February – April
Interest is gathered and mentor and mentee profiles are completed.
April – May
Mentees review the mentor profiles and select five preferences.
May
Mentor–mentee pairings are confirmed and the briefing session is held.
June
Mentoring begins — up to six meetings over six months.
November – December
Final mentor–mentee sessions.
December
Programme evaluation survey.
The 2026 panel
Twenty-six mentors, in their own titles.
Listed as they appear on the selection platform, where each mentor has a fuller profile. Mentees choose five they could work with.
- Aidan Dillon
- Head of Engineering, Zarion Ltd
- Aiden Cawley
- Electrification & Automation Business Manager, Siemens Ltd
- Aisling Kirwan
- Chief Product Officer, ReaDI-Watch
- Barry Walsh
- Senior Principal Engineer, R&D, Alcon Laboratories Ireland Ltd
- Cathal McLaughlin
- R&D Manager, Neurent Medical
- Daniel Kielty
- Senior Programme Manager, Aerogen
- Dave Morrissey
- Chief Innovation Officer, Allergy Standards Ltd
- Donal O'Sullivan
- CEO, Nutribio
- Eithne O'Grady
- Director Product Development, Transact Campus Inc
- Garrett Moran
- Head of R&D Ireland and Senior Director Global Regulatory Affairs, Oriflame R&D Ireland
- Gordon Naughton
- CEO, Tactive
- Joan Mulvihill
- Digitalisation and Creativity Evangelist, formerly Siemens
- Kevin Fahy
- Director of Research and Development, Bausch + Lomb
- Luis Ortega
- Capex Innovation Manager, Diageo
- Marisa Phelan
- Head of Adjacency Strategy, Henkel
- Martin Creaven
- Senior Program Manager, Hollister
- Martina Doyle
- Senior Director Commercial Operations & Customer Engagement, West Pharmaceutical Services
- Mike Keegan
- Retiring Head of R&D, Ei Electronics
- Paul Conway
- Director of Software, TPM, BD
- Sean Keaveney
- Engineering Manager, Thermo King / Trane Technologies
- Shane Callanan
- VP Medical, Advanced Energy
- Sharon Davin
- Innovation Lead, APC Ltd
- Tom Barry
- Senior Project Manager, Symphysis Medical
- Tommy Martin
- Head of R&D – IKON, Kingspan
- Trevor Ó Clochartaigh
- Director of Operations & HR, TG4
- Vivienne Kelly
- Managing Director, Compass Informatics
Note. Titles are as each mentor supplied them for the 2026 programme. Mentor profiles and preference selection are handled on the IRDG events platform.
Outside the cycle
The standing mentor match, for a live challenge.
The structured programme runs on a calendar. The challenge in front of you usually does not — so IRDG also connects member teams with experienced innovation leaders for focused work on a specific question, at any time of year. Tell us the outcome you need, not every confidential detail, and we will assess whether a suitable introduction is possible.
Who runs it
Talk to Bernie before you commit either way.
Bernie runs the mentoring programme and the matching process. If you are unsure whether to apply as a mentee, volunteer as a mentor, or wait for the next cycle, a short conversation will settle it.
Bernadette McGahonDirector of Innovation Services
Next step
Tell us the step you want to take — as a mentee or a mentor.
Mentoring is an IRDG member service, subject to capacity and a suitable match. If you are not yet a member, start with a membership conversation.