2025 Speakers
Read about a handful of our conference speakers below… more coming soon!
Conference Chair: Darren Richards, Managing Director – Cogent Consulting
Darren is an offsite manufacturing and construction expert – working in the offsite technology supply-chain to improve productivity.
Darren will be chairing the two day conference.
Paul Tierney, CEO – MMC Ireland
Paul is the CEO of MMC Ireland having taken up the role in May 2023. Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the MMC industry having been the CEO of ESS Modular, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading off-site construction companies until 2022.
MMC Ireland is the representative body and voice of Ireland’s dynamic MMC sector. It is the knowledge bridge between the industry and its clients. Its mission is to provide a unified voice, advocacy, and support to help Ireland’s MMC sector grow and succeed.
Paul has a long standing passion for driving MMC adoption and in his role with MMC Ireland is working with a number of Government bodies in assisting them in understanding the key principles involved in creating a sustainable MMC industry in Ireland.
Dick Clerkin – Managing Director, Clerkin Consulting
With over to twenty years of experience, working with many of Irelands and the UK’s leading companies and brands, Dick Clerkin, Managing Director of Clerkin Consulting, is one the leading voices in the Construction Products Manufacturing and MMC industries.
With extensive experience and proven industry credentials in areas including Strategy Deployment, Operational Excellence, New Product Development, Project Management, Leadership Coaching and Organisational change, Clerkin Consulting provides their clients with high value support that is vital when supporting improvement projects, that encompass a wide range of disciplines.
Allied to his professional credentials, Dick is one of Irelands best known GAA pundits, working with both the Irish independent and Sky Sports GAA, following a 17-year career playing senior intercounty football with Monaghan.
Such experiences have developed Dick into an accomplished and trusted communicator with a strong team-centred approach when working within organisations.
As chairperson of MMC Irelands Education and Awareness working group, along with endorsements and partnerships with organisations such as Lean Construction Ireland and CP Skillnet, Dick is very well regarded and respected in the wider built environment community.
Ronan Lonergan MRIAI – Design Lead – Innovation and PreConstruction, Cairn Homes
Ronan Lonergan is a Design Lead for Cairn and heads up the Innovation and Pre-Construction Team, where he has focuses on determining how Cairn design, build and what that will look in the future. This includes evaluating new timber construction methods, digital construction, offsite construction and decarbonising the designs, along with project managing each development through the preconstruction stages.
Ronan formally worked as an architect for TAKA Architects and with John Sisk , on awarding winning projects Middleton Park Lodge, Wembley’s Quintain Lands and Le Chéile Education Centre, among others. He completed his architect registration exams in TUD, and is also chairman of the technical working group for MMC Ireland.
Ann-Marie Fallon – Associate Director – Architype
Ann-Marie is an Associate Director and Passivhaus designer having gained her part 3 qualification in 2013 at TU Dublin. She holds a master’s in environmental building design from Cardiff university.
She has been responsible in overseeing and delivering many of the UKs Passivhaus building firsts: including multi residential, education buildings and more recently a unique methodology on de-carbonising large estates for several significant clients. She led and developed the Architype Scotland studio growing from 3 in 2019 to over 30 in 2025. The Architects Journal awarded her the once in a generation 40 under 40 award in 2020, as well as the AJs Sustainability Champion of the Year award in 2023 recognising her role in building delivery.
A research led practitioner, she also delivers low carbon training with Coaction CIC and is external examiner at several universities, as well as environmental unit convenor since 2013 at University of Baths Architecture undergraduate degree.
Anne Daw – Head of MMC Delivery, HLM Architects
After completing her Master of Architecture degree at MIT, Anne worked with architectural practices in Boston and San Francisco, before moving to the UK and joining HLM Architects. With her technical background and award-winning design skills, Anne has spearheaded HLM’s commitment to modern methods of construction (MMC) and was appointed Head of MMC Delivery in 2022. She now leads HLM’s business strategy to improve knowledge and uptake of offsite delivery methods and DfMA, improving outcomes for clients and significantly reducing carbon use. Anne is actively involved in research projects with both industry and government partners and is a regular speaker at offsite industry conferences.
Sarah Jane-Pisciotti – Innovation and Design Director, SISK
As Innovation & Design Director for Sisk, Sarah-Jane is responsible for the service delivery of Integrated Sustainable Solutions (ISS) to all Sisk sectors and geographies, reducing embodied carbon and driving design optimisation, programme reduction and cost savings. She directs the Sustainable Design, Carbon Engineering and Design Management function at Sisk and is responsible for the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Strategy. Central to her role is cross-disciplinary collaboration to support identification and scaling of sustainable innovation working with operations, procurement and the design and construction supply chain. She is a Board member of MMC Ireland and Construct Innovate.
Martin Searson – National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), MMC Agrément Certification overview
Martin Searson is the Head of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) with NSAI (National Standards of Ireland) within the Certification Division. The MMC Certification team, specialises in providing inspection and certification services, including technical assessments for Modular Construction solutions, to current Building Regulations under the NSAI Agrément certification scheme. Services include dealing with new MMC enquiries, processing new MMC Applications, reviewing Technical Documentation submitted for assessment and engaging further with MMC Stakeholders for Agrément certification, coupled with both offsite and onsite MMC Inspections, Factory Production Control (FPC) and Surveillance audits.
Martin currently holds a Masters in Quantity Surveying, an Honours Degree in Applied Science from Trinity College Dublin, Diploma in Quality Management and a Certificate in Instrumentation & Controls.
Dr Daniel McCrum – Associate Professor, University College Dublin
Daniel is currently an Assistant Professor in Structural Engineering and Director of the Modern Methods of Construction Research Group (MMCRG) (ucd.ie/mmcrg/) at University College Dublin. Daniel is a PI in Construct Innovate, Ireland’s National Research Centre for Construction Technology and Innovation. Within Construct Innovate, Daniel leads the pillar theme challenge on Productivity, Affordability & Cost, which relates directly to modern methods of construction. Daniel is a member of NSAI/TC15/SC3 Eurocode Steel Committee and CIRIA P3279 Buildoffsite Performance Specification Guidance for MMC Advisory Group. Daniel’s research focuses on developing structural design guidance for MMC through testing and computational modelling. His research group also focuses on certification, standardisation and perceptions of MMC.
Matthew Osment, Director/Consultant – Shift Construction
Matthew is a digital construction specialist with over a decade of experience on major European projects, including Battersea Power Station and Hinkley Point C. He currently leads Shift, a consultancy focused on advancing digital transformation within the construction industry. Matthew excels at equipping professionals with the skills and resources necessary to leverage technology effectively. Utilizing continuous improvement methodology and micro-consulting approaches, he bridges the gap between traditional practices and innovative solutions. Through tailored online training and strategic guidance, Matthew helps construction teams optimise operations and leverage opportunities
Alan Hore, Director CitA, Project Lead – Skillnet MMC Accelerate Scheme & Construction IT Alliance
Alan is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and former Head of Quantity Surveying in TU Dublin. As a founding Director of CitA he has been active in promoting digitalisation in Irish construction for over 25 years. His current responsibilities include lead promotion of the Skillnet MMC Accelerate Scheme funded by Skillnet Ireland.
Darragh Ryan, Head of Commercial – Ireland – Remagin
Darragh Ryan is the Head of Commercial at Remagin Ireland, a leading company in the Light Gauge Steel Frame (LGSF) sector. A Chartered Structural Engineer with over a decade of industry experience, he specialises in engineering, project management, and commercial strategy. Darragh has been instrumental in driving Remagin’s growth, managing key client relationships, and overseeing large-scale projects. His expertise in LGSF construction, paired with a strategic business mindset, positions him as a leader in the field, committed to advancing innovative and sustainable building solutions.
Cesar Fragachan, CEO – Founder – Aalter.Ai
Cesar is the founder of Aalter.ai, a startup advancing automated architecture and interior design solutions aimed at creating better-looking, more sustainable, and affordable living spaces. Aalter’s real-time rendering cloud platform integrates seamlessly with CAD/BIM software, providing designers, architects, and developers with custom configurators that enhance creativity, streamline workflows, and enable informed decision-making through real-time data metrics.
Previously, Cesar worked at Zaha Hadid Architects in the Computation and Design Group, where he developed configurators, automated design workflows for early competition stages, and rationalised complex geometry. He also teaches at UCL Bartlett School of Architecture, where his research focuses on state-of-the-art AI technologies in computational participatory design and digital fabrication.
Gavin Lawlor, President – Irish Planning Institute
Gavin Lawlor MIPI is President of the Irish Planning Institute 2024-2025. Gavin has worked in planning for almost 30 years and is a Director at Tom Phillips + Associates. Gavin’s expertise covers a wide range of areas and he has extensive knowledge across the industrial, energy and waste management sectors. He obtained a Masters in Regional and Urban Planning from UCD having graduated with a Bachelors degree in Social Science at the Belfield Campus.
Edward Jezeph, MMC Lead – Homes England
Edward is a Chartered Surveyor with expertise in real estate equity investment and finance. Over the past eight years at Homes England, he has played a key role in financing innovative offsite housing projects and manufacturers. Homes England supports the UK Government’s Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) housing innovation strategy, which aims to enhance construction productivity, quality, sustainability, and safety through offsite and industrialised building techniques.
Joseph Little, Head of Construction – TU Dublin
Joseph is Head of Construction in the School of Architecture, Building & Environment, TU Dublin. He manages undergraduate programmes in construction & timber technology and apprenticeship programmes in carpentry & joinery, wood manufacturing & finishing, brick & stone, and paint & decorating. Joseph is co-leading creation of the (NAO) MMC in Apprenticeship. As an architect and academic he has always been driven by a focus on sustainability, raising standards and innovative materials and systems. He was part of the TU Dublin research team, which worked with Vision Built and Coady Architects, on the (EU-funded) Drive0 research project (2019-23) to demonstrate use of MMC in deep renovation of housing.
Martin Searson, Head of MMC Certification – National Standards Authority of Ireland
Martin Searson is the Head of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) with NSAI (National Standards of Ireland) within the Certification Division. The MMC Certification team, specialises in providing inspection and certification services, including technical assessments for Modular Construction solutions, to current Building Regulations under the NSAI Agrément certification scheme. Services include dealing with new MMC enquiries, processing new MMC Applications, reviewing Technical Documentation submitted for assessment and engaging further with MMC Stakeholders for Agrément certification, coupled with both offsite and onsite MMC Inspections and Surveillance audits.
Martin currently holds a Masters in Quantity Surveying, an Honours Degree in Applied Science from Trinity College Dublin, a Diploma in Quality Management and is an ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
Barbara Robinson, Head of Learning and Organisational Development – Glenveagh
Barbara Robinson is the Head of Learning & Organisational Development at Glenveagh Properties plc. She oversees learning initiatives and performance development across the organisation, which is comprised of more than 500 employees on over 20 active construction sites, Head Office, and 2 NUA Manufacturing facilities across Ireland – the innovative manufacturing arm of the business.
Barbara has extensive experience in Learning and Development, HR, and Quality, having worked in the Utilities, Hospitality, and Construction Sectors. She holds a BA in Anthropology, an MBS in HR & Project Management, and a European Masters in Labour Studies. Barbara is also a certified executive coach; a member of the CIF Education, Training & Skills Committee; and Chairperson of the Construction Subcommittee for the Fingal Skills Strategy.
She is passionate about supporting people to reach their full potential through thoughtful engagement and lifelong learning.
Ben Carlisle, Global Practice Leader – Industrialised Design and Construction – Mott MacDonald
Ben is the Global Practice Leader for IDC (Industrialised Design and Construction) at Mott MacDonald. He oversees the strategy and services for IDC, leading a team of skilled practitioners. With over 18 years of experience in multiple sectors globally, Ben has led multi-disciplinary teams in the delivery of transport and social infrastructure projects and programmes. He has played a key role the platform agenda in the UK, including authoring “The Value of Platforms in Construction”. He promotes innovative and efficient construction practices through cross-disciplinary collaboration and is a big proponent of sharing learning across sectors and countries.
Anne Daw, Head of MMC Delivery – HLM Architects
As Head of MMC Delivery at HLM Architects, a multidisciplinary firm of over 200 designers, Anne leads HLM’s commitment to maximize the potential of MMC through innovations in DfMA, digital kits of parts, and data tools. HLM has been an early adopter of MMC, giving Anne a broad overview of the range of adoption and implementation challenges across multiple sectors. In addition to her strategic role, Anne is also actively involved in research projects with both industry and government partners that are pushing the envelope for MMC in healthcare, education, defense, and housing design to deliver thoughtful designs for clients, contractors, and end users.
Bernard Brogan, Co-Founder – Peptalk
For 15 years Bernard played with the Dublin Senior Football team, where he was part of seven All-Ireland senior triumphs. He has been awarded four All-Star awards and was named Footballer of the Year in 2010. Bernard is the Chief Commercial Officer and co-founder of PepTalk. PepTalk was founded by Michelle Fogarty, James Brogan, and Bernard Brogan in Dublin, Ireland in January 2017.
