David leads and develops a sustainable manufacturing research strategy, oversees research grants programs, and evaluates research program effectiveness and impact to deliver outcomes which can be applied for the benefit of industry/ consumers/ customers. He establishes and maintains productive working relationships and networks with stakeholders, public and private sector funding bodies, state agencies, fostering research partnerships across organisational programs and projects to capitalise on funding and resource opportunities.

Ken is responsible for delivering the Robotics research program within IMR, instilling a culture of Innovation and ensuring we remain focused on high impact research for our clients.

Ken’s experience includes; 10+ years of technology research & industrial product development; CTO of tech start up; and leading multiple teams in the delivery of mission critical development projects.

John is responsible for managing the Design for Manufacturing team. Using a collaborative R+D model, this team works closely with Irish industry to investigate and validate the adoption of new and advanced manufacturing technologies and associated design tools. This is supported by dedicated in-house assets covering Additive and Subtractive manufacturing as well as measurement and metallurgical analysis. John also oversees the expansion and fit-out of the advanced pilot lab in Mullingar. John has over 25 years’ experience working in the technology industry across engineering, program management (PMP certified), and R+D management levels.

David Keeley leads IMR’s Digitalisation pillar.

David is an experienced professional engineer and manager and has spent almost 20 years in technology research and innovation leadership roles in global manufacturing with both SME and MNC companies.

Before joining IMR David worked for 5 years as a Senior Executive in Enterprise Ireland advising Irish companies on their digitalisation and innovation strategies.

Fearghal leads the Software Development, AR/VR and IT teams at IMR, developing solutions that seamlessly embed into all our network partners facilities. Fearghal also owns the internal IT operations at IMR, ensuring that all our employees and put network partners max their potential with the best IT support.

Fearghal’s experience includes; 14 years’ software engineering experience and is PMI certified with over 10,000 hours project experience working across multiple geographies at the most advanced high-volume factories.

Gina is a qualified financial accountant with over 20 years of practical experience.

She plays a pivotal role in driving financial strategies and ensuring the organisation’s financial health and stability. Gina oversees the organisation’s financial operations, including budget planning, financial reporting, and financial compliance. Gina actively collaborates with the research teams and senior management to develop financial strategies aligned with the organisation’s objectives, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and funding to support IMR.

Court Edmondson is the director of IMR’s Robotics and Automation team. He is responsible for building a world-class team of R&A professionals to bring substantial impact to our national manufacturing challenges. With this team of experts leading the way, his vision is to transform Ireland into an international leader in advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Court has over 20 years of professional experience in technical leadership and manufacturing, including successfully delivering R&D programs for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in advanced human-rated robotic systems and life support systems in their International Space Station and Space Suit programs.

Tamara leads the Learning and Development (L&D) department for Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), aiming to identify and address the skill needs of the manufacturing industry by offering experiential learning courses in key research areas. She also leads IMR’s outreach activities with primary and secondary students as part of Ideas Made Real, and industry engagement around skills needs.

With over 15 years of experience in the electric, banking, and manufacturing sectors, Tamara excels in identifying emerging skills, developing comprehensive L&D strategies, and creating innovative learning programmes that have significantly contributed to workforce development.

Nick has worked in industry for over 25 years in engineering and commercial roles across several industries including automotive, semiconductor, construction equipment and consulting. He joined IMR as Commercial Director in early 2024.

Nick holds an engineering degree from Queen’s University Belfast, an MBA from University College Dublin, Lean Six Sigma and Project Management certifications.

Chris is the Director of Subtractive Manufacturing at Irish Manufacturing Research. His expertise lies in his experience growing an advanced technology and modern precision engineering company in a fast-paced environment.

Chris has extensive experience within the precision engineering sector working with technologies from CNC machining, and abrasive waterjet cutting to EDM. Chris is currently leading a number of research programs and is involved in EU-funded research programs within the Irish precision engineering space.