2024/25
Paul Davey
B.TECH, MBA
Paul started his career as a graduate of the Abbott internship programme which gave him a grounding in regulated quality controlled I.T. systems supporting the manufacture of product. For the 5 years prior to staring BioInnovate he was a member of the senior leadership team, reporting to the CEO, of a MedTech company with a class 2 (FDA) product offering pelvic floor strengthening through a garment controlled via a smartphone App.
As the 'Director of Strategic Projects and I.T.’, Paul had a wide range of experiences, as expected from a MedTech start up, including fund raising, market launches, supporting regulated I.T. systems, project managing new product development (FDA, MDR, UKCA) and navigating existential threats. With a strong I.T. background he has worked for global brands such as IBM, EY (Ernst & Young) and Abbott. During this time, he has assisted medical and non-medical companies with I.T. challenges in the areas of Clinical Trials, Banking and Utilities. In 2015 he completed his MBA at the prestigious Smurfit Business School UCD. Paul is looking at BioInnovate as a once in a lifetime exciting opportunity to identify an unmet need that will provide a positive change in patients’ lives and create a business with purpose, that is commercially successful. Paul is a keen runner having completed 15 marathons to date, he has a basic level of Irish, is a former treasurer of Railway Union RFC (Sandymount, Dublin) and current member of Sligo Rovers FC.
Áine Rose Rafferty
MBCHB DCH PGDIP MRCGP MSC
Dr Rafferty is a General Practitioner (GP) and Medical Educator. Her knowledge and experience stems from the breadth of specialties she has worked in throughout her medical career, ranging from surgical disciplines such as urology and bariatric surgery, to hospital and community based medical fields.
Her relentless desire to have greater impact on patient care has led to the acquisition of numerous postgraduate qualifications. For her Master’s in Clinical Education she conducted research in medical simulation training for doctors, akin to flight simulator for pilots, and she aims to publish this work soon. Through her role in medical education Dr Rafferty has spearheaded key projects in hospitals in Northern Ireland and has been instrumental to the education of hundreds of medical doctors. She has utilised social media and online virtual platforms to educate patients and doctors. Under Dr Rafferty’s leadership, in August 2022, her medical education team gained international recognition and received a prestigious ‘Exceptional Educator’ prize. Dr Rafferty serves her community through her clinical role in the GP out-of-hours, which includes the delivery of emergency care to terminally ill patients. Here she is also a trainer for GP trainees, which provides her with yet another privileged position from which to positively influence the next generation of doctors. In her spare time Áine is a passionate cook, particularly enjoying cooking with whole foods and home-grown produce. She relishes taking on new challenges and this year it involves competing in her first triathlon. She is looking forward to the BioInnovate programme and working with driven, like-minded individuals, all looking for clinical needs-based solutions.
Thomas Duignan
BENG MSC
Thomas is a highly driven individual with a passion for designing and delivering solutions for underserved clinical areas. Having been raised on the family farm, Thomas developed a resilient work ethic and deep appreciation for teamwork and community. After graduating from University of Galway with a first-class honours degree in Biomedical Engineering, Thomas spent five years working in the Cardiac Surgery department at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital.
Here he designed, developed and patented a novel device that can isolate mitochondria from cell tissue in 15 minutes, transforming the potential of mitochondrial transplantation into a highly scalable therapeutic modality. To underscore his technical ability, Thomas built an ex-vivo heart perfusion machine that sustained explanted porcine hearts for over 4 hours - using only discarded medical equipment. The totality of this work earned him numerous publications, including a publication with Nobel Prize Winner, William G. Kaelin, and recognition back home where he was named as one of “The Innovators: The Irish names and businesses shaking up the global status quo” in Tatler Magazine and the Sunday Business Post. Thomas later returned to Ireland via the National College of Art and Design to earn a master’s degree in Medical Device Design. Armed with a human centred design skill set and an immersive experience in clinical procedures, he joined the trailblazing MedTech start-up, FIRE1, to bring a human focus to their product portfolio (wearable, mobile app, clinic web portal, and sensor & delivery system). Most recently, Thomas has been running a clinical study at the National Maternity Hospital, for a research team at University College Dublin, to assess the performance of a wearable technology to monitor foetal health during the last trimester of pregnancy. Thomas enjoys all things outdoors, meeting new people and the company of family and friends. He is looking forward to bringing his professional and life experiences to his team at BioInnovate to identify underserved clinical areas.
Cosmin Gliga
MBA
Cosmin Gliga is a seasoned professional with a diverse background that blends entrepreneurial spirit, proven leadership, and a dedication to fostering growth in others. His career path has spanned across industries, from utilities to e-commerce, where he has successfully launched and managed business units, consistently driving growth and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Cosmin's passion for development extends beyond the corporate world. As a certified executive coach, he leverages his experience to guide individuals and teams through personalized coaching programs. He excels at creating a supportive environment that promotes self-reflection, learning, and empowers individuals to achieve their full potential. His coaching toolkit includes active listening, thought-provoking questions, and constructive feedback, all designed to help clients discover strengths, overcome challenges, and develop actionable plans for success. Beyond individual coaching, Cosmin leads engaging and interactive leadership development workshops. These workshops provide a platform for leaders to sharpen their skills through role-playing, case studies, and group exercises. He fosters a collaborative learning environment, encouraging the exchange of ideas and experiences amongst participants, while equipping them with practical tools for effective decision-making, communication, and team building. Cosmin's comprehensive understanding of business management and strategic thinking further solidifies his coaching and facilitation. He is adept at identifying critical business needs, aligning strategies with organizational goals, and supporting leaders in achieving sustainable growth. Cosmin's dedication to learning is evident in his extensive academic background, which includes an MBA from the University of Galway and a range of additional certifications in coaching, leadership development, and business management. This dedication extends to his personal life as well, where his interests in travel, reading, rugby, gardening, and beekeeping reveal a continuous quest for exploration and knowledge.
Kieran Hannon
BSC MSC
Kieran is an accomplished leader in customer technology and experience design with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with some of the world's best brands, aiding them in digital transformation and enhancing customer outcomes.
Kieran's journey began as a software engineer at the University of Limerick, where he earned a Computer Systems BSc. He later obtained a research MSc from the University of Galway for his work with Hewlett Packard. Following his academic pursuits, Kieran completed the Accenture consulting graduate program, delivering successful projects for esteemed clients such as Microsoft, NTMA, and the Irish Revenue Commissioners. In 2011, Kieran founded London's first social media consultancy, collaborating with prominent clients like P&G, AstraZeneca, and Eversheds to revolutionize their engagement strategies with employees, communities, and customers. Returning to Ireland, Kieran played a pivotal role in establishing the Deloitte Digital team in Dublin. Here, he led their ManTech and Insights team, as well as overseeing the design and delivery of client experiences in the Deloitte Greenhouse. Notable projects for clients such as Google, Paddy Power, and Icon Plc highlighted his commitment to excellence. Kieran was instrumental in founding the PwC Digital Services team and implementing a national change program, guiding PwC consulting teams towards a bolder, more agile, and human-cantered approach to sales and delivery. Prior to joining the Bioinnovate program, he served as a Director in the EY Innovation and Experience Design team, spearheading key innovation and transformation projects for clients such as CRH, HSE, and Gambia. Kieran possesses a unique blend of business, technology, and experience design skills and experience, which he believes can be leveraged to develop viable solutions for critical healthcare problems.
Lara Coyne
BSc Hons
Lara Coyne has a PhD based on movement analysis titled ‘An evaluation of a Markerless Motion Capture System in a Premier League Football Academy’ (University of Galway, 2022), a BSc Physiotherapy, (University College Dublin) and a MSc (Sports & Exercise Physiotherapy). She recently worked with Trinity College Dublin (TCD) as a Research Fellow with ‘KineMo’ now a spin-out from TCD. Lara also worked as a post-doc researcher with the Allied Health Department, University of Limerick, on the Erasmus+ project Innovation Alliance for musculoskeletal health literacy in the digital era.
Lara is an experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, having worked clinically both overseas and in Ireland. She previously established her own private practice in Galway that she ran for over eight years prior to relocating to the UK. While UK based, she worked as a First Contact Physiotherapist, NHS Advanced Practice Role. She has extensive experience as a Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist, with the Early Intervention Services, Galway. Lara was the Lead Sports Physiotherapist with many sports: Intercountry Gaelic Football teams (Mayo Senior, Minor teams (2005-2006), Senior Galway Ladies (2003-2009)), Connacht Schools Rugby, Oakland’s Basketball Academy, UK (2013/14), England Hockey underage (NAGS) teams (2013-2020) and the England men’s U-21 Hockey team (Euros, 2013). Lara has also worked in various Teaching and Learning roles on the BSc Performance Coaching, Setanta College (2011-2021). She was an invited lecturer on the MSc Sports Medicine and MSc Advanced Paediatrics programs at University College London (UCL) (2014-2020) and recently lecturing on University of Galway, MSc Exercise Physiology & Rehabilitation course (2024). Lara was the Program Director of the MSc Sports Rehabilitation & Performance, Setanta College (2022-2023).
Bender Ziegerink
BSC MSC
Bender Ziegerink's journey into the world of healthcare innovation began during his Bachelor in Life Science and Technology at the University of Groningen. This foundational education triggered his passion for developing innovative solutions to improve healthcare. Pursuing further expertise, Bender obtained an MSc in Engineering and Policy Analysis from the Delft University of Technology, equipping him with a unique blend of technical knowledge and strategic insight.
Bender's professional trajectory started at an early-stage investment boutique in the Netherlands. Here, he experienced the excitement of fostering innovative products by great teams, reinforcing his commitment to creating impactful solutions. For over two and a half years, Bender worked as a venture developer at NLC Health Ventures, the world's largest HealthTech venture builder. His primary focus was on interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery, areas where technological advancements can profoundly improve patient outcomes. At NLC Health Ventures, Bender played a role in building ventures centred around interventional cardiology, pre-surgery monitoring, and the sterilization of reusable instruments. His dedication to meaningful innovations underscored his desire to positively impact patients worldwide. Outside of his professional life, Bender is a sports enthusiast. He has completed several marathons, showcasing his passion to overcome a challenge. His passion for football is equally matched by his love for traveling, with Japan being his most intriguing destination due to its unique blend of tradition and modernity. Driven by a mission to contribute to novel healthcare solutions with a global positive impact, Bender continues to leverage his expertise and passion to shape the future of health technology, ensuring better healthcare outcomes for patients around the world.
Yanka Reis
BE MSC
During her Bachelor’s Degree in Materials Engineering, at the Federal University of Itajuba, in Brazil, Yanka discovered her passion for Medical Devices working with Biomaterials, where she developed nanomaterials to be used as a controlled drug delivery system, evaluating their biocompatibility and their kinetic release rates throughout cell cultures.
This work was nominated to the “Outstanding Scientific Initiation Award” of CNPq and became part of a published journal at the Microporous and Mesoporous Materials Journal, in Elsevier. After that, she went to the Tigre Group as a Process Specialist and as a Materials Engineer Technician, where she gained experience with polymers processing, solving production issues, maximizing their efficiency and designing material flow processes. Seeking for new opportunities, Yanka moved out to Ireland, where she worked within the retail sector during COVID, until she obtained a specialization in project management, certified by PMBOK PMI and a MSc in Biomedical Device Material, in the University of Limerick, doing her research in the synthesis of hydrogels to mimic porcine vena cava stress-strain behaviour, to use them as scaffolds for vascular diseases. While finishing her MSc, she started working in Synecco Contract Manufacturing as a project engineer, where she held numerous leadership roles with big medical devices companies, such as LivaNova and DeSoutter Medical, responsible for Design for Manufacturing (DFM) of injection moulding components and their process validation through OQ/PQ. With a desire of enhancing people’s life and the opportunity of innovating in the medical device field, Yanka applied to the Bioinnovate Fellowship, as the next step of her career, which will provide the knowledge, experience and network necessary to develop a solution for an unmet need. In the spare time, Yanka loves exercising outdoor, exploring the nature and meeting new cultures. She loves reading and is always looking for a new hobby.
Gavan Hennessy
MSC, BENG, IPMA LEVEL B
Gavan is a very experienced and highly motivated executive with 30 years of expertise in the automotive industry. He holds a Master’s Degree in Electronic Design and Manufacture from the University of Dundee and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering from Munster Technological University.
He has also completed executive management programs at INSEAD, and has achieved advanced qualifications in PMO Directorship & Project Management. Gavan has a proven track record in directing and leading global cross-functional teams to deliver on product and organizational strategies to ensure profitable growth, particularly in the ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) and Autonomous Mobility sectors. He is a pioneer in the development and global deployment of automotive camera systems and vehicle safety technologies. Following a 3 year period in Japan working as a design engineer, Gavan's career really began in the motorsport industry, where he worked as a Senior Race Engineer for Ford Cosworth, contributing to the success of the Stewart Grand Prix and Jaguar Racing Formula 1 teams. His technical expertise and innovative approach to engine and drivetrain performance were key to his success in this high-pressure environment. His problem solving and strategic mind-set were instrumental throughout his entire career where he led the conception, delivery, and scale of many innovative products and solutions for both passenger and autonomous vehicles, to improve safety and reduce fatalities. Throughout his career, Gavan has demonstrated exceptional skills in product innovation, strategic planning and international business development and he excited to utilizing these skills in a clinical environment to improve patient care.
Caitriona Geraghty
BSC MSC PGCERT
Caitriona began her healthcare career path immediately after school when she embarked upon Physiology and Health Science in Carlow IT. Whilst there, her keen personal interest in sports, fitness and health resulted in an additional qualification, the National Certificate in Exercise and Fitness.
Going on to develop specific interests in the brain, cognitive and language development, she received her BSc in Clinical Language Sciences (Speech and Language Therapy) from Leeds Beckett University and later a MSc in Language and Communication Impairment from the University of Sheffield. Caitriona's career as a Senior and Lead Speech and Language Therapist has been varied in setting and location; working with clinical teams in London, Mayo, Dublin and her native Galway. She has worked with clients from babies to young adults with a range of neurological and rare genetic conditions. Her clients have always been a source of inspiration for her in terms of her wanting to learn more about conditions and clinical presentations. While Caitriona easily adapted to new locations and settings, one thing always remained the same; her passion to understand her clients’ needs, offer the best solution(s) and ultimately creating a positive impact for clients. Studying for her Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation in 2023 she learned about identifying needs of stakeholders through a 'design thinking' method. She discovered the parallels between this method and traditional clinical methods in identifying and addressing needs and how the two could complement each other. Keen to learn more, she was thrilled to apply and become accepted on the BioInnovate Fellowship Programme in Galway. She is looking forward to learning more about Stanford’s BioDesign method during her clinical immersion and being part of team who identify a high clinical need and ultimately an impactful solution. She’s also looking forward to returning to Galway for Atlantic Sea swims.
Jake Dunlea
BE
Upon graduating from University of Limerick with a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering in 2017, Jake joined Medtronic as part of their graduate program. Jake began his career as an R&D engineer working on one of the most impactful therapies in Medtronic’s portfolio, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
He has been working as an R&D engineer on this therapy for the past seven years, launching two iterations of a device that has gone on to treat hundreds of thousands of patients, playing a small part in a revolution in the treatment of aortic valve dysfunction. In his time in Medtronic, he has worked primarily on catheter development to support this therapy’s growth, specifically focussing on the translation of user feedback into mechanical design and improved performance. He has been involved in significant testing & customer engagement, understanding how user technique impacts device performance, and how technique sensitivity can be designed out of the system to standardise top-class outcomes for the full spectrum of users in every case. The patient impact of the devices he has worked on have been a point of pride for him in his journey and he is led to the BioInnovate program due to the unmatched opportunity it provides to identify, invent & implement technologies that impact patients. He is hopeful that the medical device development experience he has learned in his time at Medtronic can be applied to the fast-paced environment of early-stage innovation, to bring the best product out for patients. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife & dog, getting outdoors & socialising with friends.
Apoorv Purohit
B.TECH MSC
Apoorv Purohit is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in the fields of technology and product management. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science Engineering from Rajasthan Technical University and a Master's degree in Cloud Computing from the National College of Ireland, he possesses a strong academic foundation complemented by extensive practical expertise. With a technical skill set encompassing programming languages such as Python and JavaScript, proficiency in database management with MySQL and PostgreSQL, and expertise in cloud technologies including Google Cloud, Apoorv has demonstrated his versatility across various domains.
His proficiency extends to a wide range of tools and platforms, including Google Optimize, UiPath, SEMRUSH, and Salesforce Einstein, among others. Apoorv's professional journey includes impactful roles at renowned organizations such as Facebook Ireland Limited, Wipro Limited (Google EMEA), and DPD Ireland. At Facebook, he spearheaded projects focused on cognitive automation and chatbots, resulting in significant cost savings and process improvements in a relatively new field. His tenure at Wipro saw him leading process improvement initiatives and automation projects in HR and legal workflows, showcasing his strategic thinking and leadership capabilities. In addition to his technical prowess, Apoorv has a proven track record of project management excellence, overseeing end-to-end delivery of web development projects, chatbot implementations, and automation initiatives. His achievements include winning the NASA Space Apps Challenge in 2017 and being recognized as Employee of the Month for his exceptional contributions. Apoorv's dedication to innovation and his ability to navigate complex technical challenges make him a valuable asset to any organization. With a keen eye for detail, a passion for continuous learning, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results, he is poised to make significant contributions to the technology landscape.