Conor Bracken
President

    Conor Bracken is the founder and CEO of Andovar Pte Ltd, a global IT services company with offices on 4 continents. He is recognized within the industry as a pioneer in the separation of production centers and client-facing services.
    Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Conor has been resident in Thailand for 18 years and speaks and reads Thai. He is a founding director of the Irish-Thai Chamber of Commerce and has also previously served on the board of the St. Patrick’s Society of Thailand for three years.

Paul Scales
Vice President

    Paul Scales is a Chartered Surveyor and Vice President of The Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate in Real Estate of DIT and has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts from Trinity College Dublin.
    He is a board director of the Thai Board of Trade and a member of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Paul is an active board member of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand and a former board member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.
    Paul has been living and working in Thailand since 1989. He has founded numerous companies in Thailand including Jones Lang Wootton (now LaSalle), Pacific Investments Asia Ltd and Thai Consumer Distribution Co Ltd. He is also a founder and fund manager of the Pacific Thai Property Fund.

Dr. Hugh O’Connell
Vice President

    Dr. Hugh O’Connell completed his MBA at the University of Surrey and his doctorate with the University of South Australia.
    He is one of the joint founders and managing director of ICDL Thailand Company Limited, the national operator of the Dublin based ECDL Foundation. The International Computer Driving License (ICDL, also ECDL, the European Computer Driving License) is a certification programme designed to acknowledge core computer literacy skills. ICDL is for businesses and individuals, and provides accreditation for computer skills relevant to modern business.

Paul Potter
Honorary Advisor

    Paul Potter graduated from University College Cork with a B.Sc. In Biochemistry & Microbiology and a Diploma in Higher Education. He worked in Ireland as a consultant with Douglas Dennehy & Assoc.
    He completed his Diploma in Industrial Engineering. He has taken up many positions with the Kerry Group working as Export Manager based in Bristol U.K. and later running their German and Scandinavian operation based in Frankfurt for 10 years. He moved to Thailand to establish Kerry’s business in Thailand.

Gavin Lawler
Treasurer

    Gavin is from Dublin. He attended DIT and majored in International Business and Languages (Spanish and Italian), he also attended the London School of Economics, and IMD Lausanne, Switzerland.
    He started his career with PwC Dublin, and then through the PwC international strategic program was seconded to PwC Bangkok. Gavin then joined PwC Hong Kong. Gavin returned to Thailand to work with KPMG. Gavin is currently the Country Chief Financial Officer for Generali Thailand.
    Gavin through his social ability and professional experience has amassed a significant network throughout Asia, which he uses for the benefit of spreading the Irish message, “we are open for business”. Gavin enjoys a game of golf and is an avid Crossfitter, he also a frequent visitor to the F1 GP in Singapore. Gavin is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland.

John Campbell
Director

    Originally from Derry, John holds a BEng in Chemical Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology and a MBA from Manchester Business School.
    He has spent 18 years in Thailand working in the oil and gas sector for the engineering and construction company, Foster Wheeler (Thailand) Limited, a Wood group company. A Fellow of the UK-based Institute of Chemical Engineering he is the Senior Ambassador in Thailand and is working to promote and develop collaboration in the chemical engineering profession in Thailand.
    John has been involved in the Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce for the past 10 years and has been actively involved in promoting and raising the profile of Ireland in Thailand. He is Chairman and a founding member of the Bangkok-based Thai GAA club (2007). He was the chairman of the organising committees for 2009, 2017 and 2018 Asian Gaelic Games held in Bangkok. Last year’s event saw up to 800 players travel to take part in men and women’s gaelic football and hurling tournaments. He also organized the 2012, 2015 and 2016 South Asian Games, which were held in Pattaya (2012) and Bangkok respectively.

Emma Gregory
Director

    Emma Gregory is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America and one of the founders of Spokes Jewelry Services Limited, a fine jewelry manufacturer based in Bangkok, Thailand.
    Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (B.A. (Hons) in Economics) she has been living in Bangkok since 2006. Prior to Thailand, she spent 5 years working in Colorado in Human Resources Management. She has also lived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania working in education.

Matthew Silvester
Director

    Matthew has over 16 years experience as a design consultant. Originally from Ireland, and embraces a cost driven, results focused approach to project design and coordination.
    He has a keen professional interest in sustainable design and BIM which feature strongly in many of his projects.
    Matthew has worked on a wide range of projects including Commercial, Hospitality, Retail, and Residential projects; throughout SE Asia including Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar; and in the UK, and Ireland. His professional affiliations include Professional License Number: 577365 (ECUK, Chartered), Fellow Engineer, Membership Number: 31766 (CIBSE, Fellow)

Eoin O’Kelly
Director

    Prior to moving to Bangkok full time in 2010, Eoin had spent ten years in the USA in Hotel management for the Omni Hotel group in Cincinnati, working in the food and beverage side, taking care of their One Michelin Star restaurant ‘Orchids’, and overseeing the running of their extensive banquet department.
    While in the USA Eoin also took time to open a line of Irish Pubs and restaurants in the mid-west, promoting everything Irish throughout the calendar year.
    Returning home to Limerick in 2000 to open ‘Nevilles Cross Inn’ pub and restaurant in Adare. In 2003 Eoin’s first venture to Thailand commenced, where he was involved in the development of the Tara Court Hotel and O’Gara’s bar & Grill in Pattaya. Once again promoting Irish music and food and beverage.
    In 2010 Eoin decided to move full time to Thailand, getting involved with the Irish community early with the St. Patrick’s Society and now stands on the committee for the last four years. Organizing the yearly Emerald Ball for the St.Patrick’s day celebrations and working closely together with the Irish Embassy to support Irish acts coming to Thailand. Eoin also organized the Irish Christmas Concert in 2020 which highlighted great Irish and local acts all for charity, supported by the Embassy of Ireland and Culture Ireland.
    Over the years Eoin has also managed Irish Pubs & Restaurants in Bangkok and in 2020 opened his own establishment ‘The Blarney Stone’ on soi 4 and soon to be open another sister restaurant on Lang Suan road. Where he hopes to spread the Irish charm, folklore and craic.

Iwan Lloyd
Director

    Iwan Lloyd is the Head of Asia at EEHL, with responsibility for developing current and new projects alongside key members of the EEHL team. His responsibilities also include leading EEHL’s investor relations, plus the Education and Research teams within the company.
    Iwan has been with the Group for a number of years, and throughout his tenure has gained a thorough understanding of the business and its vision.
    Before joining EEHL, Iwan worked within the education sector in Abu Dhabi. His role included a senior leadership role within Brighton College, a reputable British International School based in Abu Dhabi. His experience within the education sector has enabled him to understand the needs and nuances of the international educational market and how best to develop and lead critical educational initiatives on a global perspective.

Joseph Kiernan
Director

    Prior to moving to Bangkok in 2019, Joe spent the past 17 years living in San Francisco/Silicon Valley where he ran a technology consulting firm before founding Frontdesk Anywhere
    Frontdesk Anywhere is an early pioneer and recognized leader in cloud based property management systems for independent hotels. Frontdesk Anywhere has offices in San Francisco, Belgrade, Singapore and Bangkok serving customers in 34+ countries.
    Joe was also a founding executive board member of Irish Network USA. IN-USA is the national umbrella organization integrating the Irish Networks (21 chapters) that exist in various cities across the United States. It allows members of the networks to connect with their peers and to develop relationships that will foster success in their business, economic, cultural and sports ventures.
    The mission of I—USA is to bolster business opportunities and economic development between the United States and Ireland; to support and encourage Irish Arts and Culture through film, literature, theater, dance and language; to encourage and promote the mission and expansion of Irish sports, throughout the United States; to support the efforts of local Irish organizations and associations; to serve as a conduit between newly arrived Irish immigrants and their communities in Member cities and states.

Marion Walsh-Hedouin
Director

    Marion Walsh-Hedouin, an Irish national, has resided in Thailand for the last 15 years and is responsible for Public Relations and Communications for Minor Hotels.
    Minor Hotels is a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with more than 530 properties in operation across 56 countries. The 20-year industry veteran oversees the development and execution of Minor Hotels’ strategic media relations, communications and brand awareness enhancement activities across all core brands.
    Since joining Minor Hotels in 2006, Marion has implemented a number of measures to increase brand awareness and market share for the hotel group across global markets. During this time, she has overseen the communications strategy for the launch and integration of numerous hotels and brands as the group expanded through organic growth and key strategic acquisitions. Prior to joining Minor Hotels and moving to Thailand, she held a leadership role with InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, and began her hospitality and public relations career in Monaco with famed Chef, Alain Ducasse.
    Marion is married to Steve, a French national, and they have two young children, Chloe and Leo.

Phapassorn Benjavorn
Director

    An experienced manager with prior job experience from the U.S., Phapassorn spearheads the General Insurance Department at LawtonAsia where she has adjusted herself in and international company cultures through the utilization of her marketing and analytical skills as well as professional and technical knowledge.
    She is in charge of the overall performance of the assigned business area in terms of business operations and financial achievement. She possesses the expertise in dealing with complications in a resourceful manner, the ability to achieve beneficial outcomes from negotiation with customers, and the skillset to maintain quality of service through the enforcement of quality and customer service standards. With her proven interpersonal skills, Khun Phapassorn offers insurance options and services to leading international schools and companies across Thailand.
    Phapassorn also takes responsible for the Human Resources Generalist & Office Management with progressive experience in managing employee benefits and compliance, employee hiring and on-boarding, performance management processes, tracking, and HR records. With her proficiency in building relationships with employees across all levels of the organization, she has become indispensable team player with the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently. She not only accomplishes objectives through forecasting requirements, but also prepares and maintain reports necessary to carry out the function of the department.
    Phapassorn started her career with well-known hospitality brand The St. Regis Hotel. After returning from the U.S., she worked in various fields departments: Sales, Marketing, and Human Resources at a number of international companies, including Prada and Horizon Software. Since joining LawtonAsia, she has continuously developed her inter-personal skills and has worked in conjunction with clients of the highest level.

John Campbell
Director

    A Regular Business Visitor to Bangkok,Prior to settling here permanently 12 years ago,John led the Sourcing of Jewelry and Fashion Accessories in Asia for Export to Europe on behalf of his Family Business,which now has its its main Regional office in China.
    JCustomers have included everyone from Brown Thomas in Ireland,Harrods,John Lewis and Topshop in the UK to Galleries La Fayette in Paris.Online,ASOS.com and Amazon have been a major beneficiary of the sourcing network established in Asia by John.Currently a major part of the Business is the travel industry with the company serving Airport Counters throughout the world and onboard retail with over 90 Airlines.
    Whilst in this role,John started to invest in the Food and Beverage industry with Food Trucks,and launched the first Cloud Kitchen in Bangkok with 12 Different Food Concepts operating from a central kitchen and partnering with online food delivery companies.After establishing these concepts,John opened his first Irish Bar and Restaurant,The Paddy Field,demand was so high,Nearby Shenanigans Sports Bar and Restaurant soon followed,and was awarded the Best Sports Bar in Asia and Pacific in The Irish Global Bar awards in Dublin in 2019.
    Following on from Shenanigans,there has been both further Organic Growth and Acquisitions throughout Thailand,mainly in Bangkok in which John has been heavily involved in both establishing several new Pub brands and rebranding a number of older ones,with further openings and acquisitions on the Horizon.
     The Shenanigans Group are also a major stakeholder in an Online Food and Beverage supply Company,which supplies over 140 F&B locations in Bangkok alone.