Conor Bracken - President
Chief Executive Officer, Andovar (Thailand) Co., Ltd

    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.

    He is also the founder and CEO of LeadSniper, a lead generation service based in Singapore, Thailand and India.

    Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Conor has been resident in Thailand for 31 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
Director, Thai Consumer Distribution Co., Ltd.

    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. 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), Real Estate Access Thailand Ltd and Thai Consumer Distribution Co Ltd where he is currently a director and shareholder.

Dr Hugh O’Connell – Vice President
Managing Director, ICDL Thailand Company Limited

    Dr. Hugh O’Connell is managing director of ICDL Thailand. He has been resident in Thailand for over 25 years and has a background in education and training. Hugh works closely with the Thai Government to promote digital literacy in Thailand and align digital skills with the Thailand 4.0 initiative. As a result, in late 2016 ICDL programmes were the first digital literacy qualifications to be mapped to the Thai Qualifications framework, and are now being implemented within both the public and private sector. In addition to working with ICDL, Hugh teaches at a number of universities at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. He is currently vice president of the Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce and actively works to promote mutually beneficial links between Ireland and Thailand.

John M. Campbell - Director
Director, GNFJ Co., Ltd.

    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 main regional office in China. Customers 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 major beneficiaries of John's sourcing network established in Asia. 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 very 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 Shenanigans, there has been further Organic Growth and Acquisitions throughout Thailand, mainly in Bangkok. John has been heavily involved in establishing several new Pub brands and rebranding several 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.

John A. Campbell - Director
Project Manager, Foster Wheeler (Thailand) Limited

    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 over 20 years in Thailand with the engineering and construction company, Foster Wheeler (Thailand) Limited, a Wood group company, working in the oil, gas and chemicals sector on local and international projects. He is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Chemical Engineers.

    John has been involved in the Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce for over 10 years. He is President and Founder of the Bangkok-based Thai GAA club (2007) and was the chairman of the organising committees for 2009, 2017 and 2018 Asian Gaelic Games, and the 2012, 2015 and 2016 South Asian Games.

    Through his role in the Energy sector John is excited by the opportunities and challenges presented by energy transition, decarbonisation and the road to net-zero.

    While appearances on the football field are limited these days, John’s spare time is usually spent with his kids and sometimes on the golf course!

Emma Gregory - Director
Managing Director, Spokes Jewelry Services Ltd.

    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 enabling global jewelry brands and designers to create their collections using the best Thai craftsmanship. She is also one of the partners of Ohana BJJ @ Q23 a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu academy that offers world class martial arts training, kids classes and corporate self defence programmes that offer practical skills, confidence building and team bonding experiences

    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
Director, Meinhardt (Thailand) Ltd.

    Matthew is currently a director at Meinhardt Thailand Ltd., where he jointly manages the MEP Department. Originally from Ireland, he has lived in Thailand since 2010. He is a mechanical engineer with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry as a design consultant, working on a wide range of projects, including Commercial, Hospitality, Retail, Residential, and industrial projects; throughout SE Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar; and in the UK, and Ireland.

    He is a chartered engineer and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), holds multiple qualifications in digital transformation, including Data Centres and Smart buildings, and has a keen professional interest in sustainability and renewable energy.

    He has been involved in the Irish Thai Chamber of Commerce for the past 10 years and is an active member of the expatriate business community in Bangkok.

Eoin O’Kelly - Director
Founder, The Blarney Stone Bangkok

    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
Head of Asia, East Eight (Thailand) Ltd.

    Iwan Lloyd has responsibility for developing current and new international school projects. His responsibilities also include investor relations. Iwan has worked in the education sector for several years and throughout his tenure, has gained a thorough understanding of the education business.

    Before moving to Thailand, 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 education market and how best to develop and lead critical educational initiatives from a global perspective.

Joseph Kiernan - Director
Managing Director, Frontdesk Hospitality (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

    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, 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 a founding board member and past president of The Irish Network Bay Area. Established in 2008 with support from the Irish Government INBA has built and nurtured an inclusive, Irish-led professional business community within San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.

    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 IN-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
Vice President Public Relations & Communications, Minor Hotels

    Marion Walsh-Hedouin, an Irish national, has resided in Thailand for the last 17 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 in Hong Kong and began her hospitality and public relations career in Monaco with famed Chef Alain Ducasse.

    Marion has been actively involved in the Irish community in Bangkok over the last number of years and recently helped organize the very successful 2023 Emerald Ball.

    Armed with a Master’s in Mass Communication & Strategic Leadership from Purdue University in the USA, Marion loves to communicate, much to the delight or, indeed, suffering of those who know her.

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.