Here's what's next in the Irish energy industry

With nearly two decades in energy sales, you’ve witnessed significant changes in Ireland’s energy landscape. What initially drew you to the energy sector, and how has your perspective evolved over your career? 

With nearly two decades of experience in the energy industry, I began my career at a pivotal moment in Ireland’s market transformation. After working in field sales during the deregulation of the telephone sector, the opening of the electricity and gas markets in the early 2000s presented a natural next step. Joining Energia at that time offered the opportunity to be part of a disruptive force introducing genuine competition, innovation, and customer choice.

Starting as a Key Account Manager, I played a key role in helping customers navigate a newly deregulated landscape. Much of the early work involved building trust and confidence, reassuring businesses that switching energy suppliers was both safe and strategically beneficial. As the market matured, so did customer expectations. I’ve led teams through this evolution by focusing on emerging priorities such as renewable energy solutions, smart metering, sustainability initiatives, and more flexible billing and service models.

Over the past 25 years, Ireland’s energy sector has undergone a profound transformation, culminating in a competitive all‑Ireland market. My leadership perspective has evolved alongside this change. I’ve learned that long‑term success depends on recognising when the landscape is shifting, adapting quickly, and bringing customers with us as partners on the journey. This commitment to agility, innovation, and customer‑centric thinking continues to shape my approach to leadership and strategy today.

What’s your leadership philosophy, and how do you motivate your team to excel in such a competitive environment? 

In a competitive environment it’s important to create the conditions where people want to give their best because they feel supported and trusted. I establish clear expectations, support people in achieving them and ensure everyone understands how their work contributes to our wider objectives. It’s important to recognise achievements and celebrate the wins.

I lead with integrity ensuring accountability at the centre of everything I do. I make decisions guided by honesty, fairness, and a commitment to doing what’s right, even when it’s difficult. I believe that trust is earned through consistency, transparency, and follow-through.

What qualities do you look for when recruiting new team members, and how has your hiring approach evolved as the market has become more complex? 

When recruiting new team members, I look for people who demonstrate honesty, resilience, and adaptability, supported by a genuine growth mindset. Cultural fit is just as important as capability, so I pay close attention to how well a candidate’s personality and values align with the team and the wider organisation.

From a skills perspective, strong communication and negotiation abilities are essential, along with proven sales experience and a track record of delivering results. Experience working with corporate customers is a significant advantage, and we expect candidates to be confident with IT systems and administrative processes.

As the market has become more complex, my hiring approach has evolved. I now place greater emphasis on broader industry awareness, technical fluency, and the ability to navigate change. I look for individuals who can think strategically, adapt quickly, and bring fresh insight that helps the team stay competitive in a fast‑moving environment. I am privileged to lead high‑performing teams whose integrity and consistent excellence have strengthened our market position and reinforced the confidence placed in us by our partners and customers.

What role do you see commercial energy users playing in Ireland’s decarbonisation plans, and how is Energia supporting them in this transition? 

The national decarbonisation strategy requires the business sector to reduce emissions by 35% over the next six years. As SMEs account for 99% of all Irish enterprises, they have a significant role to play. Increasingly, SMEs are being asked to produce emissions data as part of a supply chain to larger ESGR obligated companies.

Energia is assisting SMEs by offering tailored renewable energy plans, including 100% renewable energy. We offer energy efficiency grants and funding, facilitate energy audits through the SEAI voucher support scheme, and support solar PV installation through our micro and mini gen export payments.

What emerging trends do you see in the marketplace, and how is Energia positioning itself to lead in these areas?  

One of the strongest trends we’re seeing is the growing demand for flexibility as customers progress on their decarbonisation journey. Businesses want energy solutions that adapt to their operational needs, so we offer a full suite of fixed, flexible, and bespoke pricing arrangements across both supply and microgeneration. This allows customers to choose the structure that best supports their sustainability and financial goals.

Demand for renewable energy continues to accelerate, and Energia is investing heavily to meet that need. Our portfolio now includes significant onshore and future offshore wind developments, solar projects, and large‑scale battery storage. These investments are central to strengthening Ireland’s energy security and enabling a cleaner, more resilient system.

Ireland’s energy future is being shaped by bold innovation, major infrastructure investment, and deeper customer engagement. Energia is not simply responding to these trends, we’re helping to define them. By combining technical expertise with customer‑centric thinking, we’re positioning ourselves to lead the transition to a low‑carbon, flexible, and digitally enabled energy market.