Meet The Trainers.

Dublin born Andy Matthews has worked in radio for the past 24 years in Ireland the UK and Eastern Europe. Andy has won many awards for both programming and imaging. Having worked in local radio in Mayo, Kerry and Sligo, Andy moved to FM104 Dublin in 1997 as a presenter, moving to the Production Director role and onto the Deputy Programme Director role in 2002 taking the station back to number 1 while with the programming team.

In 2008 Andy took on the Programme Directors role in Dublin's 98FM taking the station from a poorly performing number 2 station to number 1 market share in the Dublin market within 2 years. Andy set up Triple M Media in early 2010 and since has worked very successfully as a programming and content consultant with Bauer UK, Communicorp and the CN Group UK as well as some of the best Irish radio stations.

Courses

• Radio Matters - Lunchtime Series

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A leader within the industry for over 25 years, managing teams to create world-class award-winning products with record consumer engagement, large market shares and strong revenues. Skilled in re-inventing and growing existing brands, creating new product opportunities and digital storytelling.

Known for re-inventing KISS to become the national and international brand it is today - growing its audience to reach over 40 million consumers weekly across its platforms and achieving the status of 'All Adult Market-Leader' with the highest ever audience figures. At Bauer he created many diverse brands including Hits, Kerrang! and Heat alongside numerous content pillars and moments that spanned the portfolio of Digital, Radio, Tv, magazines and events.

Andy developed many industry wide properties and lean-in moments for all media in the UK and was responsible for the creation of Bauer’s music streaming services. 

Courses

• Radio Matters Series
• Music Review

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Barbara Edwards has been self employed for over 15 years and has worked across a broad range of industries. Along with her coaching qualifications, Barbara also holds qualifications in music, marketing and project management. These fields have overlapped more than once in her coaching practise BeCoached. 

BeCoached is a coaching and training business. Barbara’s marketing background allows her to deliver training to other small businesses just starting out, with her most popular course being 'Canva for Marketing'. 

Throughout her career Barbara has also delivered team building workshops to youth groups, active age, community groups and the corporate sector. It is in these settings that she draws on her background as a musician and music teacher, using music as a team building tool.

Courses

• Design with Canva - Beginner Level
• Design with Canva - Advanced Level

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As head of The Youth Lab at THINKHOUSE, Claire oversees a team of strategists who work with C-Suite Leaders to transform and empower organisations, and teams, by helping them shift their mindset and adopt new ways of looking at the world, through the lens of the next generation. Core to her work is the running of stakeholder strategy sessions and workshops to deliver desired business/organisational outcomes.

Prior to working at THINKHOUSE, she held strategic planning and insight roles at leading independent agencies in Dublin, London and New York. She has also lectured extensively on business and digital innovation for UCD, The Digital Marketing Institute, TU Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. In May 2022 she completed a year-long Post Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Leadership at Technology University, Dublin, where she graduated with distinction. She is currently Chair of the Broadcasting Sustainability Network. Her work has been published on RTE’s Brainstorm, Irish Times, Sunday Independent and leading media publications. 

Courses

• Youth Culture Uncovered
• Sustainability 101

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Dr Dawn Wheatley is an assistant professor in the School of Communications in DCU. She is currently the chairperson of the BA Journalism programme, and teaches a mixture of theoretical and practical modules, including data journalism. Dawn previously worked as a production journalist for the Irish Daily Mail and the Irish Times before completing her PhD in 2017. Her main research interests relate to sources and voices in the news, and how digital news production practices are impacting journalistic content.

Courses

• Data Journalism - Seeing through the Numbers

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Donagh leads Thinkhouse’s Social & Digital team responsible for strategy, development & production, community management and media buying for Thinkhouse’s social media clients. Having worked with some of the most prolific brands on social media, Donagh brought a keen strategic eye for creative and planning, across all social platforms into Thinkhouse when he joined in 2017. Donagh has made a huge impact on our client’s performance across social media - identifying key areas for growth and engagement, buying efficiencies and evaluation - inspiring an innovative approach to social as a key, measurable storytelling platform.

Before joining Thinkhouse, Donagh specialised exclusively in social media with Mindshare Ireland as a core member of its Invention Team. His role included community management, content creation, copywriting, creative strategy, buying strategy and buying for clients including Ford, Nestlé, Woodies, Nespresso, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencers  to name but a few. Donagh leads THINKHOUSE’s internal team of A.I. specialists and is currently undertaking a Diploma in A.I. at UCD. 

Courses

• Man vs Machine: What is the Impact of AI on how we work?

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Eric Dixon has over 30 years experience as a journalist, presenter and media trainer. He has presented programmes on BBC and independent local radio stations covering a range of programmes from early morning Breakfast shows to a late night phone-in. He has also presented London's only all-news breakfast show on News Direct, produced by Reuters and ITN.

As a print journalist he has written articles for The Observer, Daily Telegraph plus tabloid national newspapers. Eric's training experience includes media management for some of the world’s largest companies including: Astra Zeneca, Barclays, BAA, Bayer, Lloyds TSB and Vodafone to name but a few. In addition he coaches journalists, writers and presenters in voice, presentation, scripting and interview technique.

Courses

• Advanced Speech & Voice Training for News and Sports Presenters
• Advanced Speech & Voice Training for Music Presenters

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Garrett Harte is a multi award-winning senior media executive with over two decades of experience in the broadcast industry.

As former Editor-in-Chief of Newstalk, Garrett has led and shaped the national current affairs debate on critical political, social and cultural events for many years.

During this time has worked with a host of leading Irish broadcasters including Ivan Yates, Claire Byrne, George Hook and Pat Kenny. In the meantime, he also coached and managed scores of producers, researchers and reporters, many of whom are key leaders in Ireland’s broadcast media today.

Courses

• Leading as a Producer - Radio Producer Certificate
• Journalism Graduate Programme

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Glen Mulcahy is Founder of Titanium-Media, a media training and consultancy firm which specializes in mobile journalism and social video storytelling. A former Head of Innovation with RTÉ, Ireland's national public broadcaster, he has inspired and driven the growth of mobile journalism within RTÉ's newsroom and across other European broadcasters.

Glen lead RTÉ's mobile journalism project ("mojo") and to date RTÉ is successfully using mobile devices and apps to create finished news stories for broadcast and online which reach the highest possible quality standards. He also founded of Mojocon- the 1st international mobile journalism conference which was held on an annual basis from 2015-2017 and subsequently evolved into an independent event “Mojofest”.

Glen has trained in excess of 7000 journalists in Europe, the US and the Middle East, across television, radio, print and online and his specialities are Mobile Journalism, Video Journalism, DSLR FilmMaking and Photography.

Courses

• Mobile Journalism for Radio Certificate

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Headline is Shine's national programme for responsible reporting and representation of mental illness and suicide. Our objective is to work as collaboratively as possible with Irish media across print, broadcast, and online platforms to reduce the effects of suicide contagion, and stigma attached to mental ill health. We are a recognised global leader in media-centred mental health initiatives.

Courses

• Building Resilience in Radio Production - Managing Burnout as a Journalist

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Jackie Neill is a broadcasting expert with 30+ years editorial leadership and radio production experience at BBC Northern Ireland. Established as one of Northern Ireland’s most experienced radio professionals with profile and contacts across UK & Ireland.

As the Station Manager of Northern Ireland’s biggest radio station – BBC Radio Ulster, Jackie was responsible for smooth running of BBC Radio Ulster on air and behind the scenes. Strong editorial leadership skills were developed as the Executive Producer of award-winning satirical comedy, sit-coms, live music, documentary & magazine programmes.

For ten years Jackie was a committee member of the IMRO/PPI Irish Radio Awards Board. During that time Jackie also developed cross-border initiatives in training and work experience between BBC Northern Ireland and the Learning Waves training organisation. For over 16 years Jackie has been a regular member of judging panels for the SONY, ARIA, PPI, IMRO and Celtic Media Awards.

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Jane is an experienced executive coach and trainer specialising in achieving inspirational leadership through clear and compelling communication and individual presence. She designs and delivers events to teams and individuals using her background in journalism to draw on life experiences to inspire and lead team members, colleagues and external stakeholders.

Jane provided coaching and group facilitation on the leadership programme for the top 600 leaders of a global communications organisation to help lead them through a large-scale cultural transformation.

Jane worked as a BBC reporter and presenter, and for more than ten years as a Television editor and senior leader in the corporation. For the last six years Jane has worked in the BBC Training Academy specialising in leadership and personal development.  

Courses

• Leading as a Producer - Radio Producer Certificate

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Jane McDaid oversees the agency, THINKHOUSE - ensuring that the agency’s full potential is optimised for each client. She advises CMO and CEO level clients on creative communications for the now, cultural shifts and best practice. Working with major blue chip organisations and brands, McDaid is an experienced business strategist, trends forecaster and creative communications expert for consumer brands.

Jane has a relentless focus on creative innovation, cultural relevance and better business practices;  her unapologetic style, and vision, sets her apart from traditional marketeers.  She has spent years advocating for awareness, change, action and accountability within the business and marketing communities. McDaid was the first agency leader in Ireland to sign up to the international marketing industry’s Pledge to tackle the Climate Crisis and since then has delivered a number of industry-leading initiatives through her work. 

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Jennifer is a Chartered Work and Organisational Psychologist.  She is a Director of Train Remote Ltd. where she specialises in the delivery of Virtual Training, Workshop Delivery, Facilitation, Coaching and Team Development. Her background in Project Management, Consultancy, Coaching, Psychometrics and Leadership Training has allowed her to work with a wide variety of clients and organisations both Nationally and Internationally across a variety of sectors including; Pharma, Health, Finance, Education and Tech. Jennifer has a strong research and training background in the area of remote, hybrid and flexible work and is an experienced trainer, coach and facilitator. She is both practitioner and trainer in a range of psychometric tools for both selection and development.

Jennifer regularly trains in the following areas;

• Remote/Hybrid Manager Training
• Communication and Coaching
• Time Management
• Team Dynamics and Team Development
• Emotional Intelligence and Wellbeing

Courses

• Remote Worker Effectiveness (Time Management)
• Developing Teams in Turbulent Times
• Team Dynamic Training

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Joanne is a published author and her first title looks at use of social media by law enforcement agencies. She is a writer for Social Media Examiner, the world's largest social media website. She hosts a weekly podcast called JSB Talks Digital and a weekly vlog of the same name. She also delivers webinars on Big Marker, the world's largest webinar community.

Joanne is a skilled trainer and in the past three years alone has delivered face-to-face training to over 3,000 people across the world. Every single training programme she has designed and delivered and she complements this training with online supports, resources and mentoring.

She has her own eLearning platform on digitaltraining.ie and leverages technology to expand digital education to as many people as possible.

Courses

• Diploma in Social Media for Radio
• Social Media 2022 - Trends & Tactics
• Google Ads & Campaigns for Radio
• TikTok for Radio Sales
• LinkedIn for Radio Stations

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Karen is an expert in sustainability strategy, communications and reporting. She has in-depth knowledge of the sustainability agenda and has worked with businesses across many sectors to define their sustainability approach and communicate their sustainability story. She is experienced in developing sustainability policies and wiring sustainability reports.

Prior to setting up SustainabilityWorks Karen worked in the UK with sustainability communications agencies Salterbaxter and Corporate Culture, and with the Carbon Trust. 

Karen holds a Masters in Organisational Psychology from the London School of Economics and a BA (hons) in psychology from Trinity College Dublin.

Courses

• Environmental Sustainability for Radio Stations

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In February 2022, Dr Karen Weekes became the first Irish woman to row solo and unsupported 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the ‘SHECANDO2021’ campaign. By successfully  completing this journey Karen became the 20th female worldwide to have ever rowed across any ocean solo.  

Karen is an adventurer, lecturer and sport psychologist who specialises in cognitive and practical coping techniques for endurance sport. Her academic research has explored motivations and cognitive coping strategies of ultra-endurance athletes. Her presentation will provide an insight into the challenges and effective coping tools she employed while at sea, linked in with how they can be transferrable to other work and everyday life situations.  

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Keith Bailey is all-Ireland’s only Apple Certified Master Trainer and Adobe Certified Instructor in Premiere Pro and After Effects. He is uniquely placed to inform on current workflow trends and the best way to utilise Apple’s Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor or Adobe’s powerful Creative Cloud applications whether you are a student, standalone designer, education professional or broadcast editor.

His knowledge of workflows and round-tripping through the various post-production software products brings a holistic approach to training delivered by him. He continues to in-source edit and animation jobs for corporate video and broadcast television clients as it allows him the opportunity to apply the best-practice techniques he evangelises in his classes.

Courses

• Mastering Adobe Audition
• Premiere Pro Video Editing

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Laura Costello is Strategy Director, Purpose & Planet at THINKHOUSE. In 2022 she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of 43 People Changing Advertising For The Climate globally. Laura’s speciality is in leading meaningful and transformative marketing impact campaigns that connect, convince and create change. To accelerate a sustainable future, Laura advises individuals and brands on how to embrace and communicate purposeful action that inspires positive cultural shifts for business, people & planet. She has worked to change perceptions on issues like mental health, gender equality, access to education, the global refugee crisis, modern slavery and climate justice. 

As the Lead and founding member of Purpose Disruptors Ireland, Laura is growing a community of creative professionals working to reshape the advertising and marketing industry to tackle climate change. Laura’s speaking and training experience in the sustainability communications space is extensive. She has collaborated with the likes of the EPA, D&AD, Advertising Week, TU Dublin, UCD innovation Academy, Enterprise Ireland, The UseLess Project, Food on the Edge and more. 

Courses

• Youth Culture Uncovered
• Sustainability 101

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Liza-Jo Gee BSc Hons, PGCE MA ED ICP.

Liza-Jo is a Professional Educator, Coach and NLP Practitioner.

During 25 years in the Education Sector, as a teacher progressing into senior leadership roles, Liza-Jo always continued to teach health and social care, economics, politics, childcare and education across all age ranges & levels of learning in Schools, Colleges and University.

Liza-Jo has a passion for equality and diversity and is an advocate, for those with learning differences and differing abilities.

Courses

• Inclusive Leadership
• Introduction to Diversity & Inclusion
• Equality and Diversity Lead Training Programme
• Diversity Training

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Maria Tecce has been coaching executives, entreprenuers, and voice professionals to excellence for almost a decade. Maria is an international public speaking and voice coach, actor and singer. She has taught and hosted workshops all over the world. Originally from Boston, she now lives in Dublin, Ireland. Maria's experience as a professional actor, singer, and writer launched her on the road to coaching over 10 years ago. Maria toured with her one-woman show and performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues and opera houses for 20 years before adapting her skills to coach professionals in the corporate world. 

Maria has worked with top international companies such as Google, Diageo, Novartis, KPMG, Deloitte, Websummit, Sryker, Ericsson, LinkedIn, and higher learning institutions in Ireland such as Trinity College, UCD, Smurfit Business School, and the Lir Academy in Dublin. 

Courses

• Presenting made Brilliant
• Storytelling for Business
• Resilience Training

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https://mariatecce.com/

Mark Egan is an experienced video storyteller. He has produced award-winning content for the BBC and delivered training to clients including the European Broadcasting Union, Instagram and the Prime Minister of Finland's communications team. 

Mark has spoken at major events from Kaula Lumper to Paris about how to connect with mobile audiences using video. He has worked with companies, agencies and major organisations worldwide to help educate, inform and inspire using video. 

Mark is a faculty member of the European Broadcasting Union Academy and trains educators and executives to teach and present virtually in a way that engages audiences and compels them to take actions. Mark is based in London and his passion is helping people contact virtual audiences using video. 

Courses

• Digital Storytelling for Radio
• TikTok for Journalists

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https://markeganvideo.com/

Nessa McGann of McGann Media is a highly experienced media practitioner with over 20 years senior programming experience in Irish Radio across State, Community and Independent Radio. She has specific expertise in developing new talent and creating radio schedules, output monitoring, and producing ongoing and specific programming across entire station output.

Nessa is highly skilled in creating and implementing training programmes for both community and commercial radio practitioners, transition year and third level students. 

Nessa completed her undergraduate degree in UCC in 1999 (BA Arts Hons) and received her MA in Media (Research) at Mary Immaculate College (University of Limerick) in 2003. She has also completed FETAC Level 5 Train the Trainer course (2005) and has a diploma in Conflict Resolution (University Ulster, Coleraine, 2006). In 2021, she successfully completed the Advanced Diploma (Social Media and The Law) in Kings Inns, Dublin.

Courses

• Sound and Vision - From Idea to Application

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Patrick Haughey is an award-winning radio and podcast producer. He has produced some of Ireland’s leading shows, including Matt Cooper’s ‘Last Word’ on Today FM, Ireland Unfiltered with Dion Fanning, The Big Bite with David McWilliams, and Niall Power’s Beat Talk on Beat 102 103.

Patrick is currently Senior Producer of Mario Rosenstock’s Sunday Roast on Today FM and Managing Director of AudioBrand – an audio marketing and communications agency that helps companies win more business through the power of podcasting.

Patrick is the founder of AudioBrand. which produces podcasts for business, devise content strategy and training programs, and give companies the tools they need to get media exposure through clever pitching, cut-through content, and relationship-building.

Courses

• Leading as a Producer - Radio Producer Certificate
• Podcasting for Radio

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Paul Connolly is an investigative broadcast journalist, television and radio presenter, documentary maker and media trainer. Paul’s acclaimed and successful documentaries, made for both radio and television, have aired on Channel 5 (UK), ITV (Tonight), Netflix, Facebook Watch, Discovery Channel, BBC Worldwide, Nine Network in Australia, Virgin Media One in Ireland, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and other networks besides.

Today, he works freelance as a Senior Producer / Reporter / Presenter for BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service in London, where he is also part of a Investigations and Specialist Journalism Unit within BBC's News division (TV).

Onyx PR in London retain Paul as a specialist with expertise in hostile interview training and crisis management.

Courses

• Interviewing Skills for Radio Presenters

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Initially trained as a classical pianist & composer at the Royal Academy of Music, Peter won two Lloyd Webber Piano Awards. He then became a sound designer (Roland, Novation, Korg, Emagic), producer, composer and performer working with several top artists including Madonna, Kenny Rogers, Simply Red, Go West, Tony Hadley, Boys Own, Status Quo, Leo Sayer, Cliff Richard, UB40, Let Loose, Jon Parr and many other top artists.

Peter went on to use his extensive sound expertise to take charge of radio advertising production for Capital Radio Group. He helped develop what became known as the 'creative led sell', which was attributed to increasing the UK radio industry's market share by a huge 4%.

Peter has combined his intrinsic understanding of the role of sound/media in marketing and communications with his academic and scientific experience to Co-Found GoCreate Academy. GCA have created the world’s first qualifications in areas such as Creative Radio Advertising, Vlogging, Podcasting and Mobile Film Making.

Courses

• Diploma in Audio Production
• Diploma in Creative Radio Adertising

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Russell Beck is a thought leader. He is a catalyst who is great at using research and insight to challenge your preconceptions. His clients tell us he is a passionate presenter who joins the dots and makes things real. Russell brings broad experience from a diverse career. He has held many top roles including working as an engineer managing large-scale international projects, leading a £120m talent management business and growing a success consulting operation from scratch.  

Courses

• Innovation Workshops
• Manage | Lead | Inspire

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Sarah Kieran is an Irish qualified solicitor who cut her teeth as a media lawyer in the Irish public service broadcaster, RTÉ, for six years, working mainly on pre-publication advice, litigation and broadcasting regulation. She then moved to Brussels to work in European regulation and policy making. Sarah has particular expertise in pre-publication clearance advice and media related litigation.

She has worked on many of the flagship current affairs and factual programmes produced in the Irish market. She has also been involved in many high-profile litigation actions for defamation, breach of privacy and copyright infringement. On Sarah’s return to Ireland she worked variously with MediaLawyer, Solicitors during the firm’s set up stage, in a policy-development position with the Central Bank and The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice on human rights related issues.

She then re-joined Media Lawyer in January 2015, became a Partner in 2016 and took over the firm as Principal in January 2021.

Courses

• Broadcast Law Updates
• Legal Aspects of Social Media
• A Practical Approach to Court Reporting

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A radio industry professional with twenty-five years’ experience, Siobhan Gavigan is founder and Managing Director of Ireland’s only independent radio management company, The Radio Room. 

Siobhan's career in media started out in Dublin radio station FM104. Her next move was to Radio Ireland (now Today FM) as Deputy Head of Music and Broadcast Assistant on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, working on many Gift Grub sketches with the team. Siobhan also produced Today FM's Top 40 during her time there and presented the entertainment news every weekend.

In 2011 Siobhan took a leap of faith and established her own stationery company, before using her new-found entrepreneurship skills to set up The Radio Room. The business grew organically over the following 9 years, alongside a contractor role as Direct Sales Agent at RTE. Siobhan now runs The Radio Room full time. 

Courses

• Introduction to Radio Sales & Creative Led Selling

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Sue Ellis is a former BBC journalist now working in leadership and personal development. Her passion is helping others to develop, and, as an executive coach, she works on a one-to-one basis in small groups to discuss challenges and inspire new thinking. Sue delivers training in building resilience, with a focus on managing emotions. She also runs courses in influencing skills and how to have more effective conversations. 

Sue designed and ran a leadership development programme for team leaders across the BBC. She has completed one-to-one coaching and mentoring aimed at a wide range of career levels. Sue designed and delivered training workshops on resilience, influencing, effective conversations, personal development and leading teams. She also designed and delivered commercial leadership training for the BBC in Europe, Asia and Africa. Sue has extensive experience in delivering training on behalf of Learning Waves, working with journalists and other teams across the sector. Sue's clients include international, public broadcasters, including BBC Worldwide, NRK, RTHK, NOS, DR and Radiotelivisija Slovenia. 

Courses

• Leading as a Producer - Radio Producer Certificate

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Established in 1993, SureSkills has developed and extended its portfolio over the past 30 years and with a number of key partnerships is now recognized as one of Ireland’s most significant IT Training & Systems Integrators. SureSkills are a proven provider of services which enhance business performance through four main strategic divisions; Training, Consulting, Resource Placement, and Learning Services.

We are a world leader in delivering sophisticated technology, knowledge, and learning solutions to complex and challenging client requirements. Every day we help organisations to develop the competencies, skills, and knowledge they need to fulfil their collective potential. We exist to help you leverage technology, embed knowledge, and grow capability – wherever you happen to be.

Courses

• MS Excel Introduction
• Google Drive/Workspace
• MS Excel Intermediate

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https://www.sureskills.com/Homepage

Susan Hickey is an award-winning media presenter, producer, author & entrepreneur. She’s worked for TV, Radio and online as a presenter & interviewer around the world, including UK’s Channel4, Spain’s Mobuzz- TV and Ireland’s RTÉ- covering diverse subject matters from technology to finance. She is currently the host of GCTV Live and of GoCreate’s live webinars - presenting insights into the world of media and creativity from global leading experts.

Susan has also regularly hosted famous events around the world like the Cannes Film Festival, UEFA Supercup, Sony World Photography awards, Shares Awards and corporate events at famous locations like New York’s Bryant Park, Grosvenor House London, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, and often in several languages.

Susan holds a M.A. (English & Spanish) from Trinity College Dublin and a DipLCM in Creative Radio Advertising from the University of West London.

Courses

• Diploma in Audio Production
• Diploma in Creative Radio Advertising

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Tara Rafter is a fully certified professional award-winning life coach. She also holds advanced coach training in career, parent and relationship coaching. She is a Master Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practioner. She has recently qualified in Silva Mind Control and is currently studying with Gabor Maté. Tara is a successful author, speaker and also an educator for The Irish Life Coach Institute. 

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