The HumansBehind the AICC

David leads the AICC’s operations and oversees strategic collaborations with industry, academia, and key partners. A graduate of Ulster University, David holds a BSc (Hons) in Computing Science and an MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. His distinguished career includes serving as CEO of Software NI, representing Northern Ireland's £1.7 billion software sector, and over a decade as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement at Queens University Belfast’s Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) and ECIT Institute.

David’s contributions to cybersecurity and economic development are significant. He was a Fellow of the U.S. State Department's All-Ireland Strengthening Cybersecurity International Visitor Leadership Programme. He was also appointed to the NI Cyber Security Steering Group in 2018, the DCMS College of Experts in 2021 and DSIT College of experts in 2024. He chaired SpecialisterneNI, supporting neurodivergent professionals from 2020 to 2024, and was awarded a CBE in the 2024 New Year's Honours List for his services to the economy.

Outside of work, David’s three growing boys keep him busy and in his free time he enjoys woodworking, restoring old hand tools. He put his skills to good use, recently completing a new garden room with a little help from his wife and children. He loves exploring the Lagan towpath on Sunday mornings with his family, looking out for herons and kingfishers, and grabbing brunch at the Lockkeepers.

A lifelong tech enthusiast, David’s first computer in the 80s was a BBC Micro—an experience that sparked his passion for technology. Meeting its co-designer, Professor Andy Hopper, Co-founder of Acorn Computers, remains a career highlight and David believes that you should always meet your heroes. David is inspired by people who achieve success despite challenges, and he’s passionate about showcasing local talent on the global stage.

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From day one, Patrick has been a critical driving force behind the AICC, shaping our team, streamlining processes, and building key relationships to advance responsible AI adoption across Northern Ireland. He leads on delivering our business engagement vision and strategy, forging stronger collaborations between industry, academia, and government.

Patrick holds a Master’s in Engineering (MEng) in Product Design and Development and achieved Chartered Engineer (CEng) status through the IMechE in 2015. With over 12 years of experience spanning industries such as Mining and Quarrying, Consumer Electronics, Medical Devices, and Recycling, Patrick has earned regional and international awards and holds several patents, including for the innovative Bloc Blinds Bloc Wand—a child-safe alternative to traditional blind cords. He is currently pursuing an MBA and also holds a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management and a Level 7 Diploma in Business Administration all through the Open University.

A motorcycling enthusiast in his earlier days, Patrick now spends his summers tackling garden projects with chainsaws, hedge trimmers and weedkiller, rather than planting perennials, while keeping up with his three children—two boys and a baby girl. Proficient in Spanish, he once completed an engineering placement in Quito, Ecuador, an experience that aligns with his favorite quote: “Follow your dreams, they know the way.”

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Donnacha leads a team of Data Scientists and Applied Researchers providing hands-on AI expertise to SMEs. His role focuses on helping businesses develop AI-driven products, strengthening SME connections with researchers at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast, and expanding AICC’s skills training offerings.

He holds a BA and MSc in Experimental & Theoretical Physics from Cambridge, followed by a PhD in Cosmology from UCL. His early career as an astrophysics researcher at UCL and Imperial College saw him pioneering machine learning applications on large-scale telescope and satellite data. As part of global collaborations such as the Dark Energy Survey (US Department of Energy) and the Euclid space satellite project (European Space Agency), his research focused on gravitational lensing and the study of dark matter and dark energy.

From 2017 to 2025, Donnacha transitioned into the commercial sector, leading data science teams across industries including finance, insurance, cybersecurity, and e-sports. His experience spans large legacy organisations and agile startups, providing a deep understanding of how businesses at different scales can harness AI and external expertise to drive innovation. Having worked through the rise of cloud computing and the explosion of AI tools, he is passionate about shaping how these technologies will transform the business landscape in Northern Ireland.

Outside of work, Donnacha is a devoted book lover, firmly resisting the digital shift in favor of traditional paperbacks—despite the ever-growing stacks threatening to bury him. His favorite authors include Alasdair Gray and Muriel Spark, and every year he ambitiously attempts (and fails) to finish Finnegans Wake. A fun fact? Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt once paid to watch him act in a play—though he admits they might have been entitled to a refund. His favorite tech quote? “We do this not because it is easy… but because we thought it would be easy.” 😉

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Jean Frazer is the Executive Assistant at the AI Collaboration Centre, where she manages the Centre’s administration, including diaries, orders, budgets, and everything in between. Joining AICC at its inception in July 2024, Jean thrives on the variety and excitement of working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

A Humanities graduate from Ulster University, Jean brings a wealth of experience from her career in the book publishing industry, where she worked across marketing, sales, and editorial roles. After a career break to raise her rugby-loving son, Jean returned to Ulster University, combining temping roles with caring responsibilities. Her versatility and drive led her to work on several funded projects, with AICC being the third—and the first she’s supported from the ground up. A lifelong learner, Jean recently earned a City and Guilds qualification in Agricultural Business Development, embodying her belief that “there's always something new to learn.”

Outside of work, Jean finds joy in the countryside, observing the constant cycle of nature and life. Inspired daily by her husband and son, Jean approaches life with kindness and compassion, guided by her philosophy: “Anyone can have a bad day, so make allowances—you never know what someone has dealt with.”

Nicole brings the AICC’s mission to life through impactful marketing campaigns that connect, inspire trust, and showcase the transformative potential of AI. From strategy to execution, she leads on branding, digital advertising, social media, web content, media outreach, event promotion and everything in between, ensuring the AICC is at the heart of the big conversations around AI.

With a First-Class Honours degree in Marketing from Ulster University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing through the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Nicole’s professional journey has been defined by creativity, strategic thinking, and impactful storytelling. Since joining Ulster University in 2013, she has evolved through various branding and marketing communications roles. She managed high-impact digital and traditional campaigns and developed innovative marketing outputs for a wide range of clients, drove a university-wide rebrand, and executed multi-channel strategies that enhanced brand visibility.

Before joining the AICC, Nicole led the digital transformation of Ulster University’s annual giving strategy, delivering fundraising campaigns that generated philanthropic donations for initiatives to support students in overcoming barriers to education and reaching their full potential. Known for her creativity, data-driven approach, and ability to simplify complex concepts, Nicole is passionate about shaping a positive, people-focused future for AI.

At home, Nicole is a proud mum to two energetic boys, Callum and Harvey, whose antics ensure life is never dull. When not juggling playdates, birthday parties and sports clubs, Nicole enjoys cooking, gym sessions to unwind, socializing with friends and dinners out with her husband. Guided by her philosophy, “Everything happens for a reason,” Nicole brings positivity, passion, and purpose to everything she does.

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Molly plans and delivers a diverse portfolio of high-quality events, including conferences, workshops, webinars, and networking sessions. She works closely with the AICC team to curate engaging event content, manage logistics, and create seamless attendee experiences, all while driving AICC’s mission to build an AI ecosystem in NI and advance AI understanding and adoption.

A graduate of Ulster University with a degree in Leisure and Event Management, Molly also holds a diploma in Events Management from Liverpool John Moore’s University. With three years of professional experience, she has managed virtual, hybrid and in-person events of all sizes—from high-profile gatherings for the Northern Ireland Office, NIFDA, and InterTradeIreland to more intimate workshops and webinars for clients like the Environmental Protection Agency and ASDA. Notable achievements include building strong client relationships, streamlining event operations, and creating impactful experiences that inspire collaboration and innovation.

Outside of work, Molly enjoys diving into creative projects like home redecoration or curating the perfect group get-together. She loves unwinding with her cat, Poppy, and indulging in her guilty pleasure: binge-watching The Real Housewives series. On weekends, Molly and her partner Ben often retreat to the North Coast for long beach walks and peaceful escapes.

A self-proclaimed "family gal," Molly is especially close to her twin brother, with whom she’s shared a lifelong (and friendly) competitive streak. From childhood games to career milestones, her twin bond keeps her inspired and motivated.

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Gulzar specialises in designing and implementing AI-driven solutions to solve complex real-world challenges across various sectors. Collaborating closely with industry partners, he delivers tailored AI solutions that improve processes and drive innovation, bridging the gap between research and practical application.

Gulzar holds a PhD in Computing from Ulster University, funded by Department for the Economy, where his research focused on evaluating the quality of open data and datasets in pervasive computing. His academic journey also includes Batchelor's and Master’s in Software Engineering from KFUPM funded by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education.

With extensive experience as a researcher on funded AI and data science projects, Gulzar has worked with the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH) and the Advanced Research and Engineering Centre (ARC) in collaboration with PwC. He has developed data-driven approaches to solve industrial challenges, contributing to impactful solutions across diverse sectors. Gulzar’s research outputs include patents, journal articles, and conference papers that have been shared with the global community.

Outside of work, Gulzar enjoys reading blogs about technology and innovation as they often spark new ideas and inspire him in his professional journey. He also mentors aspiring professionals and encourages others to pursue higher education and career growth in tech. An active lifestyle keeps him balanced, with hiking, cycling, badminton, and cricket as his favorite pastimes. Inspired by his personal philosophy, “True success is balancing a career that inspires and a family that grounds you,” Gulzar finds motivation in spending quality time with his loved ones.

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Explore his research on Ulster University PURE and Google Scholar.

Chizube leads innovative AI research projects, collaborates with businesses to integrate AI solutions, and designs tailored training programmes. With a strong focus on strategic initiatives, he engages with academic and industry stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes, fostering key industry relationships and contributing to AICC’s local and international growth.

Chizube holds an MSc in Data Science (Applied Research) from Ulster University, where he received the prestigious Dr. George Moore Analytics Prize for excellence in his research project. He also holds a BSc in Economics from Madonna University and foundational ICT/computing training from Havilla Royale School, a family-operated school in Nigeria.

His professional experience spans roles as a Senior Data Scientist at Ernst & Young (EY), a researcher at Respiratory Analytics, and a banking professional specializing in customer analytics and optimization. Notable achievements include developing impactful projects like optimizing inhalation techniques for respiratory health and delivering data-driven solutions ad insights for global clients. Chizube actively shares his expertise through platforms like Kaggle, GitHub, and Academia.edu, showcasing his contributions to machine learning, sentiment analysis, and retail optimization.

Outside of work, Chizube balances his technical expertise with creative activities like singing and dancing. An accomplished musician, he has performed alongside Nigerian icons such as Wizkid and Burna Boy and aspires to turn his creative talents into entrepreneurial ventures someday. He’s also an avid cyclist, football enthusiast, and active participant in tech communities and hackathons.

Guided by his favorite quote, “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value” (Albert Einstein), Chizube draws inspiration from his father’s resilience during times of financial and health challenges, teaching him the value of determination and adaptability. He is equally inspired by AI innovators who are revolutionizing industries with groundbreaking ideas.

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Explore his work on Kaggle, GitHub, and Academia.edu.

Bronagh brings specialised expertise across all aspects of AI, delivering cutting-edge training and AI solutions to industry and academic partners. She spearheads advanced research and development projects, driving innovation through collaboration within the Centre and beyond.

Bronagh graduated with a BEng in Electronics and Computing Systems with First Class Honours from Ulster University in 2016. She pursued her PhD at the Pervasive Computing Research Centre, focusing on optimising preprocessing techniques for Human Activity Recognition to support vulnerable individuals through non-invasive monitoring. Transitioning her PhD to part-time study in 2019, Bronagh worked with Kraydel through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, developing innovative AI applications including a sound classification tool and a chatbot prototype.

In 2020, Bronagh joined the BT Ireland Innovation Centre as a software engineer, where she contributed to cybersecurity projects, designing systems to detect and respond to threats in enterprise networks. In 2024, she moved to the Smart Manufacturing Research Hub at the Derry~Londonderry campus as a data science research associate, collaborating on manufacturing research and providing analytical support to companies.

Outside of work, Bronagh is a proud mum to lively twins, spending weekends exploring Donegal beaches, enjoying picnics, and discovering new adventures with her family. A passionate music lover, she enjoys playing violin and attending live concerts. She also enjoys winding down with a good book or catching up on TV shows with her husband Gareth. Bronagh feels blessed to have grown up as one of ten siblings, with always having someone to talk to, a reason to celebrate, and someone to lean on.

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Explore her research on Pure, Orcid and ResearchGate.

Check out Bronagh's Sync NI Tech Trailblazer feature

Matthew Manktelow is an Applied Research Fellow at the AI Collaboration Centre, bringing over a decade of experience in quantitative, data-driven applied research. With an academic background spanning the physical, biological, and computational sciences, Matthew has collaborated with commercial and public sector organisations across the process industries and health and social care sectors. His work focuses on leveraging data, systems, and human insights to develop practical applications that drive meaningful improvements.

Matthew completed his interdisciplinary PhD in Computational Biology at Trinity College Dublin in 2009. After a period in industry, where he worked on Process Analytical Technology and novel chemical processes, he joined Ulster University’s Centre for Personalised Medicine. There, he focused on Healthcare Process Re-engineering, using data-driven methods to redesign care pathways and improve patient diagnosis and stratification.

Matthew has also contributed to innovative projects within Ulster University’s Human Centred Computing cluster, including the “eCareWell” project, which trialled assistive technologies for carers across Northern Ireland. His work on the EPSRC-funded “Digital Twin Assisting Cardiac Diagnosis” explored wearable and user-reported data to improve the diagnosis of cardiac diseases. Other collaborations have included developing technologies for mental and neurological health, pilot interventions in primary care, and computational modelling of diagnostic tools.

Matthew’s passion for the interplay of data, systems, and people fuels his enthusiasm for advancing AI applications through the AICC, where his expertise supports organisations in making data-driven decisions that deliver real-world impact.

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Christopher collaborates with industry professionals, researchers, and stakeholders to explore and showcase the transformative potential of AI across various sectors. He plays a key role in building collaborative networks, helping businesses assess their AI readiness, and designing training programmes ranging from introductory AI courses to advanced expert modules.

With a master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Ulster University and a second master’s in Mechatronic Systems from Hochschule Augsburg, Germany, Christopher is currently completing his PhD. His research focuses on using AI and time-frequency mathematics to improve the detection of sleep disorders, which has led to high-impact publications and funding from the European Sleep Research Society. Christopher has also participated in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, applying AI to improve mental health triage systems.

Before joining AICC, Christopher worked as an electronic hardware design engineer and part-time lecturer at Ulster University, specializing in Digital Signal Processing. Outside of work, he volunteers with the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, restoring heritage locomotives, and as a STEM and Greenpower ambassador, promoting STEM careers and electric vehicle engineering to young people.

A golf enthusiast and heritage railway preservationist, Christopher is inspired by the transformative power of responsible AI in fields like medicine. He is passionate about leveraging AI to drive meaningful advancements in Northern Ireland.

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Explore his work on Pure and Orcid

Jordan specialises in building innovative AI solutions through industrial partnerships. With a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science and a PhD in progress at Ulster University focusing on applying machine learning to spectroscopic data, Jordan combines technical expertise with hands-on experience to drive impactful AI research and development.

Jordan’s career began as a Research Associate on the ASGARD Horizon 2020 project, where he contributed to toolsets for Big Data extraction and forensic analysis. His work has spanned diverse industries, including healthcare with the Connected Healthcare Innovation Centre (CHIC), cybersecurity and network intrusion detection with the BT Ireland Innovation Centre (BTIIC), and natural language processing and decision support systems with the Advanced Research Centre (ARC) in partnership with PwC. Additionally, Jordan has developed and taught MSc modules on designing, training, and deploying AI models in cloud environments.

Outside of work, Jordan is a passionate white-water kayaker and kayaking coach, often found navigating rivers whenever there’s enough rain.

Explore Jordan’s research on Ulster University PURE

Kathryn has over 25 years of experience in the technology industry. Since 2017, she has been at the forefront of leading Artificial Intelligence teams and her expertise lies in building AI teams from the ground up – partnering with academia to apply the latest technologies to real-world problems. At FinTrU, Kathryn leads the company’s AI function and works with the wider team to create technology-enabled solutions to address Client Lifecycle Management challenges for Investment Banking and Wealth Management clients.

Kathryn holds a BSc in Geophysics from Queen’s University, Belfast, and an MSc and PhD in Geophysics from University College Dublin. In September 2024, she was appointed Chair of the Advisory Board of the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC), further solidifying her commitment to advancing AI research and development and its application to industry.

Iain Styles is Professor of Computer Science in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen’s University Belfast where he leads the Centre for Intelligent Sustainable Computing. His research interests are in Artificial Intelligence for the Life Sciences with a particular focus on image understanding. He has secured in excess of £20m of external funding from a wide range of organisations including EPSRC, BBSRC, the European Commission, the Wellcome Trust, and the British Heart Foundation.

He was a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute from 2019 to 2024, is a Member of the EPSRC Research Infrastructure Strategic Advisory Team, and sits on the Strategic Advisory Board of the Rosalind Franklin Institute. Prior to joining Queens in 2023, he was at the University of Birmingham where he established and led the Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Science and AI, and led the creation of the EPSRC-funded Baskerville Tier 2 High Performance Computing service.

Sara works to identify, support and accelerate high growth-potential innovation in the UK, based on cutting-edge AI and data research and technology. She is passionate about diversity in STEM and digital inclusion.

At present, she spearheads the management of a number of investments including the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme, a £100m investment to stimulate the adoption of AI in high priority sectors of the UK economy.

With a background in computer science, Sara has significant commercial digital experience working in the third and private sectors. Prior to joining Innovate UK, she worked as an AI consultant advising global organisations on AI development strategies and implementation.

Andrew joined the screen industry in 1990 as a production runner, and was trained by the BBC as a television drama Locations Manager.  He joined Northern Ireland Screen in 1997.

Andrew is responsible for the investment of Northern Ireland Screen’s £16.5m annual development, production and skills funds. He oversees the delivery of physical production; project development; new and emerging talent and skills development schemes.

Andrew has a BA in Drama, Film and Television from St John’s York; an MBA from Queen’s University Belfast; is an alumni of Cass Business School’s Inside Pictures; a member of BAFTA and a founding member of the Irish Film and Television Academy.’

Stephanie brings over 25 years of experience in growing and leading high-performing software engineering teams to deliver innovative, high-quality software solutions. With a strong background in financial services, she has held roles at First Derivatives, Lloyds Banking Group, Visa and PwC, successfully managing complex technology projects.

As a seasoned software engineering leader, Stephanie offers valuable insights into the needs of industry, particularly around specialist expertise, education, and training in AI to drive innovation and develop AI-powered solutions. She is deeply committed to fostering industry collaborations that enhance skills, empower teams, and deliver scalable, impactful results.

Claire is passionate about fostering culture and community at Ormeau Labs. Since its inception, she has been instrumental in shaping its vision, overseeing hundreds of events, meetups, accelerator programs, and innovation initiatives.

With deep connections to the startup community, angel investors, venture capitalists, and innovation hubs across the island of Ireland, Claire is a trusted advocate for founders. She thrives on collaboration, always striving to build a vibrant, supportive ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs and drives growth across the region.

Richard co-leads the Invest NI-backed ARC Research programme at PwC, working closely with two local universities on industry-focused AI projects. Within ARC, academics from Northern Ireland universities partner with PwC specialists to deliver business and technical proof points. His core responsibilities include delivering innovative digital products to transform business processes, advancing academic research to tackle complex business challenges, and collaborating with Northern Ireland companies to share insights and drive collective growth.

Previously, Richard worked in the aerospace industry, primarily developing simulation models for aero engines through collaborative R&D initiatives. He also represents PwC as an AICC industry board member.

Cliona has lead a decade-long collaborative programme funded by "BT – Ulster University – NI Government (Invest NI)," aimed at establishing a joint Research and Innovation Centre within BT's Belfast Global Development Centre (GDC). During the initial phase, she has successfully integrated over 30 Ulster University post-doctoral researchers, academics, and 12 PhD students with BT’s Industrial Research and Engineering sectors, specifically in Technology (Digital and Networks). Their research focuses on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence/machine learning, data science, security, and the Internet of Things.

Cliona boasts a multifaceted career in  BT spanning Engineering, Architecture, and Business over the past 8 years. Her journey led her to her current role as the head of the Award-winning Innovation Centre in Belfast. Prior to joining BT, Cliona enjoyed a successful career in Corporate Finance with Natwest Group. In 2015, she took a different path, completing an MSc in Software Development at QUB, which ultimately paved the way for her current position.

Prof. Roger Woods undertakes research into computer hardware and has successfully collaborated with a range of companies. In 2007, he co-founded a spin-off company, Analytics Engines Ltd. which develops data analytics software. He established the £5M, Tier -2 high performance computing facility (NI-HPC) in Northern Ireland and leads AICC activity in Queen’s.

He also leads the EPSRC-funded e-Futures network, seeking to grow and enhance the UK community in electronic systems and is a member of the UKRI’s Strategic Advisory Team on ICT. His ‘inspirational leadership in research’ was recognised by the award of a fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2022, fellowship of the IEEE in 2024 and the IET’s Engineering Excellence Award for ‘major contributions to further the engineering profession in Northern Ireland’ in 2023.

He co-authored the UK government’s reports on “Understanding the UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) Labour Market” in 2020 and the DSIT “AI Sector Study” in 2023.

With an engineering background specialising in software and product development, Patricia is co-founder and former CEO of Core Systems, a global leader in prisoner self-service technology. With over 20 years of experience in Corrections Technology, Patricia has driven innovation in the custodial sector, advising prison and correctional services worldwide on digital transformation.

An advocate for innovation and collaboration, Patricia chairs the AI subcommittee of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Technology Committee and speaks internationally on leveraging technology to address complex challenges in the Justice sector.

Closer to home, Patricia is Deputy Chair of Matrix, an independent industry panel advising the government on the commercial exploitation of science and technology.

She is also a dedicated member of the AICC board, where she voices the needs of local entrepreneurs and SMEs, helping to leverage the transformative opportunities AI offers to drive growth and innovation.

Professor Jonathan Wallace is Chair of the AICC's Technology & Skills Advisory Board (TSAB) is Professor of Innovation within the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Ulster University. His excellence in both Knowledge & Technology Transfer and lecturing has been recognised by his being awarded a Distinguished Business Fellowship and Distinguished Teaching Fellowship.

He has led the development of numerous software systems in diverse market sectors and has attained broad experience of managing successful research projects at both a local, national and international level. He is a founder member and Deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Science Festival, now one of the UK and Europe’s largest annual Science Festivals. Professor Wallace is a member of the All-Party Advisory Group on Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths for the local devolved Government Assembly. He is a member of the BCS NI Committee and Inclusive Diversity and Equity (IDE) as well as Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Lead for BCS NI. He is a board member of the Northern Ireland Trusted Research Environment (NITRE) Strategy Board for the HSC in Northern Ireland and a member of the UK BSI CH/210/1 – Quality Systems for Medical Devices standards committee working group. He is a board member as well as Policy Communications & Development Subgroup Chair of Belfast Healthy Cities. Jonathan is the designated representative for NI on the UK National Computing Professors and Heads of Computing (CPHC) Committee. Prof Wallace is a member of the Academic Advisory Panel of the UK Digital Twin Centre (UKDTC), he also is a member of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce ICT Committee.

Having secured over £29M in collaborative research and consultancy income to Ulster, he currently has a leading role in a number of regional, national and international Digital Health research projects where he is particularly applying his expertise in Co-creation, UX & Usability Engineering, Data Science and Business Model Development. He is currently Leader for WorkPackage 1: “Human-centred and Trustworthy AI Solutions” for the 4 year €12.5M LUCIA Horizon Europe Project on AI for multi-omic, socioeconomic and epigenetic risk factors for Lung Cancer.  Jonathan is a judge on a number of UK national awards competitions for Innovation in Digital Health and Wellbeing.

Given his extensive regional, national and international industry network, Jonathan is Chair of the Faculty’s Computing Employer Advisory Board (CEAB) and also academic business engagement lead and Technology and Skills Advisory Board (TSAB) Chair of the new £16.3M AI Collaboration Centre (AICC) between Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast.  With over 110 peer assessed research outputs, Jonathan lectures on the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate Computing degrees and their innovative M.Sc. Digital Marketing Communication and Leadership.

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Dr Bryan Gardiner is a Reader in Computer Science and the Associate Head of the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems at Ulster University. He earned a First Class Honours degree in Electronics and Computer Systems in 2006, followed by a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Ulster in 2010. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), Dr Gardiner also leads the Intelligent Data Analytics research group within the university’s Intelligent Systems Research Centre.

His research expertise lies primarily in Data Analytics and Computer Vision, and he is actively involved in several interdisciplinary projects supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI), Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and SEUPB PeacePlus. He has also led multiple technology commercialisation and knowledge exchange initiatives funded through Innovate UK, Invest NI, and InterTradeIreland.

Dr Gardiner is a member of several leading professional societies, including the IEEE UKRI, IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS), Irish Pattern Recognition and Classification Society (IPRCS), International Association of Pattern Recognition (IAPR), British Machine Vision Association (BMVA), and is an affiliate member of the IEEE Computational Imaging Special Interest Group.

He serves as a Guest Editor for the MDPI Remote Sensing journal and contributes to the academic community through his roles on various international programme committees, including the International Conference on Image Processing Theory, Tools and Applications, Artificial Intelligence & Cognitive Systems Conference, and the Irish Machine Vision and Image Processing Conference. He regularly acts as a reviewer for leading journals and international conferences in his field.

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Laura most recently led Synechron’s Northern Ireland business, where she built and scaled a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team across Data & AI, Cloud, Digital, and Engineering. Under her leadership, the team consistently exceeded targets in revenue, profitability, and impact, not only commercially, but also in the way they supported their people, clients, and the broader community.

A passionate advocate for the Northern Ireland tech ecosystem, Laura is deeply committed to strengthening industry-academia collaboration. She works closely with local universities to bridge the gap between education and evolving industry needs, helping to nurture a robust pipeline of future talent and accelerate the region’s growth as a hub for technological innovation.

Laura brings her strategic vision, hands-on leadership experience, and deep-rooted dedication to building a more connected, innovative, and inclusive AI community.

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Professor James McLaughlin CBE, BSc, PhD, CPhys, FInstP, FIAEng, NYAS, MIEE, is the Director and co-founder of Ulster University's Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre-NIBEC. He is also currently heading up the £43M BCRD Centre for Digital Healthcare Technology-CDHT. A Fellow of the Institute of Physics and the Irish Academy of Engineering, he was awarded a CBE in 2022 for Research & Education.

He is a Senior Distinguished-Fellow and his world-leading Digital-Healthcare-Technology research addresses the integration of AI enhanced decision-making diagnostic algorithms with clinical sensing systems. Professor McLaughlin with a H-Index of 53, over 400 publications, 38 patents and over £100M of research funding he is also co-founder of various successful companies including Intelesens (former CTO/Dir), as well as Heartscape, SiSaF (former CTO/Director) and the initial phases of Heartsine.

Notably he now focuses on nanoparticle-based devices and their associated transduction process via electrical or photonic routes which is core to three large current ‘affiliated research centres- £8M-CHIC, £8M-ECME and £6MBiodevices Prototyping Lab’. Attracting over £100M of Research Funding he currently is heading up a Belfast-City-Deal £43M Centre for Digital Health Technology-CDHT, is PI on a 2024 £2.5M APP29933 EPSRC PBIAA in Digital Health Technology; PI on PeacePlus-£9M Health Frontiers-TIC; Co-I on a £11M UU-UCL EPSRC-CDT in Digital Health Technology and CI (UU lead) on the UKRI-Future Medicine Institute Strength in Places £50.2M (£3.9M to UU–Digital Health Technology). Also, the £11M INI/DfE AICC (CI) was announced and in 2023 the EPSRC £3M Digital-Twin NetworkPLus Programme (CI).

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Professor Jim Harkin is Professor of Computer Engineering and Head of the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems at Ulster University.

Prof. Harkin’s research investigates the design of highly efficient, secure and reliable embedded systems that emulate the computational and fault tolerance capabilities found in biology. In particular, he focuses his efforts on the development of the brain-inspired EMBRACE architecture which aims to address electronic reliability challenges by investigating the paradigms of Networks-on-Chip interconnect and harnessing the principles of effective repair that is exhibited in the human brain.

His work also explores how AI can be used in Networks-on-Chip interconnect for hardware security and traffic congestion awareness. Ultimately, his research seeks to develop NeuroAI hardware architectures.

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Dr Aidan McGowan is Dean of Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast. He is the founding architect of both the MSc Artificial Intelligence and MSc Robotics and AI programmes at QUB, and has played a leading role in introducing short course PG Certs and Skill Up programmes to broaden flexible postgraduate provision and respond to evolving skills demands.

With a background in computer science, his work focuses on technology-enhanced learning, curriculum innovation, and the strategic integration of digital capabilities across disciplines. Aidan is a key member of the AI Collaboration Centre (AICC), where he helps align teaching and research in AI with institutional and societal priorities.

Passionate about interdisciplinary education, he continues to drive the development of forward-looking AI programmes that address both cross-School collaboration and the future needs of industry and learners.

Dr Mark Ng received a BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering and a Ph.D. in Fault Diagnosis and Control Systems from Monash University in 2006 and 2009, respectively. He is currently a Reader in Mechatronics Engineering and Control at the School of Engineering at Ulster University and is attached to the Engineering Research Institute (ERI). He also leads the Multi-Agent Robotics Centre at Ulster.

His research interests include fault diagnosis, mathematical modelling, digital twin, and data analytics for anomaly detection and classification.

In 2014–2015, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Division of Vehicular Systems, Linköping University, Sweden, where he worked with Volvo Car Corporation (VCC) on advanced fault diagnosis schemes in vehicular engines using model-based and data-driven methods. For this research, he was instrumental in developing a Digital Twin/Simulation Testbed for realistic simulation and testing of residuals generation and fault diagnosis methods. This research work was published in the IEEE Control Systems Magazine and the Digital Twin/Simulation Testbed can be downloaded via the main hosting site or its mirror at Linköping University.

Throughout his career, Mark has secured more than £6.5 million in research grants from various funders in the UK and Ireland (EPSRC, UKRI, DfE, InterTradeIreland), Malaysia (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), Exploratory Research Grant Scheme (ERGS), and Ministry of Higher Education EScienceFund), as well as Sweden (VCC in Gothenburg).

Overall, he has successfully supervised no less than 2 postdoctorals, 8 PhDs, and 3 Master’s by Research candidates.

Mark is also currently attached to the Digital Catapult (in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult) as an awardee of the EPSRC Innovation Launchpad Network+ (ILN+) Researcher in Residence Scheme. This research project aims to develop an energy mapping Digital Twin technology that contributes towards net zero in wind turbine energy in NI. Other highlights include being a Co-I in SAFEWATER, a £5 million project funded by UKRI-GCRF, where he led a Work Package to develop and optimise embedded algorithms to control low-cost water disinfection technologies used in the rural areas in South America. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark led the Modelling and Forecast Task Force at Ulster, working with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to provide analysis to the Government Specialist Modelling Response Expert Group (SMREG) in NI. He was also a member of the IEEE Region 8 COVID-19 Task Force. In addition, Mark led a team of researchers and data scientists from Ulster and QUB to work with the Incident Controller and Deputy Chief Health Officer of the Department of Health in Western Australia to model the outbreak of COVID-19 on commercial cargo vessels that ported in Australia.

Mark is a Senior Member of the IEEE and he is currently also the Vice-Chair of the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS), UK and Ireland Chapter.

Mark is a Moderator for the IEEE TechRxiv, Associate Editor for IEEE Access, Editor for PeerJ Computer Science, and Section Editor for Sage Science Progress.

He is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with Monash University Malaysia where he served as a Lecturer from 2009, and subsequently as Senior Lecturer till 2017.

In addition, Mark is member of a few key technological committees in NI. Namely, he is a Technology Strategy Groups Member (Digital Factory) for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), which is a £100 million investment under the Belfast Region City Deal. Other than that, he is a Steering Member for the NI-HPC consortium, a £2 million UK Tier-2 National HPC facility funded by EPSRC and jointly managed by QUB and Ulster.