STEM South West Annual Careers Expo
Cork City Hall
Wednesday 20th November 2024, 4pm – 8pm
The World Needs You: Solving Global Challenges with STEM: Showcasing how STEM careers and a STEM education can address real-world problems that impact climate change, healthcare, robotics, AI and medtech.
Quick Links
Ireland Needs 1 in 5 Students to Pursue STEM to Sustain the Country’s Leadership in Tech, Pharma, and Engineering
STEM South West Expo 2024 Annual Showcase Launched to Inspire the Next Generation of Innovators
Call on Students, Parents and Teachers to discover how Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) subjects can lead to lifelong skills and exciting career opportunities
Cork, Ireland 12th November, 2024 – STEM South West is back for its sixth year, promising to be the biggest and best one yet – this time taking over Cork City Hall on Wednesday November 20th from 4pm to 8pm. Event organisers are calling on secondary students, parents and teachers to join them for an exciting afternoon journey within the world of STEM.
The theme of this year’s Expo is “The World Needs You: Solving Global Challenges with STEM”. The event will showcase how STEM careers and a STEM education can address real-world problems that impact climate change, healthcare, robotics, AI and medtech.
To maintain Ireland’s position as a leading global hub for tech, pharma, medtech, engineering and bioscience industries, STEM South West estimate that at least 20pc of Ireland’s 964,000 primary and secondary students will be needed to go on to study STEM.
In support of that effort, it is joining forces with industry and education partners on this live showcase event.
FREE for all, they will be welcomed from all corners of the country to get a glimpse into the exciting possibilities and opportunities that await them in any STEM field they choose.
The impact of previous events has been noteworthy, with 9 out of 10 students expressing an increased interest in pursuing a career in STEM after attending the event.
An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence speaking at the event launch,
“This initiative continues to promote, empower and encourage young people to explore STEM opportunities across industry sectors that significantly contribute to our nation’s economic growth. Investment in knowledge has always been our greatest enabler and STEM South West – with its widespread industry and education partner base – is opening doors for our young people. I wish the organising team, the exhibitors and all of the visiting students, parents, teachers every success and an enjoyable immersive experience.”
Mary Good, Chair, STEM South West commented,
“Ireland offers an incredible range of opportunities to students that choose to study STEM subjects. These subjects not only serve as the bedrock for so many careers but can also be the ticket for students and young graduates to explore the world, discover, learn and find new ways and means to make a positive impact on themselves and on the lives of others. Every step towards positive change matters as our global society faces critical issues around health, climate change, housing, energy and the very future of how we live and work. Investing in those that will hold the future in their hands, inspiring and equipping them to learn, lead and innovate is the right thing to do.
The work that STEM South West is doing is necessary to ensure that our current STEM industry base is secure, that companies continue to locate in Ireland, that our start-ups and SMEs are given the opportunity to thrive, and that the students of today are given the skills to tackle the global challenges of tomorrow. STEM South West is driving a collective response to this – by showcasing the incredible range of opportunities that the STEM sector has to offer across the South West.”
The enthusiastic participation of industry experts and organisations underscores the significance of this event in fostering the ongoing growth and prosperity of STEM industries in the region.
Teachers and Guidance Counsellors will have a dedicated section at the event, where they can learn first-hand about the career options now available in the STEM sector in this region.
John Morrissy, CIO of PepsiCo, shared his vision for the event, which is sponsored by PepsiCo,
“We are delighted to sponsor the 2024 STEM South West Expo. PepsiCo is home to hundreds of beloved brands, which support thousands of technical jobs, including R&D, engineering and IT. STEM leaders in these fields create the foundation for future success. Together, they show how science, technology and engineering can unlock creativity that inspires. We look forward to meeting the STEM leaders of tomorrow at Cork City Hall on November 20th”.
Visitors will get to explore exhibits from some of the biggest employers in the country, including Johnson & Johnson, DePuy Synthes, Stryker, Gilead Sciences, Astellas, PM Group, MTU, UCC, Analog Devices, Horner, Astellas, and many more.
Speaker Corner
Allan Chambers
Qualcomm
Allan is a cybersecurity engineer at QT Technologies Ireland Limited (Qualcomm Ireland), focusing primarily on the deployment, maintenance and optimisation of endpoint security tools for endpoint threat protection, data loss prevention and operational technology. Prior to this role Allan was a cybersecurity engineering intern also at Qualcomm Irelandwhilst he was studying Software Development in Munster Technological University. Before attending MTU, Allan also studied Computer Science at Cork College of Commerce.
Bill Thullier
Johnson & Johnson
Bill is the Digital and Infrastructure lead for the Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine site in Ringaskiddy. Prior to working with J&J Bill worked with a number of multinationals and started two businesses. Bill has degrees from UCC and Technological University Dublin and a Masters from UCC. Bill has always been interested in obtaining value from data and the things you are most likely to hear Bill say are:
“Simple is good”
“Show me what good looks like” and
“Where are we? Where are we aiming to get to? What are the steps to close the gap between those two points?”
Olly Barry
Gilead
I am currently completing a MSc in Personnel and Management coaching and have specialized in coaching young adults. Coaching young adults offers numerous benefits, helping them navigate key transitional phases with greater confidence and clarity. It fosters self-awareness, builds resilience, and supports decision-making. Specific areas of impact include improving time management, enhancing work-life balance, and prioritizing key tasks to reduce overwhelm. Additionally, coaching can prepare young adults for pivotal moments such as interviews, equipping them with strategies to present their best selves. Overall, coaching empowers them to set goals, overcome challenges, and unlock their potential both personally and professionally.
James O Regan
Gilead
I joined Gilead in 2008 and have progressed from Construction Supervisor, Project Manager, Utility Engineer , Snr Facility Manager and Associate Director of Facility Operation & Sustainability since then. I have detailed knowledge of all aspects of each Facility & Utility.
I have recently expanded my groups scope of responsibilities to include leading the Corporate Sustainability Utilities subgroup to deliver Gilead’s CO2 Reduction goal if 46% by 2030 and RE100 by 2025.
Adrian McCarthy
Johnson & Johnson
After starting his career in the military in the early ‘90’s, Adrian has spent over 20year in various, Engineering, Process, Facilities, Utilities and Energy management roles with all the leading Bio, Pharma and Med Tech companies in Cork.
Adrian joined J&J 6years ago, he is currently Site FM lead for J&J Innovative Medicine Cork, and Campus Ireland Energy Strategy Lead for J&J.
Aoife Mahony
Cork County Council
Aoife is an Engineer with over 20 years experience, working in both the public and private sector. She spent 10 years working in Cork City Council, and delivered some iconic projects including Mardyke Gardens and Marina Park. She is currently working in Cork County Council, and is working towards creating a framework of greenways and active travel routes throughout Cork County. She is passionate about creating sustainable public amenities than will enhance the lives of communities and future generations.
Dr. Alan Kelly
UCC
Today, there is a lot of talk about the processing of food, but the origins of food processing are actually quite ancient, and many familiar food products came about from different ways in which to make them safe to consume and preserve them for storage and transport. In this short talk, the history of food processing will be explored, and it will be shown how every dairy product is a different solution to the challenge of preserving the nutritional goodness of milk.
Alan Kelly is Professor and Head at the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences at UCC. He studies and teaches in the science and processing of food, especially dairy products, and is author of several books, including ‘Molecules, Microbes and Meals: The Surprising Science of Food’ (2019) and ‘How Scientists Communicate: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Knowledge’ (2020). He regularly delivers public talks and workshops on the science of food.
Dr Anila Mjeda
MTU
Dr Anila Mjeda is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at Munster Technological University (Cork Campus). She began her academic career as a Theoretical Physicist and, driven by her passion for modelling complex systems, earned first-class honours in both her BSc and MSc in Computer Science, the latter awarded on a full scholarship for being the top student in the School of Sciences.
In 2013, Dr Mjeda completed her PhD in Safety-Critical Systems at the University of Limerick and holds an MA in Teaching in Higher Education from the same institution (2020). She is a frequently invited speaker at panels and conferences and is part of the Cyber Skills project.
Dr Mjeda’s research covers a broad range of cybersecurity topics within software, including secure software development, application security, and malware analysis. Additionally, her interests extend to quantum software, autonomous systems, and innovations in software engineering education.”
Áine Mac Seoin
Lilly
Áine Mac Seoin holds a first-class honours BEng degree in Process and Chemical Engineering from University College Cork and serves as a Process Engineer at Lilly Kinsale. She began her career with Lilly in 2019 through the Graduate Engineer Programme, initially contributing to the Small Molecule business. In her early roles as a Process Engineer, Áine focused on producing active pharmaceutical ingredients for treatments targeting cancer, schizophrenia, migraines, and therapies that assisted patients in recovering from COVID-19.
Áine is actively involved in the site’s Safety Committee and Quality Culture Committee and hosts the Engineering Forum at Kinsale. A committed advocate for STEM careers, Áine has served as a TY Challenge Mentor and has been recognized for her outreach efforts to inspire students in STEM fields. In 2023, she was awarded the “Include” award at the Lilly Kinsale Operational Excellence Awards for her contributions to student engagement and career encouragement in STEM.
Renee Griffin
Pepsico
I graduated with a BSc in Nutritional Science, U.C.C followed by completing a 2-year research masters in Food Science & Technology. Since joining PepsiCo in 2003, I have worked in many stem roles both in R&D, Quality and Operations functions. I am currently Quality Transformation Sr Manager back in our global HQ. This is a strategic role focussed on delivering transformational change to our quality operations and supporting cross-functional business transformation.
Stryker Ireland Apprentice Program
Mick Dreelan
Senior Manager, Engineering, Stryker Model Farm Road, Cork
I am also co-lead of the Stryker Apprentice Program. I believe we rise when we lift others. This program gives work colleagues, experienced mentors and the program leads, an opportunity to support the development of our talented Apprentices. We all develop together.
Heather Murray-Good
Apprentice Engineer Year 2, Quality, Stryker Anngrove
“I applied for the Engineering Apprenticeship to gain understanding of how the industry works. The last two years I have had hands-on experience in work while gaining a technical understanding in Munster Technological University.”
