ECDN Spring Event 2026

Claire is chair of the ECDN Steering Group.  A Professor of Organisational Behaviour & HRM. Claire is the Director of the DCU Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership programme for Teagasc.  Previously Claire was a Fulbright Scholar at Carnegie Mellon University and visiting Professor in Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. She is published in Human Resource Management (US), Organization Studies, Journal of Management Inquiry, Human Resource Management Journal, Human Resource Development Quarterly, Advances in Developing Human Resources, Human Resource Development Review and Journal of European Industrial Training and she is co-author of two books. Claire’s research interests centre around the domain of social relationships, relationship and network dynamics and effects including learning. She has over 20 years experience consulting with industry nationally and internationally. She serves on the council of the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD) and the Irish Academy of Management (IAM) and is a Fellow of the Centre for Evidence Based Management (CEBMa).

Anne is Full Professor of Human Resource Management (HRM) at University College Dublin, College of Business (Ireland). She previously worked at Rotterdam School of Management, Eramsus University Rotterdam and Amsterdam Business School, University of Amsterdam. Her primary research interests are HRM in online labor platforms, gig work and project-based organizations and her recent work draws on paradox theory and institutional theory. Her work is published in Human Resource Management Journal, Human Resource Management, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Journal of Applied Psychology, and International Journal of Project Management where she is former Associate Editor for HRM and OB and currently sits on the Strategic Advisory Board. She has contributed to scholarly handbooks including Oxford Handbook of Organizational Paradox, Cambridge Handbook of Organizational Project Management, and the Elgar Introduction to Theories of Human Resources and Employment Relations.

Jonathan is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Work and Employment Studies, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick. He is a former IRCHSS Post-doctoral fellow, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar and Marie Curie Scholar and has previously held the University of Limerick Alumni Scholarship and the Kemmy Business School Registrar’s Scholarship. His main research interests are in international and comparative employment relations, with a particular interest in issues such as trade union recognition and avoidance, employee voice and precarious employment. He has published articles in leading international journals including the Journal of International Business, Human Relations, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management Journal, British Journal of Management, International Journal of Human Resource Management, European Journal of Industrial Relations, Journal of World Business and Economic and Industrial Democracy.

Dónal is a lecturer and researcher in Strategic Management and Global Strategy in Technological University Dublin. His research focuses on strategic management in international firms and specifically on the strategic activities of individual managers. He has been published in both the Global Strategy Journal and the Journal of World Business along with numerous book chapters and conference papers. He has received awards at both national and international conferences including the Hood and Young Prize for most original PhD work at the Academy of International Business UK & Ireland conference. Prior to assuming his current role Dr. O’Brien held the position of Assistant Professor in Management in Dublin City University where he received the President’s Award for Innovation in Teaching. In his current role he places a major emphasis on bringing the findings of his research into the classroom and engaging in innovative teaching approaches through simulations and case study teaching at undergraduate, postgraduate and executive levels. This pedagogical approach challenges the students to engage both inside and outside the classroom and to evaluate the latest developments in theory with a strong focus on their practical implications.

James is an Assistant Professor of Management and Organisational Behaviour at the School of Business, Maynooth University, Ireland. With a background in new media and technology, James’ research examines the automation of management practice, digitalisation at work, and the role of human resource management in the future workplace. Prior to joining Maynooth University, James completed his doctoral studies at Cork University Business School, University College Cork, Ireland, where his thesis explored the role of algorithmic management in shaping the experiences of app-based gig workers. A previous Irish Research Council scholarship awardee, James’ research has been published in outlets such as Human Resource Management Journal and the International Journal of Human Resource Management.

Maeve is an assistant professor of Human Resource Management and Decent Work at the University of Galway. Research to date has been primarily centred on identifying the factors influencing labour market inequalities and finding multi-level, impactful solutions to inform policy and improve individual work and organisational performance. Current research projects include a study on the impact of and attitudes towards menopause in the workplace; a Government of Ireland commissioned, trans-disciplinary project examining whether policy interventions are required in the workplace to better support people following pregnancy loss and a Low Pay Commission funded project examining job quality in the home care sector. Research findings are disseminated through leading high-ranking, peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, traditional and social media outlets and through invited speaker engagements. In addition, among others, Maeve is an invited grant assessor with the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council, a Research and Policy Committee member for Ireland’s TASC (Think-Tank for Action on Social Change) and an associate member of the CIPD.