The Irish Tech News Podcast

What a fascinating conversation Melanie Boylan recently had with Keith Wichman.  A special opportunity has opened up for this US competition with NASA Convergent Aeronautics and they have cast a very wide net for people of all ages, ranges of knowledge and either in a group or as an individual to come back with their Aviation and Aeronautics ideas and solutions. Listen in for full details and learn what types of industries they would love to hear from. To accept the challenge, visit herox.com/FutureScaping Keith D. Wichman: Leader of NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Keith returned to NASA this year after 24 years in industry. He was brought back to lead the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project within NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. He started his career with 12 years of Flight Research in Flight Controls and Handling Qualities at NASA Armstrong. Since then, he has worked Reusable-Launch-Vehicle reentry guidance, control, and simulation at Draper Laboratory. Keith led technology development for Avionics and Air-Traffic Management for General Electric Aviation and was GE’s Flight Management Systems Chief Engineer. During this time, he was expatriated for two years to Europe, operating from Toulouse, France as a delegate for various European Commission Air-Traffic Management projects. Migrating to the business side of product and technology development, Keith was immersed in merger and acquisition efforts for aviation-services businesses at GE. Then, for 8 years before his return to NASA, Keith was a business-unit and customer-experience leader for a small, airline operations-efficiencies software company. Keith holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Michigan respectively. He is an instrument-rated Commercial Pilot and was a Certified Flight Instructor for 10 years. 

We catch up with Karen Bach to chat about entrepreneurship, innovation, tech, female founders and much more. Karen is non-exec chair and director with strong scale-up and transaction expertise. She describes herself as a lover of clever tech and is a huge fan of digitalisation and simplification. She chooses to work with teams with energy, passion and transparency. Karen has 30 years of experience in growing international tech and telecoms. She will also be speaking at the next Bradford Alumni Speaker Series event titled "Why I Love Tech" by Karen Bach, Chairman of Amino Technologies Plc, on Wednesday 21 April, 18:00-19:00. Full details and a registration link can be found here. BASS events feature inspiring and stimulating talks from some of our inspirational alumni. They are delivered as online webinars, giving you direct access to the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of our alumni experts and speakers and an opportunity to expand your knowledge and discuss a variety of topics in real-time. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/why-i-love-tech-tickets-146839142829 Today, Karen is Chairman of: Amino Technologies Plc (media tech) Consult Red Ltd (media, IoT & connected device consulting) DeepMatter Plc (chemistry digitisation) and non-exec director of: Datapharm Ltd (health-pharma tech) Escape Hunt Plc (physical and digital escape rooms). Previously she was Independent Chairman of IXCellerate Ltd (Russian data centers) and gained much experience internationally as an exec in growing international technology businesses. Karen is also member of the 30% Club which supports boards to appoint more female directors and mentors women in tech through Rebus and Like-minded-Females. She mentors entrepreneurs through Kickstart Global and Neuro Nexus. You can find Karen on Linkedin: Karen Bach | LinkedIn

Hunter Berg is co founder of NiftyDrops. Nifty Drops is a mobile app designed for NFT launch-tracking and project-discovery across all blockchains. Launching soon on iOS and android, the app includes a notification system which alerts users of upcoming drops a week, a day, and hours ahead of time. For version one, he compares it to CoinGecko, but instead of ICOs, Nifty Drops tracks when major NFT projects drop assets for trading/collecting. Currently, he is partnered with top NFT projects including AXIE Infinity, Bitcoin Origins, Aavegotchi, GALA Games, Chain Guardians, Splinterlands, Upland, Picasso Punks, Bitlectro Labs, Avastars, and more. "Let's bring NFTs to mobile!" says Hunter Your host is Jillian Godsil, award winning journalist, broadcaster and author. Her latest book is available at https://persons-of-interest.io/

Melanie Boylan recently spoke with Juliana Novaes, a law Student at the University of Sao Paulo and researcher in law and technology. She is currently head of projects of the Youth Observatory for the Internet Society's Youth Special Internet Group. She is also a fellow of the 2017 Youth@IGF Brasil Program organized by CGI.br and of the 2018 Youth@IGF Program organized by the Internet Society. Why not become the next internet advocate and champion?  Open to all over the age of 18 with chapters globally, offering a free way in to advocate and support others online.  Learn more about the new search in the recent press release. Learn about the Early Career Fellowship.

Jamil learns more about the potential of blockchain with  Sir John Hargrave Blockchain is for Everyone After All!: How New Investors Can Build Long Term Winning Investment Portfolios in the Nascent Crypto Industry, with Sir John Hargrave SIR JOHN HARGRAVE is the CEO of the media and communication company Media Shower (www.mediashower.com). His company publishes the blockchain investor website, Bitcoin Market Journal (www.bitcoinmarketjournal.com) which reaches 100,000 blockchain investors monthly. He is the author of the bestselling investing book BLOCKCHAIN FOR EVERYONE (Simon & Schuster, 2019), as well as BLOCKCHAIN SUCCESS STORIES (O’Reilly, 2020), which has been called “the Bible of business blockchain.” Jamil Hasan is a Generation X Author and experienced data intelligence technology builder with two decades of experience leading data-based teams at Fortune 100 companies, including AIG, Prudential Financial, and Ingersoll Rand. Jamil believes that skill and experience, not just age, is the most important factor required to build and lead corporate organizations. His unique story, as someone on the ground floor of the 2008 financial crisis and his role to help repay the $180 billion AIG bailout, enabled him to come face-to-face with many of the societal ills facing Generation X today and their causes. As the result of his experience, Jamil has developed a path forward for his fellow Gen Xers to restore his generation’s financial standing in society today and to rebuild the American Dream for Generation X.

In this episode of Irish Tech News Sangeeta Waldron speaks with Loïs Acton who was mentored by the late Dame Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop. Loïs has dedicated her life to making change, campaigning on social justice by involving music and the arts. She founded one of the first real free schools in the UK – the Bermondsey Lampost in the 70s.  Loïs moved into British TV, working on a variety of programmes and ground-breaking initiatives, which includes the launch of the MOBO Awards, the TV Diversity and Disability Networks, Carlton TV’s support for the Commission for Racial Equality Race in the Media Awards, and the Carlton TV Trust. In this engaging podcast Loïs talk about a digital project that she is part of in Tanzania; why some businesses have taken so long to take CSR seriously; the cancel culture; if we really will build back better from this global pandemic and what she would say to her 21-year-old self. Connect with Loïs Acton on Instagram and/or LinkedIn Connect with Sangeeta Waldron, Founder, Serendipity PR & Media and Author of Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations on Twitter. Sangeeta Waldron is a multi-award winning Public Relations professional with over three decades’ worth of publicity, branding, communications, crisis management, marketing, media and social media experience. Sangeeta is a published author; her first business book, The PR Knowledge Book is published by Business Expert Press and received high acclaim by international business leaders. She is a guest lecturer at Coventry University, teaching PR and global journalism. Sangeeta is also a writer specializing in sustainability and corporate social responsibility, where her work has been published by the United Nations and other leading news platforms. Sangeeta started out her career writing speeches for a previous UK Prime Minister and Ministers, and has worked at the top level with big, powerful global brands, which includes - being global communications director for the Economist Group; working for The Times Education Supplement; the Mayor of London; Cass Business School; and charities such as Breast Cancer Campaign. A regular international speaker and moderator. Sangeeta sits on different boards.

Audi has just launched the e-tron GT, their flagship car. The e-tron GT is an electric Grand Tourer and is how Audi see their future will be more entwined with electric cars. Ronan talks to Richard Molloy, Head of Marketing and Product in Audi Ireland. Richard talks about the technology involved in the e-tron GT, their new version of quattro which is their heritage, the future iterations of the e-tron GT, the tech in the e-tron GT that will trickle down to other Audi models, and the charging ports in Ireland. More about the Audi e-tron GT: It produces 469bhp, or 523bhp for a 2.5 second boost when you engage launch control, that gives you 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 152mph. It has a range of 479km and can be recharged from 5 to 80 percent of its battery capacity in a claimed 23 minutes using the standard 270-kW DC fast charger. The price of the e-tron GT is €102,379 for the base mode and €140,376 for the RS version.

We catch up with JR Reagan who has been based in South Korea for many years now to learn more about this fascinating country which is a global leader in technology and his work as a technology trends adviser, investor, mentor and lecturer.  Dr. JR Reagan is the CEO of IdeaXplorer Global, providing Korean Technology Insights to the world’s best companies. He is former Vice Dean of Endicott College of International Studies (Woosong University) in Daejeon, South Korea and Global Chief Security Officer (CISO) at Deloitte.   He has over 25 years of Innovation, Big Data & Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Management Consulting in more than 20+ countries worldwide, including financial services, hi-tech, government and academia industries. He retired as the Global Chief Information Security Officer with Deloitte. Dr Reagan previously taught for 10 years at the Carey Business School of Johns Hopkins University and is currently a Technology Mentor at Columbia University. Dr. Reagan holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Shenandoah University, a Masters in Management Information Systems from Bowie State University and a BA in Sociology from The University of the State of New York. See more on his podcast here too https://www.ideaxplorer.com/podcast

This podcast features Keith Keller and Melanie Boylan.  Keith Keller is a Twitter Video Marketing Specialist and is considered by many to be one of the world’s leading authorities on Twitter marketing, especially Twitter Video Marketing.    He is regularly invited to speak on the subject on podcasts, webinars and livestreams across the globe.   Keith has several livestreaming shows of his own and now offers one on one consulting to businesses around the world about livestreaming techniques & video marketing strategies. Having these "real-life" moments can introduce you to such a wider audience and show them other facets to your personality and lifestyle. Learn more about him and #BTRLtv www.KeithKeller.com.au http://BetterThanRealLifeTV.com http://LivestreamingDecoded.com More about Melanie I set up STOMP Marketing & PR in Co Wicklow on November 7th 2013 and rebranded my business December 2015 to what it is known today to STOMP Social Media Training after looking at my pool of enquiries and making my business match my clientele. With my many years of experience in promoting services and charities in Ireland and the UK; I have been very fortunate to establish a strong network of contacts and over the years have learnt how best to promote a business online and improve their social media scoring. I have now trained over 2,700 people in the last 7 years either in groups or on a one to one basis. On stage, online or in person through Keynotes, Workshops or Ongoing Courses. I can help you feel supported and confident in your new skills. Contact me today! https://www.stomp.ie/about

We catch up with  Ray Walshe in a wide ranging discussion of technologies and exciting trends that will affect our lives Asst Professor Ray Walshe, Director of European Observatory for ICT Standards (EUOS) Ray is Senior Researcher and Lecturer in the ADAPT Research Centre in Dublin City University (DCU), IRELAND. He began his career in industry as a software engineer, software consultant and project manager with LM Ericsson, Software and Systems Engineering Limited and Siemens. Joining the lecturing staff in the School of Computing DCU in 1995 he delivers AI, IoT and Data Governance modules on Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD Programmes and is current (2021) Chair of the Graduate Diploma in Web Technologies degree. Ray is Chair of Big Data Value Association Standards Task Force, Chair of Network Development @ Gender Responsive Standards at the United Nations Economic Committee for Europe, Chair of the External Advisory Board of Horizon 2020 Project StandICT.eu, Research Partner in StandICT2023.eu and Co-Lead on ELITE-S Fellowship Programme for Emerging Technologies Standardization (Elite-Fellowships.eu). Ray has been a Digital Leader with World Economic Forum since 2016 and was appointed to the IEEE European Public Policy Committee on ICT in 2019 and is currently the AI WG Lead for IEEE EPPC. Ray was also appointed in 2020 to the OECD Network of Experts (ONE AI)